British Virgin Islands
Tortola
Tortola is the largest island in the BVI and is home to its capital, Road Town. It is comprised of many protected anchorages and marinas, unique reef-lined sandy beaches, exciting hiking trails, delicious Caribbean restaurants, and local shops full of West Indian flare. Our home base is at The Moorings in Road Harbour and our main dive shop is located at Hodges Creek Marina on Tortola's East End.
Road Town/Village Cay Marina
Situated in the heart of Tortola at the tip of Road Harbour, Road Town is the capital city of the BVI and the bustling center of activity on Tortola. Visitors dock at Village Cay marina before going to shore to check out the excitement. Favorite spots include La Dolce Vita, a delicious homemade gelato and sorbet spot; HiHo, a Virgin Island based surf-shop, and Pusser's, the only BVI "chain" restaurant with a great gift shop and island favorites.
Sage Mountain National Park
The highest point in the BVI, Sage Mountain is a cool escape from otherwise warm village temperatures. A slightly strenuous, yet relaxing, hike is well worth it when visitors immerse themselves in ancient rainforest vegetation before gazing out to enjoy the remarkable views of the surrounding islands.
Cane Garden Bay
White palm-fringed beaches cradled in a basin of steep green jungle hills, Cane Garden Bay is regarded as one of the most picture perfect spots in the BVI. Visitors spend the day in the sheltered harbour of Cane Garden Bay boating, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and swimming. In the evenings, live local reggae music blares from the Big Banana, Myett's, and Quito's, as locals and visitors dance the evening away under a sky full of vibrant stars.
Soper's Hole, West End
Soper's Hole is a beautiful little marina that boasts a collection of shops and eateries, all painted vibrant Caribbean colors and capped with pink roofs. Visitors can find everything here, from BVI tee shirts to handmade artwork, from conch soup to refreshing frozen drinks.
Nanny Cay (pronounced Key)
Nanny Cay is a peninsula that juts out from the southern coast of Tortola creating a sheltered marina. Visitors enjoy sand volleyball, small boat sailing, and a beautiful seaside pool overlooking the Sir Francis Drake Channel. There is also an Internet café, eateries, a hotel, and a small market on shore.
Trunk Bay
This is the ultimate secluded beach on Tortola. Accessible only by hiking down a ghut from above Road Town, or by boat of course, Trunk Bay is perfect for that quiet day on the beach, and undisturbed snorkeling. The lava flow that runs down the hillside is a one-of-a-kind wonder.
Anegada
The only coral island amongst many mountainous islands in the area, Anegada, which means "the sunken island", is a treat for all who complete the long sail out to it! Although it is the second largest island in the BVI, it is barely visible as you sail towards it, as its highest point is just 28 feet above sea level. Unless you are a well-informed sailor, it is difficult to approach Anegada as an 18-mile long horseshoe reef surrounds it. Once on shore, a safari taxi ride to will take you to Loblolly Bay, ranked as one of the world's top beaches. There, visitors enjoy a 360-degree lookout, miles of crystal white sand beaches, and the 50-foot walkout into the clear blue ocean. Snorkeling and sea turtle spotting are popular, as are the shady hammocks tied under the canopies of sea grape trees.
Virgin Gorda
Visitors are drawn to this island for its unique anchorages, beautiful resorts, and quiet coves. The third largest island in the BVI, many of Virgin Gorda's hot spots are only accessible by boat. While in the North Sound, boaters enjoy the
Bitter End Yacht Club, but Virgin Gorda is most famous for its spectacular rock formations on the island's southwest tip.
The Baths
The Baths is the single most popular cruising destination in the BVI! These massive granite boulders off the southern point of Virgin Gorda create a playground for marine animals and visitors to explore. Shafts of sunlight break through the boulders illuminating large pools that are perfect for snorkeling and relaxing in. Jump Rock is also a major attraction for visitors as they climb to the top and jump off plunging into the crystal blue waters below.
Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
Located in the middle of Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour is a major stop for boaters to provision, shop, and grab a bite to eat. On docks, a quick taxi ride takes you to The Mineshaft, an open-air restaurant located on the way to Coppermine National Park. This spot boasts some of the most beautiful sunsets and views of the Caribbean as well as delicious barbecue, live music, and a miniature golf course.
Pond Bay/ Savannah Bay
The secluded, unspoiled white sand beach along these bays is protected by a long strip of reef and serves as the perfect location for our Sail Caribbean Olympics! The beach is over 1-mile long and the waters are as clear turquoise as any in the Caribbean. Although very close to The Baths, Savannah Bay has been voted one of the 30 best-undiscovered beaches by Islands magazine.
North Sound, Virgin Gorda
The North Sound, sometimes called the Gorda Sound, is a quiet bay located at the northern end of Virgin Gorda. It is the perfect area for small boat sailing, windsurfing, and other water sports. Surrounded by The Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock Resort to the east, and Mosquito and Prickly Pear Island to the north, boats that navigate through the Anguilla Cut to enter the North Sound and have the option to visit many different spots! Right at the mouth of the North Sound you will find the peaceful anchorage of Mountain Point. Visitors often stop at Mountain Point to enjoy a remarkable sunset before leaving or entering the North Sound.
The Bitter End Yacht Club
The Bitter End is a five-start family resort that is known for its water sports facilities and hillside chalets. Visitors pick up mooring balls here and go to shore to enjoy the shops, eateries, and hammocks on the beach. Small boats of all shapes and sizes are available for visitors to enjoy, and a nightly outdoor movie is a treat for boaters on shore.
Leverick Bay
Located on the northern shore of Virgin Gorda, bordering the North Sound, Leverick Bay is a spot with a lot to offer! Whether visitors decide to snorkel on the shipwreck just off shore, visit the home of the Jumbie stilt dancers, or hike to the top of Gorda Peak, Leverick Bay always enhances the Caribbean experience! On shore there is also a market, a Pusser's, and other shops for visits to enjoy.
Vixen Point, Prickly Pear
This is a 243-acre National Park that is covered in cacti and tropical foliage. A trail leads from The Sand Box, a popular spot where visitors can enjoy a home-cooked meal and frozen drinks, to the North Beach which is ideal for an afternoon of snorkeling and swimming.
The Dogs
Named for the barking sounds of an extinct Caribbean seal population, The Dogs (Great, George, West and Seal) are a collection of small-uninhabited islands off the west coast of Virgin Gorda. They serve as great snorkel spots for visitors and also have underwater caves for divers to explore.
Jost Van Dyke
The smallest of the four main British Virgin Islands, with approximately 8 square kilometers of land and only 200 inhabitants, Jost Van Dyke is a treat for all who visit it! It lies off the northwestern point of Tortola and is named after a Dutch pirate, although no signs of swashbuckling are anywhere to be found. Instead, Jost (pronounced 'Yost') is known for its long white sand beaches and beautiful anchorages.
White Bay
This palm-lined, pure white sand beach was voted one of the world's top ten beaches by Caribbean Travel & Life. It is protected by an amazing reef that is perfect for snorkeling, and visitors can anchor close to shore to swim directly up to the beach.
Great Harbour
A horseshoe-shaped sandy beach, Great Harbour is the main entry for visitors to Jost Van Dyke. The beach is lined with several great restaurants where visitors can enjoy West Indian rotis and conch fritters.
Little Harbour
Home to Sidney's Peace and Love, where visitors sign tee shirts from their hometown's to be displayed from the ceiling and along the walls. Along this small beach are little shops where visitors can buy island jewelry and souvenirs.
Sandy Cay (pronounced Key)
A tiny little uninhabited island just south east of Jost Van Dyke is the perfect spot for a day hike, and remarkable snorkeling! Abundant species of birds, reptiles, and insects, a plethora of coconut palms and a small pond greet the students as they arrive. With just 14 acres of land, visitors can circumnavigate the entire island in well under and hour and experience some of the most spectacular views of the surrounding islands.
Outer Islands
The Bight, Norman Island
Norman Island is often referred to as "Treasure Island" by the local Tortolans. It is said that over the generations, several stories have led to the discovery of buried pirate treasure. Norman is first in the string of islands that line the south side of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Uninhabited, except by a handful of local goats, The Bight is a well-sheltered anchorage where boaters stop to enjoy snorkeling at The Caves.
The Indians
The Indians is a beautiful rock formation just off the northwestern tip of Norman Island. This site boasts four tall pinnacles that jut out from the sea pointing skyward. Anchored some 50 feet below the surface, these gigantic rocks create a unique underwater habitat for a wide variety of fish, corals, sponges, and other marine animals. It is a favorite snorkel and dive spot for anyone who visits the Caribbean!
Peter Island
This is the second island in the chain lining the southern side of the Sir Francis Drake channel. Composed of 1,800 acres of land, five miles of secluded beach, and several picturesque harbors, Peter Island is an excellent quiet island escape. Great Harbour and Little Harbour on the north coast of the island are the most popular anchorages. Many visitors also choose to dive on Dead Chest, which lies just off the northeastern tip of the island.
Salt Island/ Wreck of the RMS Rhone
Once known for its three ponds where salt is harvested (hence the name), Salt Island is now famous for the shipwreck that lies just off its west coast. This wreck, the RMS Rhone, is the most visited wreck site in the Caribbean and by far the highlight of any diver's adventures. The 310-foot ship sunk in a storm in 1867 while carrying mail and passengers from Great Britain and is now covered in bright yellow and orange corals and is the home for a plethora of different sea creatures.
Cooper Island
Cooper Island is a beautiful island lined in white sand beaches. Its tranquil harbor and two nearby reefs are perfect for introductory diving. The beach is lined with pristine palm trees and serves as the ideal spot for a relaxing beach day. There is an open-air restaurant where visitors enjoy refreshing drinks and a beautiful view of neighboring islands. Idyllic Cooper Island is what island life is all about!
Ginger Island
This island between Cooper and Virgin Gorda is a great spot to anchor if you are looking for diving adventures. Alice in Wonderland, Ginger Steps, Alice's Backside, and Carvel Rock are all popular dive spots around Ginger Island that house beautiful corals, numerous fish species, and interesting lobster, octopi, and stingrays.
Fallen Jerusalem
Lying just south of Virgin Gorda, this 30 acre National Park looks like the ruins of an ancient city. It serves as a bird sanctuary and because it is uninhabited, there are several secluded beaches perfect for snorkeling and bird watching.
Guana Island
You won't find any shops or restaurants here! At the southern tip of the privately owned nature preserve of Guana Island is Monkey Point. Although most of the island is reserved for visitors lodging at their exclusive resort and spa, Monkey Point is a perfect spot for boaters to enjoy hiking and snorkeling in a quiet, low-key environment. Go around to the west side and anchor at Muskmelon Bay for ideal wakeboarding conditions. At Muskmelon visitors can enjoy water sports and snorkeling without heavy boat traffic.
Trellis Bay, Beef Island
Trellis Bay is just east of the small Beef Island airport and is the site for our popular Fireball Party. The bay houses many sea turtles and beautiful sea grass beds. Aragorn's, a brilliant pottery and art studio, is a favorite spot on shore where visitors often witness the firing and revealing of amazing art pieces while browsing the shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs. There is also a Cyber Café, a beachside restaurant, and marketplace for visitors to enjoy.
Marina Cay
Just outside of Trellis Bay is tiny reef-lined Marina Cay. Marina Cay consists mainly of a Pusser's restaurant and gift shop, and a few hilltop villas. The water surrounding Marina Cay is protected by a fringing reef and is home to a plethora of amazing sea creatures. Visitors spend time snorkeling at this hot spot and relaxing under then palm leaf umbrellas that line the beach.
