Maundays Bay has been named the world’s second-best beach in luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.
The crescent-shaped beach on Anguilla’s south-west coast with its clear turquoise water and white sand came in just behind Veligandu Island Beach in the Maldives.
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, which sits on Maundays Bay, also claimed the number two spot on the publication’s list of the Caribbean’s top resorts.
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Malliouhana Resort on Meads Bay ranked number 20, Zemi Beach House on Shoal Bay East placed number 23 and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla on Barnes Bay came in at number 34.
Meanwhile, Anguilla placed number eight among the Caribbean and Atlantic’s top islands behind Bermuda, St Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, St Barts, Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Antigua.
In a press release on 6 October, tourism minister Cardigan Connor welcomed the recognition and highlighted its significance for Anguilla’s tourism sector.
“Maundays Bay’s ranking as the world’s second-best beach, alongside recognition for four of our resorts, speaks to both Anguilla’s natural beauty and the quality of hospitality our island delivers,” he said.
“These honours also recognise the people behind the experience – the resort teams whose care and dedication help make a visit to Anguilla so memorable.”
Connor said recognition from Condé Nast Traveler’s readers, who have experienced destinations across the globe, carries particular weight.
“It reinforces the importance of protecting the natural beauty and distinctive character that draw visitors to Anguilla while continuing to deliver the exceptional hospitality they associate with our island,” he said.
Condé Nast Traveler received close to 800,000 survey responses from readers across the United States rating their travel experiences around the world for this year’s awards.
The 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are available at cntraveler.com/rca and will be featured in the magazine’s November issue.
