British Virgin Islands

Traveling around the island is easy, just wave down one of the many taxi mini-vans. The average fare is $1.50 but taxis do not have meters so haggle your price before you get in. If you rent a car, limousine, bicycle or motorbike, drive on the right-hand side and be aware the roads are in variable condition.

When you enter the BVI by private or charter boat, you need customs and immigration clearance at your entry port. You’ll also need the mandatory Cruising Permit and National Parks Permits when sailing BVI waters, which you can get from customs or talk to us. There is no sales tax on items purchased in the BVI.

The currency is US Dollars and Euros, travelers cheques, Visa and MasterCard are accepted, but American Express isn’t.

ATMs are easily found in Tortola, look for Virgin Gorda First Bank, Banco Popular, Scotia Bank and First Caribbean Bank.

Banks are open Monday to Thursday (8:30am to 3pm) and Friday (8:30am to 5pm).

Getting online is easy with plenty of Wi-Fi spots and cyber cafés. Local internet service providers are Wanadoo, Domaccess, CaribServe, PowerAntilles and ADSL available. There are plenty of letter boxes and the main post office is in Road Town.

Spear fishing is not allowed and illegal drugs are not tolerated. A fishing permit is required for fishing.

Day 1: Overnight at Hodge’s Creek Marina, Tortola, and get to know your boat. You can provision at Riteway in advance or grab some supplies that night.

Day 2: Head to Virgin Gorda and the Baths Marine Park for a snorkel or hike to Devil’s Bay through the maze of giant boulders on the beach and grab a bite at Top of the Baths on the way. Make for North Lee Bay, Fallen Jerusalem, for amazing swimming and snorkeling among vibrant marine life. End the day at Virgin Gorda’s “North Sound” and enjoy drinks and dinner at the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina. You can also stock up on water and ice there.

Day 3: Sail to the low-lying coral island of Anegada to see flamingos, salt ponds and white sandy beaches. Try the native lobster and rum smoothies at the Reef Hotel or conch at Big Bamboo, Loblolly Bay. In November, you can join in the fun of the famous two-day lobster festival.

Day 4: Visit Monkey Point, Guana Island, for amazing snorkeling and turtle spotting. The National Park moorings are still there.

Day 5: Make for Sandy Cay National Park and anchor off White Bay, Jost van Dyke, to visit the array of famous bars. Visit the Soggy Dollar Bar to try their infamous painkiller cocktail, or head to Foxy’s and Corsairs at Great Harbour.

Day 6: Sail to Soper’s Hole and grab a bite to eat at Pusser’s Landing or Omar’s Cafe. Sail around to the Indians Marine Park for snorkeling, near Peter Island, and overnight anchor at Norman Island’s mooring balls at The Bight, Kelly’s Cove, Privateer Bay and Soldier Bay or anchor in deep water at Benures Bay.

Day 7: Explore the caves on Norman Island before sailing to Rhone Marine Park to snorkel over the steamer wreck, RMS Rhone that sank in 1867. Head to Cooper Island and Cistern Point for snorkelling or Hallovers Bay.

Day 8: Back to Hodge’s Creek Marina, Tortola, to disembark.

Day 1: Overnight at Hodge’s Creek Marina, Tortola, and get to know your boat. You can provision at Riteway in advance or grab some supplies that night.

Day 2: Enjoy snorkeling at the caves at Norman Island for brilliant underwater exploration. You can use the mooring balls at The Bight, Kelly’s Cove, Privateer Bay and Soldier Bay or anchor in deep water at Benures Bay.

Day 3: Navigate to Virgin Gorda in the morning, explore the large boulders and water caves known as The Baths. Eat at the Top of the Baths restaurant, continue through to Devil’s Bay beach and spend in the night in Gorda Sound. You can dine at the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina in “North Sound”.

Day 4: Take the time to get to know Gorda Sound and sail onwards around Prickly Pear Island to Eustatia Sound, which has fantastic anchorages. Head over to North Lee Bay, Fallen Jerusalem, for vibrant marine life and clear snorkeling.

Day 5: Find healthy coral at the Coral Gardens, Dog Islands. There’s plenty of fish off the Great Dog coast, where you can use the red mooring balls. At George Dog, snorkel on the south-west side and visit Kitchen Point beach.

Day 6: Carry on to Jost Van Dyke, moor at White Bay and swim up to the beach to try one of the famous Painkiller cocktails from the Soggy Dollar Bar. At Great Harbour, Foxy’s and Corsairs beach bar and restaurant are also open for a lively atmosphere.

Day 7: Spend the morning at Jost Van Dyke before heading over to Peter Island to snorkel at the Indians. You can moor at Deadman’s Bay, Whelk Bay, White Bay, Key Bay and Great Harbour.

Day 8: From Peter Island, take your time while heading back to the base for one last night.

Day 9: Disembark

Day 1: Overnight at Hodge’s Creek Marina, Tortola, and get to know your boat. You can provision at Riteway in advance or grab some supplies that night.

Day 2: Get in a great day of sailing to Peter Island to snorkel the Indians’ underwater paradise. You can find anchorages at Deadman’s Bay, Whelk Bay, White Bay, Key Bay and Great Harbour.

Day 3: Enjoy another BVI top snorkeling spot at the caves, Privateer Bay, Norman Island. Dine at Pirates Bight restaurant or The Club and use mooring balls at Kelly’s Cove and Soldier Bay. It’s nice and peaceful at Benures Bay.

Day 4: You need to visit White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, home to the famous Soggy Dollar Bar, where you can swim up to the beach and relax with a famous Painkiller cocktail. Try Foxy’s, a famous BVI bar, or Corsairs beach bar at Great Harbour too.

Day 5: Head over to Monkey Point, Guana Island, to find vibrant marine life that is perfect for snorkeling.

Day 6: Make your way to the Dog Islands and snorkel at the Coral Gardens to find healthy coral. There’s plenty of fish off the coast of Great Dog, where the red mooring balls are still intact. At George Dog, snorkel on the south-west side and visit Kitchen Point beach.

Day 7: Explore Virgin Gorda in the morning with its large boulders and water caves known as The Baths. Eat at the Top of the Baths restaurant, continue through to Devil’s Bay beach and spend in the night in Gorda Sound. You can dine at the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina in “North Sound”.

Day 8: Spend the day exploring Gorda Sound and sail around Prickly Pear Island to Eustatia Sound, which has beautiful anchorages.

Day 9: Sail to the low-lying coral island of Anegada to see flamingos, salt ponds and white sandy beaches. Try the native lobster and rum smoothies at the Reef Hotel or conch at Big Bamboo, Loblolly Bay. In November, you can join in the fun of the famous two-day lobster festival.

Day 10: Head to Cooper Island and Cistern Point for snorkelling or Hallovers Bay.

Day 11: Head to the Rhone Marine Park to snorkel over the steamer wreck RMS Rhone that sank in 1867. It’s a popular diving spot in the BVIs.

Day 12: Sail to Sandy Cay National Park and then sail onwards to moor at Diamond Cay, Little Jost van Dyke, before heading to Sandy Spit.

Day 13: Head back to base for your final night via Soper’s Hole, where you can grab lunch at Pusser’s Landing or enjoy a coffee with free Wi-Fi at Omar’s Cafe.

Day 14: Disembark

• Only take soft bags and not suit cases as they are too cumbersome onboard
• On land electricity is 110 Volts – 60Hz (pack an American adaptor)
• Area code from abroad is 00-1-284-49 + 5 figures of your correspondent. Telephone card is available on spot (Cable & Wireless)
• Cell Phones can work depending on zones but don’t forget the roaming fees!
• There is internet access via cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots, but you may need to pay
• If you want to rent water toys in the BVIs, we are an affiliate partner of Island Surf and Sail