Booking choice: The Anguilla catamaran day, from $149 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory a short sail north of Saint-Martin, with its own immigration desk, currency and fees. A catamaran day takes you to the Prickly Pear Cays for snorkelling and on to a beach on Anguilla itself.
It is the best beach day on offer from St Maarten. It is also the longest, the roughest at sea and the one where a forgotten passport ends your trip at the dock.
The quick answer
Book Anguilla Cays & Coves ($149, rated 4.7): check in at Bobby's Marina at 8:15 am with your passport, clear immigration in Simpson Bay, snorkel Prickly Pear, then lunch and a beach on Anguilla. It lasts about eight hours. Bring $25 in cash per person for the government fee, plus the tip. If you get seasick easily, choose another trip.
Can you do a day trip to Anguilla from St Maarten?
Yes: by shared catamaran from Philipsburg, by public ferry from Marigot in about 25 minutes, or on a private charter.
The catamaran is the easy option. The crew handles immigration and the route, and lunch and the bar are on board. The ferry suits people who want to explore Anguilla on land, and a charter suits groups who want their own beaches, see the private charter guide. Boomerang also sells an Anguilla day from Simpson Bay with a government fee on top, but it is not one of the trips on this site.
Want the easy version? The Anguilla catamaran day handles immigration, lunch and the snorkel gear.
Check dates for the Anguilla catamaran dayDo you need a passport to go to Anguilla from St Maarten?
Yes. Anguilla asks every visitor for a passport, and some nationalities also need a visa.
The Anguilla Tourist Board's entry FAQ asks for a "passport and return or onward ticket(s)". On Cays & Coves the listing says to bring "your passport and Port Fee" to check-in, and the boat clears immigration in Simpson Bay before it crosses. A photo of your passport will not do. Cruise passengers need the passport itself, not only the ship card.
How much is the Anguilla fee on a day trip?
On Cays & Coves, $25 in cash per person, listed as government fees and paid on the day. Ferry passengers pay different, official port fees.
The Government of Anguilla lists its Blowing Point terminal fees for ferry day-trippers. Many travel sites quote $28 or $36, but those are the rates for stays over 12 hours.
| How you go | Fee per adult | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cays & Coves catamaran | $25 cash | Collected by the operator; on top of the ticket |
| Ferry, day trip back to Marigot | US$11 (EC$28) | Child 2 to 11: US$3 |
| Ferry, day trip back to Philipsburg | US$19 (EC$49.50) | Child 2 to 11: US$11 |
| Ferry, stay over 12 hours | US$28 or US$36 | Marigot or Philipsburg return |
| Private charter | About $35 to $45 | Customs fees quoted on charter listings |
What happens on the Anguilla catamaran day?
Check-in at 8:15 am at Bobby's Marina, a 9:00 am start, immigration in Simpson Bay, snorkelling at Prickly Pear, lunch on board and an Anguilla beach in the afternoon.
Mini baguette sandwiches come out on the way across. At Prickly Pear the crew runs a dinghy to the beach and follows the snorkellers. Lunch is a buffet of barbecue ribs, chicken, island rice and salads, then cake. The Tourist Bureau's listing for the Eagle Tours trip puts the Anguilla stop at Meads Bay, or Cove Bay when the wind is wrong. French champagne is poured on the way back. One guest's only regret: "I wish we had more time there to venture the island!"
What is Prickly Pear Cays like?
Low cays with a soft sand beach and shallow reefs, protected as one of Anguilla's marine parks since 1993.
Boats use permanent moorings there, and taking coral or shells and spearfishing are banned under Anguilla's Marine Parks Regulations. The listing promises butterflyfish, snapper and grouper in the shallows. Leave the shells where they lie.
Is the boat ride to Anguilla rough?
It can be. The channel is open water, the trade winds hit the boat side-on, and winter north swells make it bumpy.
This is the trip with the seasick reviews. In July 2026 one guest reported that "The water conditions were so awful that half of my party was sick from the motion of the boat", and the crew swapped Prickly Pear for a small beach. Another "Didn't make to the island due to weather issues". On calm days the same crossing is a fine sail. Take a remedy before you board, sit low and near the middle, and look at the horizon. On rough days the crew changes the route, guests report.
Calm-weather plans? The Anguilla day cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before, so book and watch the forecast.
Check dates for the Anguilla catamaran dayCan cruise passengers do an Anguilla day trip?
Yes, but only on a long port day. The Cays & Coves day starts at 8:15 am and the Tourist Bureau lists the return at 5:00 pm.
Bobby's Marina is a 10 to 20 minute walk from the cruise pier. The trap is the end of the day: rough water or a slow immigration desk can push the return later, and the ship will not wait. Our rule of thumb: book it only if your all-aboard time leaves at least an hour after the listed return. Otherwise take a shorter boat from Bobby's Marina, compared in the cruise port guide.
Shorter port day? The Phoenix boards at Bobby's Marina at 9:40 am and is back by mid-afternoon.
Explore the Phoenix day sailIs the catamaran or the ferry better for Anguilla?
The catamaran for a beach and snorkel day with everything handled; the ferry from Marigot if you want to see Anguilla on land.
The ferry takes about 25 minutes, and you pay the port fees above plus a taxi on Anguilla. The Anguilla government lists a departure tax from Marigot of €7 (EC$13). It suits independent travellers with a rental car or a beach restaurant booked. For everyone else, the catamaran day ($149) packs Prickly Pear, lunch, the bar and an Anguilla beach into one ticket.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Anguilla catamaran trip from St Maarten?
About eight hours: check-in at 8:15 am at Bobby's Marina, a 9:00 am start, and a return listed at 5:00 pm.
Is the $25 Anguilla fee included in the ticket?
No. On Cays & Coves it is listed under not included and paid in cash, $25 per person, on the day.
Can I go to Anguilla without a passport?
No. Anguilla requires a passport from every visitor, and the boat clears immigration before it leaves St Maarten.
What happens if the sea is too rough for Anguilla?
The crew can change the route to calmer water, guests report. If the operator cancels, Viator offers a new date or a full refund.
Ready to book
Choose your catamaran
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Anguilla Cays & Coves Catamaran Day
Prickly Pear and Anguilla; passport and $25 cash fee
Eco Tour Catamaran: Tintamarre & Creole Rock
- Eight hours around the island, 9:00 am start (check in 8:30 am)
- About an hour on Tintamarre, then snorkelling at Creole Rock
- Mini baguette sandwiches, a barbecue buffet lunch and an open bar
Flagship II Luxury Catamaran Day
A small group, breakfast and a four-course lunch
