Dawn on Maundays Bay, Anguilla—Cap Juluca turns it into Paradise: This Belmond luxury hotel is the Caribbean’s most serene icon

Picture the scene: the first light of morning creeps across a crescent of sand so fine it is like a caress; the sea a mirror of pale turquoise stretching unbroken to the horizon; a lone pelican gliding low before diving with barely a splash. Nothing else—just the gentle hush of waves and the distant call of a bananaquit in the sea-grape trees. This is Maundays Bay on Anguilla at sunrise, and if you’re fortunate enough to be staying at Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel, the entire glorious sweep belongs, for all practical purposes, to you.

Anguilla has always specialised in these quietly perfect moments. The island—a slim, low-lying British gem just north of St Martin—has resolutely stayed under the radar, cultivating a reputation among those in the know as the Caribbean’s most refined escape.

No high-rises, no cruise-ship ports, no garish nightlife; instead, 33 exquisite beaches, waters that shift from aquamarine to sapphire depending on the light, and a culinary scene so accomplished that food lovers plan entire trips around reservations at unassuming beach shacks grilling just-caught lobster or elegant hillside restaurants serving contemporary Caribbean plates that rival anywhere in the region.

In 2026, Anguilla’s appeal feels fresher than ever for independent travellers who crave the Caribbean’s warmth but prefer sophistication served with sincerity. Days unfold at your own pace: snorkel Shoal Bay East’s vibrant reef in the morning, charter a boat to tiny Sandy Island for a private lobster lunch, hike the scrubby interior trails spotting rare birds, or simply claim a lounger on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and let the hours drift by. Evenings bring rum punches at laid-back bars with live scratch bands or candlelit dinners where chefs fuse French technique with island ingredients—think mahi-mahi with Creole spices or johnnycakes alongside wagyu.

Yet the true privilege of Anguilla is having Maundays Bay as your front garden—and that privilege belongs exclusively to guests of Cap Juluca. This iconic Moorish-inspired retreat, its white domes and arches gleaming against the sea, occupies the entire bay, delivering a sense of seclusion that’s increasingly rare in the Caribbean.

Following a meticulous post-hurricane renaissance and the recent addition of a sublime Guerlain spa, Cap Juluca blends timeless glamour with contemporary ease. Suites and villas—many with private infinity pools—open directly on to the beach, interiors cool and serene with neutral palettes, four-poster beds, and vast terraces perfect for sunrise coffee or sunset cocktails.

The rooftop spa offers open-air treatment pavilions and an infinity pool with panoramic views, while dining spans the legendary Pimms for toes-in-the-sand seafood, Cip’s by Cipriani for Italian finesse, Peruvian-inspired Uchu, and casual beach grills.

Picture returning from a day exploring Anguilla’s hidden coves to your own stretch of paradise, where the only decision is whether to swim, sail, or simply sit with a book as the light fades. Cap Juluca turns that picture into reality. It continues to earn its place among the world’s elite with inclusion in The World’s 50 Best Hotels extended list 2025, celebrated for its effortless elegance and unrivalled seclusion—effortlessly elegant, genuinely welcoming, and utterly unforgettable.

CountryClubuk Members enjoy exclusive rates, complimentary upgrades when available, and those thoughtful extras that make all the difference. If this serene scene calls to you, do enquire—Maundays Bay awaits.