The largest of the British Virgin Islands, and home to the capital of Road Town, Tortola serves as the main entry point and cultural center. Road Town offers lively streets where local spices, jams and art can be purchased. Numerous restaurants serve up fresh lobster and conch spiced with local flavors. Vacationers can relax on Tortola's numerous coconut palm-lined secluded beaches such as Apple Bay, Long Bay Beach and Smuggler's Cove. Historical sites, such as Fort Burt, Mount Healthy Windmill or Callwood's Rum Distillery offer tourists a chance to explore the interior. Sage National Park offers a shaded retreat from the tropical sun on its forested trails through the volcanic mountain peaks of the island. Luxury resorts and quaint cottages provide an array of lodging choices.
BVI Tourist Board
AKARA Building
2nd Floor
De Castro Street
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
284-494-3134
bvitourism.com
With only about 200 inhabitants living on the island, Jost Van Dyke offers a relaxed island feel. Accessible only by boat of ferry, Jost Van Dyke offers small hotels, cozy beach cottages and rustic camping sites as bases to laze away the day. The island's harbor is a popular anchoring spot for visiting sailboats. Lively seaside bars and restaurants dot the beaches. The popular Painkiller tropical rum drink was invented here. Vacationers can explore the island on one of many tropical trails through the forest. Abandoned sugar mills may provide interesting stops. The nearby islands of Sandy Cay and Little Jost provide day-trip opportunities for sunning, snorkeling and diving adventures. The reefs abound with shipwrecks that fell victim to the rocky coral in centuries' past.
BVI Tourist Board
AKARA Building
2nd Floor
De Castro Street
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
284-494-3134
bvitourism.com
Named by Christopher Columbus for the island's unique shape, Virgin Gorda is a luxury lover's paradise. Surrounded by yacht clubs and elegant resorts, the third largest island in the chain is a favorite spot for vacationers seeking upscale seclusion. Numerous national parks provide rugged trails through pristine island wilderness. "The Baths," a popular feature with large granite boulders that form grottos and saltwater pools, is a favorite spot to spend the day exploring, swimming and snorkeling. Local arts and crafts, as well as fashionable resort wear, can be found at the many retail shops. Upscale cuisine and casual cart vendors fill the streets with spicy aromas. Some resorts are accessible only by boat and revel in their postcard seclusion. Hotel lodging and beachfront cottages are also available.
BVI Tourist Board
AKARA Building
2nd Floor
De Castro Street
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
284-494-3134
bvitourism.com
