A Tour of The British Virgin Islands
Whether sailing the islands, hiking the peaks or strolling the beaches you will find the charm of an old-world Caribbean complete with glorious views and dramatic panoramas. Here are just a few ideas and some places to watch out for during your visit.
Tortola
| The island’s capital, Road Town, provides shopping, a post office (built in 1886), a customs office and a ferry port. The Sir Olva George’s Plaza was originally a busy market place and is now forms the town square. Main Street is the town’s primary shopping area and boasts some delightful pastel-painted Caribbean buildings. Points of interest include the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens near Government House and the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens, named after the territory’s leading conservationist. The Virgin Islands Museum has a large collection of artifacts from the Arawak Indians and displays telling the story of the HMS Rhone, a British mail ship, sunk off Salt Island by a hurricane in 1867. Other points of interest to watch for include Britannic Hall, the HM Prison, the Methodist Church and St. George’s Anglican Church all of which have their own stories to tell. Wickam’s Cay provides home to Village Cay Marina, The Moorings and numerous yachts. | 
Village CayMarina , Road Town |
The Dungeon |
Heading west from Road Town you come to Nanny Cay, a village and marina complex supporting a variety of shops and restaurants. The Dungeon, located half way between Road Town and West End, is an old fort built in 1794. Closer to West End is Fort Recovery – a 17th century Dutch fort and the BVIs’ oldest intact structure. The road ends at Soper’s Hole where you can find shops, boutiques, restaurants and the famous Pusser’s Landing. |
| Crossing over to the north side of the island brings you to Long Bay, a mile long beach of dazzling white sand. Carrying on up the north coast takes you past some of Tortola’s better known beaches. The North Shore Shell Museum at Carrot Bay and the Callwood Rum Distillery at Cane Garden Bay provide interesting diversions. Now you have the choice of dropping back down to Road Town or taking the ridge road to the East End – a small village where the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge takes you across to Beef Island.
Inland there is the Mount Sage National Park and the Mount Healthy National Park, just two of the many National Parks run by the National Parks Trust which offer the visitor a range of things to see and do. |
Cane Garden Bay |
Virgin Gorda
The Baths, Virgin Gorda |
The capital Spanish Town, known as The Valley, is home to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour where you can find a few shops and restaurants. To the south of the island you will find Little Fort National Park, The Baths and The Copper Mine. Heading north from The Valley is the Gorda Peak National Park and Gun Creek where a boat ride will take you to Biras Creek and the Bitter End Yacht Club. To the east of Gorda Peak is Nail Bay who offer no obligation tours of their resort.
The British Virgin Islands are made up of many islands of which Tortola and Virgin Gorda are just two. Take a yacht charter and visit the other islands many of which offer nature trails and wildlife sanctuaries. |
Whales, Dolphins & Turtles
| Whale watching is becoming increasingly popular around the world and here in the BVIs Humpback and Pilot whales are well known visitors. Growing up to 40 feet in length Humpback whales are an impressive sight. These whales start arriving in the islands from November and become increasingly numerous through February and April. One of their popular haunts is north of Virgin Gorda where they can be found swimming close inshore between the islands.
Dolphins, both the common and bottlenose dolphins, can be found all year round throughout the BVI. Recommended watching spots include Scrub Island, Great Camanoe, Sandy Spit, Long Bay, Josiah’s Bay, Trunk Bay and most of Tortola’s north shore beaches. |
Bottlenose Dolphin in the BVIs |
Hawksbill and Green turtles can also be found all year round. The giant Leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs between April and June, the baby Leatherbacks hatch between June and September. They can be observed at Trunk Bay but please ensure that you do not disturb them as they are an endangered species.
The BVIs have a great selection of things to do and see, please ask at the tourist board or at your front desk for more details.
