Visiting Anguilla by yacht
Where yachts anchor in Anguilla, and the cruising permit and marine park rules.
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Where yachts anchor
Anchoring rules differ by place. Anchoring in the marine parks is allowed only in marked sandy areas, and never in Little Bay or Shoal Bay East. The sources are the Cruising Permit Regulations (2010 edition), the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources brochure and its plan of 2017.
Road Bay
Customs port. The port area runs 1,000 yards seaward from the shore, or to the outer edge of the furthest reef. Yachts clear in here.
Sandy Island
Marine park. Anchoring is allowed in two sandy areas on the western side of the island. The Department keeps a large mooring field. One restaurant (2017).
Prickly Pear
Marine park. Anchoring is allowed in two sandy areas around Prickly Pear East. Small mooring fields. Two restaurants (2017).
Little Bay
Marine park. No anchoring anywhere in the park. Moorings: vessels under 55 ft further from the bay, vessels under 35 ft close to it (2017).
Dog Island
Marine park. Anchoring is allowed in Great Bay. No mooring field. Not heavily visited (2017).
Rendezvous Bay
No-anchoring zone for charter boats, north of a line between Merrywing Bay and Shaddick or Lovers Point (Cruising Permit Regulations).
Rules and fees change. Check them with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, +1 264 497 2871, fisheriesmr@gov.ai.
Cruising permit and mooring rules
Cruising permit
A charter boat needs a permit from the Comptroller of Customs. Permits run for one day, one week, one month or three months. For foreign vessels the fees run from EC$75 for one day (up to 5 tons) to EC$8,500 for three months (over 20 tons). The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources brochure gives one fee table for mooring and cruising permits. Locally owned charter boats pay no fee.
Mooring permit
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources brochure says a marine park mooring permit is required, and users must keep to the vessel limits for each mooring field. Applicants must hold their clearance forms first. All moorings are for day use, 6 am to 7 pm.
Fines
The brochure sets a fine of EC$5,000 and/or 6 months in prison for breaking the marine park conditions. Visitors may not fish within marine park boundaries. Jet skis and water skiing are not allowed in the marine parks. Check the rules for your passport.
Sources. Checked 7 November 2026.
- Anguilla Customs Department, Contact (offices and phone numbers)
- Cruising Permit Regulations, Revised Regulations of Anguilla (2010 edition)
- Cruising Permit Act, Revised Statutes of Anguilla (2000 edition)
- Customs (Ports and Airports) Regulations
- Government of Anguilla, Immigration and Labour
- Government of Anguilla, Labour (work permits)
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Management Plan for Anguilla's Marine Park System (2017)
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Anguilla Marine Park System brochure
- BWA Yachting, Anguilla
- Sint Maarten Yacht Club clearance booklet (undated)
- WMO climate normals 1991 to 2020, Princess Juliana International Airport
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, climatology
- UKSA salary guide 2025
- Noonsite, Anguilla
- Noonsite, Road Bay, Anguilla
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