The British Virgin Islands (BVI)
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The British Virgin Islands are simply true paradise, the most relaxing and beautiful place to go for a sailing vacation. Great winds, sea conditions and temperatures almost all year round, short distances between the islands, many beautiful white sandy beaches, awesome snorkeling and diving spots and the typical beach bar/restaurants hidden in every island are some of the facts that make this place such an ideal destination.
Tortola
Tortola is the most popular island out of all the BVI from which to start your journey. It offers a wide variety of places to stay, ranging from campgrounds to luxury resorts and private villas. Most of the yacht charter companies are based here and most likely this is where you will fly or pick up a ferry in to start your trip through the British Virgin Islands. The following are some of the main ports.
Cane Garden Tortola’s most popular beach, located in the north shore, has lots of restaurants beach bars and gift shops. Cane Garden is also home to the annual BVI Music Festival.
Soper’s Hole Is a very picturesque and colorful marina, with lots of little gift shops, a dive shop, well stocked supermarket and a couple of restaurants, located on the west end of Tortola.
Trellis Bay Located in the east end of Tortola, is famous for the full moon parties with live music and entertainment, good for those who like festivals.
Road Town Is the main Town and government center for all the BVI.
Virgen Gorda
Virgin Gorda is blessed with many extraordinary natural attractions, great people, exquisite restaurants and some extremely nice villas. The following are some of our favorite spots.
The Bath Is the most popular and beautiful natural attraction in the BVI. This is an area with giant white boulders forming spectacular sea pools and grottoes, anchored on both sides by two exquisite beaches, Spring Bay and Devil’s Bay. In this breath taking destination you can spend the day exploring, hiking, swimming and snorkeling.
Spanish TownIs the main Town and marina and a good place to go shopping. You’ll find a nice supermarket, a couple of gift shops and some really nice restaurants.
North SoundIs a beautiful area worth visiting. North Sound has couple small marinas many restaurants, cute beaches and walking trails. The Bitter End Yacht Club and Resort is the most famous place in this area. Here you can rent all kinds of water sport equipment and also take classes to learn how to sail, wind surf, Kite board and dive, or you can just relax by the beach or the resort spa. Saba Rock, Biras Creek, and Leverick Bay are the other marinas in this area, also nice places to check out. The North Sound area is surrounded by a series of small islands. Prickly Pear Island is the best choice if you are looking for beaches and The Dogs Islands are great for some wild snorkeling.
Jost Van Dyke
In JVD you may feel like time slows down and you also may notice that the people from here are much more laid back and simple than on the other islands. Next are some of our favorite spots.
White Bay True paradise beach, White Bay beach looks like is taken out of a magazine! Here you’ll be enchanted with the crystal clear water and a long white sand beach that host lots of beach bars hidden between the palm trees. Soggy Dollar and Stress Free Bar are two of the most popular bars around here.
Sandy Cay Deserted little island with a spectacular white sand beach and palm tree forest in the middle, it also looks like is taken out of a magazine!!
Little Harbor A very protected bay perfect to spend the night in and have dinner at Sidney’s, one of the oldest and more welcoming places in JVD. Sidney’s Peace and Love restaurant is famous for their fresh lobster and there honor system bar. You can bring an old T shirt, sign it and hang it on their roof and if you come back years later you will find it there.
Great Harbor Main Town, even thought it looks more like a sand road with a couple restaurants and stores. Here is the famous bar/restaurant Foxy’s Tamarind known for the New Year parties, and their weekend Caribbean BBQ Buffet that is really good.
Norman Island
Also called Treasure Island because many tales of pirates and sunken treasures where born here. The Pirates Bight main anchorage is a great place to spend the day and night; here you will find a very calm small beach. By the beach is Pirates Bar/Restaurant with nice food and live music on the weekends, also in the middle of the bay is a floating Bar/Restaurant called Willy T wich is super famous for people’s wild behavior while partying in here. On the outside of the bay are two of the best places to go snorkeling, The Caves and The Indians, both have lots of fish and beautiful corals!!!
Peter Island
The Peter Island five stars resort, is the main attraction on the island, and the best part is that sailors coming to visit the resort harbor Sprat Bay, are welcome to share most of the same facilities as the guest staying in the extremely expensive villas.
Cooper Island
Manchioneel Bay is the main anchorage, here you will find a nice beach a bar/restaurant with excellent food and a very friendly staff. Also at swimming distance, is a great snorkeling spot called Cistern Rock.
Marina Cay Island
Very cute little island with a small beach surrounded by spectacular colored water. This spot is home to Pusser’s Rum bar/restaurant and gift shop.
Scrub Island
Mainly a Marina with great facilities which include a pool, gym and spa, excellent restaurant, a boutique and a deli.
Anegada
A very flat isolated island surrounded by a reef. Anegada is known for its fresh lobster and also for a very beautiful beach called Loblolly, located in the far side of the island, a half-hour away in car from the only anchorage.
Spanish Virgin Islands
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A long time ago the Spanish Virgin Islands were off limits to charter yachts and they haven’t been fully discovered by the tourist yet. If you would like to go back in time to some unspoiled, beautiful, solitary bays, this is the place you are looking for.They are mainly two big islands and a bunch of small cays. As part of Puerto Rico, the SVI are US territory, and this makes them a very convenient destination for American travelers.
Culebra
With at least eight beautiful protected bays, many snorkeling spots and its famous “Playa Flamenco”, one of the top beaches in the world, Culebra is a great sailing destination.
Culebrita
Culebrita is personally my favorite of the Spanish Virgin Island, completely uninhabited; it has a spectacular snorkeling area in one side and an outstanding beautiful white sand paradise beach in the other side.
Vieques
The island of Vieques although it has many beautiful beaches, is mostly famous for its bioluminescent bay which is something you definitely should not miss.
US Virgin Islands
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St. John
St. Johns island is mostly a national park with a very cute little town and many beautiful beaches, private villas and small resorts, good place to rent a car and explore all the different roads and hidden spots.
St. Thomas
St. Thomas is another option, a little bit over populated for my likes, but if you are looking for duty free shopping this is a good place to go.
Other Islands
If you are interested on visiting any other Caribbean islands like St. Martin, Antigua, St. Vincent, Granada or The Grenadines just let us know and we will give you more information about the sailing vacation options in any of these islands.
