The Offshore Cays

Beyond its own famous beaches, Anguilla is fringed by a scatter of tiny, uninhabited offshore cays that make for idyllic day trips, the essence of the castaway Caribbean dream. A short boat ride reaches gems like Sandy Island, a minuscule speck of white sand and palms with a beach bar and clear snorkelling waters, Prickly Pear Cays, and Scilly Cay, famed for its rustic beach restaurant serving grilled lobster and crayfish. On these tiny islands, visitors can swim, snorkel over reefs, laze on deserted beaches and feast on fresh seafood in glorious isolation, a perfect complement to the main island's shores.

What you actually see

• Sandy Island - the tiny speck of sand, palms and a beach bar.
• Scilly Cay - the cay famed for grilled lobster and crayfish.
• Prickly Pear Cays - the deserted beaches and snorkelling.
• The snorkelling - the clear waters and reefs around the cays.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the best weather and calmest seas for the boat trips and snorkelling; the cays are reached by short boat rides from Anguilla, and the beach-bar restaurants, especially at Scilly Cay, often serve on particular days, so it is worth checking and booking ahead. Calm, sunny days are ideal.

Honest expectations

The cays are tiny and reached only by boat, with facilities limited to their rustic beach bars, so a visit is a day trip rather than an extended stay, and, like all of upscale Anguilla, the boat trips and seafood feasts are not cheap; some cays and bars operate only on certain days. For the reward of idyllic, deserted island day trips, pristine beaches, snorkelling and a fresh lobster feast in castaway isolation, though, Anguilla's offshore cays are a delightful highlight.

Nearby

The beaches and capital of Anguilla and the island of Sint Maarten are close by.