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Scrub Island
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Scrub Island, Anguilla offers quiet offshore scenery, clear Caribbean waters, wildlife and boat-based escapes away from developed beaches.

Scrub Island is a small, largely undeveloped island belonging to Anguilla, lying off the territory’s eastern coast in the open waters of the Caribbean. It is not a town or resort district, and its appeal rests on isolation, sea conditions, wildlife and the sense of distance created by the short but weather-dependent boat journey from mainland Anguilla. Low scrub vegetation, exposed rock, sandy margins and bright shallow water give the island a spare, wind-shaped character quite different from Anguilla’s settled villages and developed beaches.
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There are no public roads, airport, established accommodation, regular public ferry service or dependable visitor facilities on Scrub Island. Visits are normally arranged by private boat, charter vessel or a specialised excursion departing from Anguilla’s main island. The crossing and landing conditions can vary with wind, swell and tide, so an itinerary should be confirmed with an experienced local operator rather than treated as an independent beach excursion. Access to any privately held area should also be respected.
The island is chiefly valued for its natural surroundings. Clear water around the coast can provide opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and observing marine life, although conditions are not uniformly calm and there may be no marked bathing area, lifeguard or shore-based assistance. Visitors may encounter seabirds and other coastal wildlife, while the sparse vegetation reflects the dry climate shared by Anguilla and its offshore cays. The experience is one of open sea and quiet shoreline rather than a programme of formal attractions.
Scrub Island is best understood alongside Anguilla’s wider maritime landscape, which includes offshore cays, fishing grounds, reefs and channels historically used by small boats. Its story is therefore connected to the island territory’s seafaring, fishing and colonial history, even though detailed public accounts of Scrub Island itself are limited. The absence of substantial buildings makes the island particularly sensitive to careless anchoring, litter, the removal of shells or wildlife disturbance.
A visit suits travellers who value a remote marine setting and are comfortable with a straightforward, self-contained outing. Bring drinking water, sun protection, suitable footwear, snorkelling equipment if not supplied, and all necessary personal medication; do not assume that food, shade, toilets or mobile coverage will be available. The most responsible visit leaves the island exactly as it was found and treats the surrounding sea as part of the destination rather than merely a route to it.

When is the best time to visit Scrub Island?

Best: January–March · 28–29°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)2860
February (best)2850
March (best)2950
April2960
May3070
June3180
July3190
August31100
September31110
October31100
November3090
December2980

Getting to and around Scrub Island

How to get there

Scrub Island has no airport or regular public transport connection. Visitors normally reach it by private boat, charter or an organised excursion from mainland Anguilla, with the exact departure point depending on the operator and sea conditions. International travellers generally first reach Anguilla through Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport on the main island or via ferry connections serving Anguilla from neighbouring islands; these gateways are outside Scrub Island itself. There are no dependable scheduled services to the island, so confirm the vessel, landing arrangements and return time in advance.

Transportation

Travel within Scrub Island is limited to walking over informal, uneven terrain and moving by boat around its coast. There are no roads, taxis, buses, rental vehicles or marked public walking infrastructure. A boat with appropriate safety equipment and an experienced local crew is the practical means of access. Wear footwear suitable for rock, sand and scrub, and avoid exploring unfamiliar shoreline areas alone. Rough water, shallow reefs and changing weather may make landing difficult or require the skipper to alter the itinerary.

Best attractions in Scrub Island

Scrub Island’s attractions are almost entirely natural and marine. The boat approach provides the defining experience, with views across Anguilla’s eastern seascape and a changing perspective of the island’s low, scrub-covered outline. Around suitable sections of coast, visitors may swim or snorkel in clear Caribbean water, observing reef and nearshore marine life when visibility and sea conditions allow. Rocky edges, sandy patches and sparse vegetation create a simple setting for a short shore exploration, bird watching and quiet picnicking, provided all supplies and rubbish are managed independently. There are no established museums, gardens, family attractions, heritage interiors or formal walking trails on the island, and the absence of facilities is central to its character. The most rewarding excursions combine Scrub Island with a broader day on the water, allowing time for wildlife observation and responsible snorkelling rather than treating the island as a developed beach resort. Operators and visitors should take particular care with anchoring, wildlife disturbance and litter, since the island’s ecological value is closely tied to its limited infrastructure and relatively undisturbed surroundings.

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Best landmarks in Scrub Island

Scrub Island has no known historic buildings, monumental architecture or formal civic landmarks. Its principal landmark is the island itself: a low, dry and sparsely developed landform standing apart from mainland Anguilla and recognisable from the sea. The island’s scrub vegetation and exposed coastal edges illustrate the arid conditions that shape much of Anguilla’s landscape, while the surrounding shallows, reefs and open channels give it geographical importance within the territory’s maritime setting. Offshore views are often more significant than any single structure, particularly the changing relationship between the island, the sea and Anguilla’s eastern coastline. The absence of roads, permanent public buildings and resort infrastructure is an important part of Scrub Island’s identity. Rather than looking for a constructed monument, visitors should regard the shoreline, vegetation and marine setting as a natural landmark that requires careful treatment. Any privately held or restricted area should be respected, and boat crews should determine suitable landing points according to current conditions and permissions.

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Best restaurants in Scrub Island

Scrub Island has no established restaurant, café, shop or public refreshment service. Food for a visit must be arranged in advance, either through a boat operator or by bringing a carefully packed meal from mainland Anguilla. The practical choice is portable food that tolerates heat, together with ample drinking water and a way to keep provisions secure during the crossing. Dining in this part of Anguilla is therefore primarily boat-based or self-catered rather than an island restaurant experience. Mainland Anguilla provides the territory’s broader culinary scene, including Caribbean cooking, seafood, casual beach dining, cafés and restaurants, but those facilities are outside the Scrub Island region. Visitors should not leave food waste behind, feed birds or wildlife, or assume that a passing vessel can provide supplies. Confirm in advance whether a charter includes lunch and whether dietary requirements can be accommodated before departure.

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Best bars in Scrub Island

Scrub Island has no bars, nightclubs, permanent evening venues or established nightlife. Visits are generally daytime boat excursions, since returning after dark requires suitable navigation, a properly equipped vessel and conditions considered safe by the skipper. The island’s evening character is silence, open water and the absence of artificial light rather than organised entertainment. For drinks, live music and social evenings, visitors must return to mainland Anguilla, where nightlife is concentrated around restaurants, hotel areas, beach establishments and local bars rather than on the offshore cays. Alcohol should be approached cautiously during boat trips: it can increase dehydration and impair judgement in heat, water and uneven terrain. Arrange the return crossing before drinking and follow the crew’s safety instructions throughout the excursion.

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Best nightclubs in Scrub Island

Scrub Island has no bars, nightclubs, permanent evening venues or established nightlife. Visits are generally daytime boat excursions, since returning after dark requires suitable navigation, a properly equipped vessel and conditions considered safe by the skipper. The island’s evening character is silence, open water and the absence of artificial light rather than organised entertainment. For drinks, live music and social evenings, visitors must return to mainland Anguilla, where nightlife is concentrated around restaurants, hotel areas, beach establishments and local bars rather than on the offshore cays. Alcohol should be approached cautiously during boat trips: it can increase dehydration and impair judgement in heat, water and uneven terrain. Arrange the return crossing before drinking and follow the crew’s safety instructions throughout the excursion.

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Best shops in Scrub Island

Scrub Island has no shops, market, gallery, craft outlet or retail facilities. All purchases, provisions and practical equipment must be made on mainland Anguilla before departure, including water, food, sun protection, snorkelling essentials and suitable footwear. Shopping elsewhere in Anguilla can provide locally made crafts, artwork, clothing, books and food products, while the main island’s shops and markets are the appropriate places to buy gifts or supplies. Visitors should not remove shells, coral, stones, plants or other natural material from Scrub Island as souvenirs. The most appropriate memento is a photograph taken without disturbing wildlife or private property, or a locally produced item purchased from an Anguillian seller. Because boat excursions may have limited storage space, pack compactly and secure loose items against wind and spray.

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Scrub Island essentials

Currency and Payment
Anguilla uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), while United States dollars are also widely accepted across the territory. Scrub Island has no shops, restaurants, ticket office or cash machine, so payment arrangements for a boat excursion should be settled before departure from mainland Anguilla. Cards and contactless payments are useful for established businesses on the main island, but they cannot be relied upon offshore; carry the supplies you need and a suitable payment method for any pre-arranged charter or guide.
Safety
The principal risks are maritime and environmental rather than urban. Check wind, swell, heat and sun exposure before travelling, wear a properly fitted life jacket when appropriate, and follow the boat crew’s instructions. Rocks, sharp surfaces, uneven ground, dehydration and heat-related illness are realistic concerns, while currents and visibility may change around the coast. There are no lifeguards or guaranteed medical facilities on Scrub Island. Avoid entering the water alone, do not approach wildlife closely, and postpone the trip if conditions are unsuitable.
Emergency Situations
Anguilla’s emergency number is 911 for urgent police, fire or ambulance assistance. At sea, contact the boat operator or skipper immediately and use the vessel’s radio or other emergency equipment; the crew should manage communication with the relevant Anguillian authorities, including maritime or coastguard assistance where required. Because Scrub Island has no permanent emergency station, detailed passage planning, adequate fuel, life-saving equipment, drinking water and a charged communication device are essential before leaving the main island.
Do's and Don'ts
Do follow local boating, landing and conservation guidance, keep a respectful distance from birds and other wildlife, and take every item of rubbish back with you. Do wear modest, practical clothing for sun and rough ground, and ask before photographing people or private facilities. Do not anchor on coral, collect shells or plants, light fires, leave food waste or assume that every beach or cove is open for unrestricted use. Tipping is customary for good service in Anguilla, including boat crews, but the amount should reflect the service provided.
Local Tips
Treat Scrub Island as a self-contained marine outing rather than a destination with a sequence of attractions. Ask operators whether snorkelling equipment, shade, water and food are included, and clarify the contingency plan if the return crossing is delayed by weather. Early departures can provide calmer conditions, but local crews should make the final decision. A waterproof bag, reef-safe sun protection, dry clothing and a small first-aid kit are useful additions. Keep mainland Anguilla as the base for dining, supplies, accommodation and reliable communications.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHola[Oh-lah]
GoodbyeAdiós[Ah-dee-ohs]
YesSí[See]
NoNo[No]
Please/You're welcomePor favor[Por fah-vor]
Thank youGracias[Gra-thee-as]
Excuse me/SorryPerdón[Per-don]
How are you?¿Cómo estás?[Koh-moh es-tahs]
Fine. And you?Bien. ¿Y tú?[Bee-en. Ee too]
Do you speak English?¿Hablas inglés?[Ah-blas een-glehs]
I don't understandNo entiendo[No en-tee-en-do]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMe gustaría ver el menú, por favor[Meh goos-tah-ree-ah vehr el meh-noo, por fah-vor]
I don't eat meatNo como carne[No koh-mo kar-neh]
Cheers!¡Salud![Sah-lood]
I would like to pay, pleaseMe gustaría pagar, por favor[Meh goos-tah-ree-ah pah-gar, por fah-vor]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!¡Ayuda![Ah-yoo-dah]
Go away!¡Vete![Veh-teh]
Call the Police!¡Llama a la Policía![Yah-mah ah lah Poh-lee-see-ah]
Call a doctor!¡Llama a un doctor![Yah-mah ah oon dok-tor]
I'm lostEstoy perdido[Es-toy per-dee-doh]
I'm illEstoy enfermo[Es-toy en-fer-mo]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Me gustaría comprar...[Meh goos-tah-ree-ah kom-prar]
I'm just lookingSolo estoy mirando[So-lo es-toy mee-ran-do]
How much is it?¿Cuánto cuesta?[Kwan-toh kwes-ta]
That's too expensiveEso es demasiado caro[Eh-so es de-mah-see-ah-doh kah-ro]
Can you lower the price?¿Puedes bajar el precio?[Pweh-des bah-har el preh-syo]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?¿Qué hora es?[Keh oh-rah es]
It's one o'clockEs la una[Es lah oo-nah]
Half past (10)Y diez y media[Ee dyez ee meh-dee-ah]
MorningMañana[Mah-nyah-nah]
AfternoonTarde[Tar-deh]
EveningNoche[Noh-cheh]
YesterdayAyer[Ah-yer]
TodayHoy[Oy]
TomorrowMañana[Mah-nyah-nah]
1Uno[Oo-no]
2Dos[Dos]
3Tres[Tres]
4Cuatro[Kwah-tro]
5Cinco[Seen-koh]
6Seis[Seys]
7Siete[See-eh-teh]
8Ocho[Oh-cho]
9Nueve[Nweh-veh]
10Diez[Dyez]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?¿Dónde está ...?[Dohn-deh es-tah]
What's the address?¿Cuál es la dirección?[Kwahl es lah dee-rek-see-on]
Can you show me (on the map)?¿Puedes mostrarme (en el mapa)?[Pweh-des mos-trar-meh (en el mah-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?¿Cuándo es el próximo (autobús)?[Kwan-doh es el prox-ee-mo (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Un billete (a ...)[Oon bee-yeh-teh (ah ...)]

History of Scrub Island

Pre-Columbian Maritime Landscape

Scrub Island forms part of the island chain around Anguilla that was used by Indigenous Caribbean peoples long before European colonisation. Small offshore islands and cays were reached by canoe for fishing, collecting marine resources and moving between larger settlements. The limited size and dry environment of Scrub Island would have constrained permanent occupation, and detailed archaeological information specifically concerning the island is not widely published. Its historical importance is best understood as part of the maritime environment surrounding Anguilla rather than as the site of a known large settlement.

European Navigation and Colonial Claims

From the late fifteenth century onwards, European navigators charted and claimed islands across the northeastern Caribbean, bringing Anguilla and its offshore cays into competing imperial spheres. Anguilla ultimately developed within the British colonial world, while surrounding islands were divided among different European powers. Small islands such as Scrub were more useful as navigational reference points, temporary landfalls and maritime resources than as centres of administration. Their strategic significance came from their position within the channels and waters around Anguilla.

Settlement of Anguilla and Offshore Resources

Permanent European-descended settlement became established on Anguilla during the seventeenth century, with agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing and small-scale trade shaping the island’s economy. Offshore cays were linked to this economy through fishing grounds, boat routes and the collection of marine resources. Scrub Island’s dry terrain did not encourage substantial settlement, but its surrounding waters formed part of the working seascape used by Anguillian communities. The island’s lack of a substantial built settlement is itself a reminder of the practical limits imposed by freshwater scarcity and exposure.

Anguilla’s British Constitutional Heritage

Anguilla remained associated with Britain through changing colonial arrangements in the Leeward Islands and later the British West Indies. In the twentieth century it became part of the short-lived Associated State of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, before Anguilla’s 1967 revolution and subsequent constitutional separation from Saint Kitts and Nevis. Scrub Island followed the territorial status of Anguilla and is now part of the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla. These political changes are more visible on the main island, but they define the legal and administrative context in which Scrub Island is visited today.

Fishing, Boating and the Modern Seascape

For generations, Anguilla’s surrounding waters have supported fishing, small-boat travel and connections between the main island and its offshore cays. Such activities remain part of the territory’s maritime identity, even as tourism has become a major economic force. Scrub Island is encountered primarily from the water, making the skills of local boatmen and knowledge of reefs, channels, wind and weather central to any visit. Its modern significance lies less in built heritage than in the continuing relationship between Anguilla and its surrounding sea.

Contemporary Conservation and Low-Impact Visitation

As tourism expanded across Anguilla, the territory’s offshore islands gained attention for their beaches, reefs, seabirds and relatively undeveloped landscapes. Scrub Island remains a low-infrastructure destination rather than a resort development, which preserves a more natural character but also leaves visitors responsible for their own supplies and environmental conduct. Contemporary visits are therefore shaped by conservation concerns: avoiding wildlife disturbance, preventing litter, protecting shallow marine habitats and respecting access arrangements. The island’s future appeal depends on maintaining those qualities.

Scrub Island in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Scrub Island, Anguilla

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Unlock the secrets of Scrub Island, Anguilla with Evendo. Your free travel guide app for discovering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and much more. Download now!

  • Comprehensive history of Scrub Island.
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Welcome to Scrub Island, Anguilla! Whether you're an adventurous traveler or a relaxed vacationer, Evendo is your go-to travel guide for making the most of your trip. Imagine exploring the serene beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich history of Scrub Island, all from the convenience of your phone. With Evendo, you'll have detailed information on the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities. Each location comes with images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details, making it easy to plan your visit.

Discover famous attractions like the stunning Prickly Pear Cays, the historic Wallblake House, and the beautiful Little Bay. Savor local flavors at renowned restaurants such as Blanchards Restaurant and Straw Hat. With Evendo, you can easily book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable trip. The app features the history of Scrub Island, travel essentials, and tons of local advice to help you experience the island like a local.

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