5 Best Sights in Anegada, British Virgin Islands

The vanished indigenous residents of Anegada left their mark on the low-lying island by creating piles of thousands of conch shells that remain visible today. More modern fisherman also have created large piles of pink, sun-bleached conch shells in the shallow emerald waters off the island’s southeast tip, creating an artificial island that can be visited (in combination with snorkeling and a look at Anegada’s resident flamingos, which tend to congregate in nearby waters) on a tour with Kelly’s Land and Sea Tours.

Named for the cow bones that once washed ashore, this stretch of soft white sand on the island's northwest coast has a casual beach bar and restaurant. Cow Wreck Beach Resort is located directly on the beach, and small crowds congregate near the bar, but there's also plenty of room for those looking for solitude. Look for the palm-thatched benches that provide some shade on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; walking.

Theodolph Halburn Faulkner, a native of tiny Anegada, played an outsized role in winning freedom and democracy for the people of the British Virgin Islands, leading a 1949 march of more than 1,500 people to Road Town to demand a constitution and legislative representation. Faulkner’s modest home in The Settlement—the first built of concrete on the island—is preserved as a museum detailing this history and offering a window into life on Anegada as it was in the middle of the previous century.

A curve of shore on Anegada's northern coast, this bay is home to the best snorkeling on the island. This is a place for solitude, but with a dash of convenience thrown in. Loblolly has a popular beachfront restaurant, Big Bamboo, showers, a gift shop, and snorkel rentals. The cottages at Big Bamboo are steps from the beach. Some palm-thatched shelters on the beach offer shade. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; snorkeling; walking.

A powder white-sand beach on Anegada's western shore, Pomato Point has the best sunset views. There is no easily accessible reef, but the water is calm (making it a good choice for children) and the views of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke are beautiful. Sid's Pomato Point Restaurant is on the beach, and nearby Setting Point offers several other restaurant options, along with lodging. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.