British Virgin Islands

No Visa required to enter the BVI, English US visa required for USVI sailing, French US visa required for USVI sailing, German US visa required for USVI sailing, Italian US visa required for USVI sailing, US visa has to be obtained in your country at US embassy.

Currency: US Dollar

Credit Cards: Visa, Master Card, No American Express

ATMs: You will find ATM locations all over Tortola, and Virgin Gorda First Bank, Banco Popular, Scotia Bank, First Caribbean Bank

Traveler Checks: Yes

Banking Hours: Mon-Thurs. – 8:30am – 3:00pm, Fri. 8:30 – 5:00pm

No spear fishing allowed, Fishing Permit required for fishing, No illegal drugs are tolerated.

Upon entering the BVI by private or charter boat, Clearance must be made at the first port of entry. Cruising Permit and National Parks Permit is Mandatory when sailing on the BVI waters. These permits are issued with customs or your local charter company.

There is no Sales Tax on items purchased in the BVI.

Time Difference:

From UK: GMT – 5hrs in Winter, GMT – 6hrs in summer
From USA East Coast: Hour + 1 in the Winter
From USA West Coast: Hour + 4 in the Winter

Many cybercafés are available. The Internet Service Providers are: Wanadoo, Domaccess, Caribserve, Powerantilles, ADSL available. Wi-Fi access points.

Post office: You will find post offices close to the Marinas of Marigot and plenty of letter boxes.

Transport: Many mini-vans drive around the island all day long. The fare is 1.50 USD. Like the locals do, stand by the side of the road and wave at the vans passing by to stop them.

If you wish to make your life easier, a good number of car rentals are available. Note that it is important to compare the prices between the various rentals. Limousines are also available for rent on the island.

Bicycle and motorbike rentals are also available, but beware of the traffic!

As soon as you land on the island, taxi drivers will propose their services. The cabs generally have no meter, so haggle your fare before getting in the car. Cars drive on the right hand side of the road, and there are about 3 traffic lights on the entire island. The condition of the roads is not always are the best, so drive carefully.

Day 1: Boarding at 18:00 (6 pm) in Hodges Creek Marina, Tortola – Sleep on the yacht for the night at the marina.

Day 2: From the marina, the yacht will depart for a short sail across to the Baths marine park (6 nm/1 hour). Enjoy snorkeling at the most beautiful spot of the BVIs or hike from the beach to Devil Bay through a maze of giant boulders. After lunch, the boat will set sail for another short navigation (6nm/1 hour) to Prickly Pear Island located in the Virgin Gorda Sound, or head over to the Bitter End Yacht Club.

Day 3: Starting at 8 am sail across from Virgin Gorda to Anegada (12 nm/2 hours). Once at anchor and you can take a safari bus from Setting Point to Loblolly Bay located on the North Shore (taxi price: 15 usd/pax). Throughout the trip enjoy the beautiful features of the Sunken Island (flamingos, salt ponds, breathtaking white sandy beaches).

Day 4: Depart at 8 am for a 2 hours navigation and will stop at Monkey Point, Guana Island. It is described as one of the best snorkeling spot on the island with plenty of turtles and school of fishes very close to shore. After, set sail for Cane Garden Bay (6 nm/1 hour) and stay overnight. You can enjoy a nice walk on the sandy beach that is nested in between coconut trees and the local village.

Day 5: Depart to Sandy Cay (3 nm/30 minutes) a national park donated by the Rockefeller family to the BVI’s. Dinghy you ashore and enjoy a beautiful short trail through the island. Then anchor off White Bay for lunch. Nested in between palm trees you will discover the infamous Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the painkiller cocktail. For the evening sail over to Great Harbor (1.5 nm/15 minutes).

Day 6: 9.30 am set sail to West End, Tortola (3 nm/30 minutes) and anchor off at Soppers Hole marina, a beautiful Caribbean Harbor worth the visit. After lunch, navigate to the Indians Marine Park (4 nm/45 minutes) where you can enjoy snorkeling in crystal clear waters. Normal Island and the Bight Bay will be your overnight anchor. This bay is famous for being the location of the famous William Thorton, a ship turned into a floating bar.

Day 7: At 8.30 am depart from Norman Island and sail to the Rhone marine park (6 nm/1 hour) where you can snorkel on top of the steamer wreck that sank in 1867 during a hurricane. After lunch, head to Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island (1.5 nm/15 minutes) for the last night. This beach is often mentioned as one the best in the BVI’s.

Day 8: Morning sailing back to base (3 nm/30 minutes), Hodges Creek Marina, Tortola – Disembarkation at 9.00 am.

Day 1: Transfer to Maya Cove base

Day 2: Maya Cove, Norman Island

Day 3: Norman Island, the Baths, Gorda Sound

Day 4: Gorda Sound, various moorings.

Day 5: Gorda Sound, The Dogs, Marina Cay

Day 6: Marina Cay, Monkey point, Cane Garden or Jost Van Dyke

Day 7: Cane Garden ou Jost Van Dyke / Green Cay / Peter Island

Day 8: Peter Island / Maya Cove

Day 9: Disembarkation

Day 1: Arrival at Maya Cove

Day 2: Peter Island (North Mooring)

Day 3: Norman Island

Day 4: Jost Van Dik

Day 5: Cane Garden

Day 6: Marina Cay

Day 7: Bitter End Marina

Day 8: Anegada

Day 9: Trellis Bay

Day 10: Savannah Bay (Virgin Gorda)

Day 11: Cooper Island

Day 12: Peter Island (South Mooring)

Day 13: Maya Cove

Day 14: Disembark at Maya Cove

Base Manager
Yann Leboyer
Tel: + (1 284) 495 2154
Mob: + (1 284) 346 86 18

Getting There
International flights via Saint Martin (Air France – KLM – Corsair – Air Caraïbes – list of companies (http://www.st-martin.org/fr/mon_voyage/comment_venir.php) connections with local airlines with American Eagle Airlines and LIAT.

International flights via San Juan (Puerto Rico) list of companies (http://www.b-v-i.com/Transportation/SanJuanAirport/default.htm) connections with local airlines with American Eagle Airlines and LIAT.

Transfers
Can be organized by the base (upon request) / 10 mn between Beef Island airport (EIS) and base (about 3,5 km).

Formalities
Valid passport – Beware – for visiting American Virgin Islands, you need a visa.

Weather Forecasts
Daily weather forecasts in English on CaribWx (ZBVI radio 780 AM).

Commercial Centers
Supermarket in town, the best is to go by taxi, but the most convenient is online orders with http://www.rtwbvi.com/ or e-mail: provisioning@rtwbvi.com

Credit Cards / Accepted Currencies
Master & Visa credit card are accepted but most of transactions are done cash (US$). USD is mainly used; euros accepted.

Attention
For clients who want to visit US Virgin Islands, they must be advised that an American visa C1 or B1 is mandatory, must be requested 6 months prior charter start. Customers must take the necessary registration steps on Internet if they are part of the eligible countries (mandatory since 12th January 2009): major part of European countries. Please check on the US embassy web site in your country.

Things to Know
– Only soft bags – No suite case (rigid suite cases are too cumbersome).
– On land electricity is 110 Volts – 60Hz (American plugs – get an adaptor).
– Telephone – Area code from abroad 00-1-284-49 + 5 figures of your correspondent) – telephone card available on spot (Cable & Wireless).
– Cellular phones – some can work (depending on zones) – do not forget roaming fees!
– Internet Access (Access spots = Access spots),
– (WiFi = WiFi ou (BVI Marine wifi = BVI Marine wifi) (admission charge)