British Virgin Islands Vacation Guide

Introduction

The British Virgin Islands make up the larger part of an archipelago of more than 60 islands and cays forming the northern extremity of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. The British Virgin Islands comprise 56 islands, rocks and cays, but only 16 are inhabited. The islands are volcanic in origin, with the exception of Anegada, which is formed of coral and limestone and is the lowest lying. In general, the atmosphere is quiet and uncommercialised, with miles of beautiful unspoilt beaches. The islands are situated in one of the finest sailing areas in the world. Tortola is linked by a bridge to Beef Island, site of the international airport. Road Town, on the south coast, is the capital of the British Virgin Islands. It has a colourful market and delightful West Indian-style houses. Many of the best beaches are on the northern part of the island, with names such as Smugglers’ Cove, Long Bay, Cane Garden Bay and Brewer’s Bay. Local island specialities include conch stew, shark and other fish delicacies.

Full country name: British Virgin Islands
Area: 59 sq km
Population: 19,615
Capital City: Roadtown
People: African descent (90%), North American, Asian
Language: English
Religion: Methodist (45%), Anglican (21%), Catholic, other
Government: dependent territory of the United Kingdom
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4 (Atlantic Standard Time)
Dialling Code: 284
Electricity: 110V ,60Hz
Currency: US Dollar (US$)

We constantly update vacation deals and flights + hotel packages for British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. You can also check out some of the best hotels and resorts in British Virgin Islands with exciting attractions like golf, casino, scuba diving and other water sports. Popular hotels & resorts in British Virgin Islands are Long Bay Beach Resort & Villa and Bitter End Yacht Club.

Citizens of the US and Canada do not require a visa or passport, but should carry a birth certificate or naturalization certificate with a picture ID to prove citizenship. British citizens need a passport but not a visa. Citizens of all other countries need a passport and, in some cases, a visa. Visitors are permitted to stay up to six months but must have an onward ticket.
More Information About Visa Requirements

There are no direct flights to the British Virgin Islands from either the US or Canada. The only access by plane is via San Juan in Puerto Rico or St Thomas or St Croix on the US Virgin Islands. From these transit points you can pick up a small plane for the jaunt to Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Heaps of international airlines fly to San Juan, one of the busiest hubs in the Caribbean. American Airlines, Delta and US Airways have direct flights from several US destinations to St Thomas and St Croix. Most flights from Europe connect via Miami or San Juan before flying on to St Thomas.

From San Juan, American Eagle, LIAT ('Leave for the Islands Anytime') and Air Sunshine have daily flights to Tortola; Air St Thomas flies from San Juan to Virgin Gorda daily except weekends. From St Thomas, there are daily flights on LIAT and to Tortola; flights to Virgin Gorda and Anegada are less frequent.

Ferries shuttle between Tortola and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgins and St Thomas and St John in the US Virgin Islands.

Beef Island International Airport is connected to the eastern coast of Tortola by a short bridge. It's 15km (9mi) east of Road Town. Plenty of taxis are available for trips into the capital. The tiny airport on Virgin Gorda is near Spanish Town, at the edge of Taylors Bay on the southeastern coast. There's an airstrip smack in the middle of Anegada; you can walk from the airport to most places on the island.

Anyone who's done it will tell you the only way to get around the British Virgin Islands is by chartered sailboat, and there are loads of bareboat charter operators ready and willing to help your dream boat vacation come true. Road Town has the most charter companies, but there are scores of others on every island.

There are heaps of car rental agencies on Tortola. You'll need a temporary British Virgin Islands driving license, available from the rental agencies, and a valid home license. Drive on the left. It's not difficult finding a taxi on Tortola but tougher on the other islands. Rates are fixed and based on the distance and the number of passengers. Tortola's bus service is unpredictable, so don't rely on it to get to any hot dates. The best way to get around the smaller islands is to walk or boat from bay to bay.

The peak tourist season is December to May, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the reliably balmy Virgin Islands weather. It's therefore best to visit outside this period, when you can expect room rates to be about two-thirds of those charged during the busier months. An additional draw is that the calmer weather between April and August tends to keep the waters clearer for diving.

Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke, Anegada and Peter Island are the largest and most frequented islands with the best beaches. The natural beauty of these islands is spectacular. The volcanic origins of these islands produce contrasting colour tones of verdant land, turquoise sea and radiant white beaches.

Bareboating, or self-crew yacht chartering, is the most popular way to cruise from island to island, and if you have access to a vessel you'll find deserted coves and beaches even at the height of the tourist season. One of the best places to drop anchor is at Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, which has a fine beach and two reefs to explore. A large anchorage at uninhabited Norman Island, the furthest island south of Tortola, has been called the 'Bight' since pirate days because it has good holding and is well sheltered. Neighboring Peter Island is where Blackbeard is said to have left 15 men with a bottle of rum and one saber to fight out their differences.

In spite of the steep terrain, hiking is growing in popularity. There is a trail up Sage Mountain on Tortola, as well as along Ridge Road, with its dramatic views. A route runs up Gorda Peak on Virgin Gorda, and a hiking trail has recently been established on Jost Van Dyke. Horse riding can be arranged. On Tortola, tours to the Sage Mountain National Park and Cane Garden Bay begin near Meyers on the Ridge Road. Trips are also available through Virgin Gordas unusual landscape. Cycling and mountain biking are possible, with bicycles for hire in most of the islands’ resorts.

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