About the British Virgin Islands

Just a 45-minute ferry ride from St. Thomas in the USVI, or a 30 minute plane ride from San Juan, Puerto Rico, the 55‐plus islands and cays (keys) that make up the British Virgin islands have two fantastic assets – accessibility and beauty.  Known for years as a "sailor's paradise," cruising sailors were among the first to realize this as a natural wonderland.  Days at sea are complimented by evenings ashore where small local restaurants line the coast.

Tortola is the largest island and the seat of government in this mountainous archipelago of islands.  Virgin Gorda, Ginger, Cooper, Salt, Peter and Norman, Jost Van Dyke are among the well known destinations with hiking, famous and occasionally infamous restaurants and bars and great snorkeling.  Dozens of smaller islands, some with resorts, some unpopulated, lie among these better known islands and Anegada, the only coral atoll in this chain of islands is at the northwestern corner of the Sir Francis Drake channel.   

The BVI is full of contrasts: protected anchorages in quiet palm‐fringed coves and spiraling sheer rock faces that drop to the ocean. The vegetation varies from island to island, due to rainfall, soil and sun. Lush areas support palms and tropical fruit trees like banana, mango and key lime, along with flowering hibiscus and bougainvillea.  A short hike up a hill may reveal varieties of cactus, wild tamarind and fragrant frangipani. The surrounding waters are deep shades of liquid blue, except on Anegada where the water is a luminous aquamarine color.  This diverse and fascinating environment makes this island chain appealing to divers, boaters, hikers and those that just want to relax in a soft rope hammock overlooking a white sand beach.  Sailing and snorkeling will be priorities but all the options are open.  This is meant to be a fun trip!  Your skipper is a qualified instructor and I enjoy teaching so we can do as much or as little of that as you please.