Scrub Island

Just North East of Anguilla lies Scrub Island. The beach of Scrub island is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches of Anguilla. As this is one of our favorite destinations, we’ve listed a few things about the island, how to get there, and what to do.

ABOUT

A few facts about this small island:

Scrub Island is a small uninhabited island located off the northeast coast of Anguilla in the Caribbean Sea
Anguilla & Scrub Island are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean.
Its size is 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Coordinates are 18°17′15″N 62°56′50″W
The island is privately owned

Though uninhabited, there are some ruins of an old hotel as well as a wrecked of a crashed narcos plane.

While there isn’t significant historical infrastructure on Scrub Island itself, it may have played a role in Anguilla’s history, potentially serving as a hideout for pirates or as a strategic lookout point.

island with low laying hills, patches of desert cactus, salt ponds, and tons of wild goats. It has a Colombian flag painted on its tail and Colombian tail numbers. There is not much information about the island,,

WHAT TO DO

As there is no human habitation nor any commercial buildings, this island is definitely for those looking to bask in the beauty of nature and its hidden adventure. Arriving to Scrub Island is as much as arriving to the disconnect from society, as it is arriving to some of the best wonders nature has to offer. Its low laying hills, salt pond and beaches are a favorite.

Here is what we’ve discovered so far:

Becach walks & trails

This island has a stunning beach of about 300 meters long on the west coast, perfectly protected due to being in the lee of the island as we normally see eastern tradewinds in this region. The beach is great for walking, and one can extend their walk by continuing onto the rocky coastline on the southern part of the beach.

A trip to the interior of the island, right behind the beach and a hedge of sea grapes, reveals a pond where crabs and wading birds live in perfect harmony.

Cave exploring

By far our favorite activity on this island, is the exploring of hidden caves. To give you an idea of how we like to explore, check out this dinghy ride into one of the caves here (Instagram reel).

Snorkeling

As though there isn’t enough to offer here already, the snorkeling too is exquisite, in picture perfect blue water, with an abundance of wildlife and some reefs to explore.

Photography

If there is one place we recommend for drone & photography lovers to capture the Caribbean, this would be it. Pristine beaches and rugged coastal landscapes make it a picturesque destination for nature lovers and photographers. Here are a few shots that we took during some of our trips there.

Secluded

All of the above wouldn’t be the same if it was hoarded with other boats and visitors. On the contrary, this island getaway is the ideal spot to feel completely secluded from the world, with every now and again some other boats passing by. Scrub Island is great to add to your weekend getaway or overnight trip, allowing you to wake up without another person in sight.

OTHER USEFUL INFO

Protected Area

Scrub is part of the East End Pond Marine Park, which aims to preserve the marine and coastal ecosystems surrounding the island.

Furthermore, efforts have been made to protect Scrub Island’s natural habitats and prevent unauthorized development, ensuring its preservation for future generations to enjoy.

Wildlife

Scrub Island is known for its diverse bird population, including seabirds and shorebirds. It’s also a nesting site for various species of sea turtles, contributing to its ecological significance.

The island’s rugged terrain and diverse flora and fauna provide a glimpse into the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Caribbean region, attracting nature enthusiasts and ecotourists.

HOW TO GET THERE

Boat

While Scrub Island is uninhabited and lacks facilities for visitors, it’s accessible by boat from Anguilla for day trips or exploration by private boat charters from surroundign islands. The boat trips that include the possibility to visit Scrub Island are the Full day from Anguilla, the full day from st Maarten to Anguilla, the 7 nights ‘By Land & Sea’ Kombawa cottage & catamaran combination, as well as the overnight charter from Sint Maarten & Anguilla overnight.