British Virgin Islands (BVIs) – The Sailing Fancyland

You would be thinking why the title focuses on the sailing aspect of these whimsy islands. Well, can you imagine a seashore of hundreds of salty coves where constant winds blow over carrying humble tides? If you can, you will point that this coast is worth for sailing and that many boats and ships can be seen here. Dipped with over 40 islands, the archipelago of British Virgin Islands (BVIs) are throng by visitors including Hollywood Celebes, the rich, and yachters all round the year.

Check out for most lively islands here that include Tortola – the capital, Virgin Gorda – the splendor, Jost Van Dyke – the cheerful, and Anegada – the terrifying. The rest have less to offer such as shipwrecks for diving such that some of them are not even populated.

The good news here for an adventurer and a self-explorer is that all these inlets are accessible through a personal boat that can be hired, as the archipelago offers charter boat.

British Virgin Islands Tourist Attractions

Anegada

Do not fear if I tell you that this is a fatal island that has a terrifying history of sinking over 300 marine vessels. Oh! Seems as reflecting this in its name, the island obtains it from the Spanish word ‘drowned’ or ‘flooded’. You would definitely like to know the reason behind this. The island is quite down such that is height above the sea level is 28 feet maximum making it difficult for the mariners to take their direction until they are ensnared in the enclosing coral web of Horseshoe Reef.

When I explored, I was killed, needless to say characteristically, by its salt ponds flanked by flamingos, budding cacti, and mammoth rock iguanas. Try diving on its shipwrecks or snorkel at absurdly azure waters at Loblolly Bay. From Virgin Gorda, it takes only 1.5 hours via a boat to reach this east virgin. You can see a tiny grip of restaurants and guesthouses.

Please note that there are no banks here and that the Anegada Reef Hotel close to the dock provides you with the information of the virgin.

Tortola

The meaning of this Virgin in Spanish is ‘turtledove’ named after the birds seen flying with coos at the time of arrival of Christopher Columbus. This is the island of bristly peaks and hillsides holding bougainvillea where you are being offered many opportunities to play. Further, you can be a part of full-moon parties and opt to a stay at any of the guesthouses, mountain villas, and beachside resorts.

This virgin is the British Virgin Islands’ (BVIs’) legislative and trade center along with a ferry core.

Cane Garden Bay

This is a turquoise water land enclosed by sheer verdant hills. This is famous for its lively parties along a 1-mile beach with several restaurants. Towards its south, soak yourself into the beautiful array of scenic bays. Near the clusters of shore villas of holidays, explore the local life among the small West Indian settlements.

After the south, we headed for a 25-minute trip towards the north coast via the rocky roads along the mountains.

Copper Mine National Park

We drove a twisting road in Virgin Gorda to be at its southern end that holds this isolated area. In this park, you can observe the stunning stone relics of a chimney, tank, and mine-shaft house. Around 10,000 tons of copper was taken out by the Cornish miners who used to work here between 1838 and 1867, later being abandoned. Stroll on one of the trails through the ruins where the hillside is an attractive picnic spot as the blue sea strike beneath.

Jost Van Dyke

This is a small virgin with a big fame making only a 4 square miles of teal-blue waters, but the status is known to the lands far beyond. All thanks or all credit of this goes to the Calypsonian and philosopher Foxy Callwood who is key character on the island.

The inlet is a great refuge for seafarers and sport questers from more than 4 centuries. In the 17th century, a Dutch pirate made this virgin his center; while on the other hand, in the 18th century, Quakers made this virgin a land of their farmhouse, who were evading religious oppression in England. Lettsome and Callwood, a surviving Quaker surnames, can be found on this island even today in form of descendents of untied slaves.

Similar to Anegada, even this island provides handful of accommodations and no banks.

Bear in mind that many businesses close in September and October.

Sage Mountain National Park

The Sage Mountain is the highest peak in the Virgin Islands rising until 1716 feet and consisting of seven trails ringing this 92-acre land. Do ask a trail map at its entrance located at some 0.3 miles from the vehicle group.

Although not a rainforest, this park still exhibits a lot of features of rainforest. Receiving not even 100 inches of rain each year, the verdant land is breezy and moist inhabited by bo-peep frogs and lizards, 20 feet fern trees, mahogany trees, coco-plum shrubs, and other flora, which appear as they were right from the dinosaur time. Take two hours and come here to also view the remarkable scenes of both the United States Virgin Islands (USVIs) and British Virgin Islands (BVIs).

Best Time to Visit

• Peak season – December 15 to April 15
• Other Times – November, early December, and May for low hotel prices and cruise ships

Accommodations

• Mango Bay Resort at Virgin Gorda – $115 – $970
• Heritage Inn at Tortola – $100 – $285
• Fort Recovery Beachfront Villa & Suites Hotel at Tortola – $210 – $5200
• Icis Villas at Tortola – $125 – $290
• Mongoose Apartments at Tortola – $110 – $180