Landmark· Sombrero· Leeward Islands
Sombrero Island Lighthouse
18° 35.2′ N · 63° 25.6′ W
The northernmost island of the Lesser Antilles, a guano-quarried rock 54 km NW of Anguilla whose light (Fl W 10s, focal height 28 m, range 17 nm) marks the Anegada Passage. Now an uninhabited Ramsar nature reserve with masked and brown boobies, sooty terns, noddies and an endemic lizard, the Sombrero ameiva.
Practical
Coordinate is the lighthouse (Wikipedia). The first light was lit on 1 January 1868; the current automated light has been run by the Government of Anguilla since 2001-2002. Sombrero Island Nature Reserve Marine Park, Ramsar site since 2018. Hawksbill turtles feed offshore. Boat trips take about 1-1.5 hours from Anguilla. The Anguilla National Trust runs exploration tours (+1 264-235-5297). There is no harbour or documented anchorage: the island has sheer sides and stands in open Atlantic swell, so treat it as a landmark to pass or visit with a local operator. It is a useful waypoint on the Anegada Passage between the BVI and St Martin.
Best for
Offshore passage landmark and birding expedition