Guide to island hopping in the BVI~ The British Virgin Islands
Flying into St. Thomas, USVI allows a great beginning to your island hopping yacht vacation. You will be stopping on St. John which is historic island for the sugar cane industry as well as protected as a National Park.
Most of your time will be spent in the British Virgin Islands since it offers a grand variety of anchorages.
FAMOUS PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
ANEGADA is located on the very right upper side of this cluster of volcanic islands. This island is flat compared to the others! Ideal for kite-surfing, fly-boarding, paddle boarding and eating Caribbean lobster.
Interesting Features
Sea Kayaking around ocean reef lagoons.
Horseshoe Reef is filled with over 300 shipwrecks including the HMS Astrea. It’s a great site for snorkeling and diving with an eighteen mile long reef, one of the largest in the world.
Pomato Point Restaurant’s small island museum shows collections from Horseshoe Reef’s shipwrecks.
World Famous Lobster – Anegada is known for its mouth-watering lobster!
Wildlife and Sealife
- Anegada Lobster
- Roseate Flamingos
- Highly Endangered Anegada Rock Iguana (Bones Bight)
- Wild Orchids
- Wild Cattle
- Wild Sage
- Sea Turtles
- Ospreys
BVI Location
Located north east of Tortola and Virgin Gorda
Island Size
15 square miles
Natural Wonders
Loblolly Bay is a beautiful beach, offering three small caves and a wreck. There are plenty of reefs for snorkeling and diving, which lead to a maze of tunnels, drops and caves.
The famous north beaches of Anegada are guarded by reefs just offshore. The beaches also have sweeping curves, offering protected ‘lagoons’.
Large Salt Ponds
Events
- Dark and Stormy Sailing Race
- Lobster Fest
Beaches
Anegada is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches that almost completely surround the island.
Top spots
- Bone Bight
- Cow Wreck
- Loblolly Beach
Fishing
Nutmeg Point – Bonefishing
BEEF ISLAND
Interesting Features
Trellis Bay offers stunning emerald reefs and particularly good windsurfing, as well as plenty of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. This is also the perfect spot to immerse in BVI community as you obtain ‘limin’- a local word for a state of relaxation only attainable in the BVI.
Bellamy Cay sits in Trellis Bay offering markets, workshops, shops, and an art studio.
Airport and ferry services – Most people will arrive into the BVI via the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport (EIS). Visitors then often travel to Tortola via the newly constructed bridge. Ferry services run to Marina Cay and Virgin Gorda from Trellis Bay.
BVI Location
Situated east of Tortola, attached by a bridge.
Events
Trellis Bay Full Moon Party, Fisherman’s Day (Long Bay Beach)
Beaches
- Trellis Bay Beach
- Long Bay (secluded)
- Well Bay Beach (be mindful of private property)
Closest Town or City
Tortola
COOPER ISLAND
Interesting Features
Excellent snorkeling around Cistern Point and Little Carvel Rock.
Wreck Alley offers a great diving spot where derelict vessels have been purposely sunk to provide diving spots and fish habitats.
Water sports – kayaking and paddle boarding.
Wildlife and Sealife
- Indigenous goat population
- Lizards
- Geckos
- Scorpions (non-poisonous)
- Queen Triggerfish
- Puffer Fish
- Yellowtail Snapper
- Angelfish
- Sergeant Major
- Moon Jellyfish (generally harmless)
- Sea Wasp Jellyfish (potentially dangerous)
- Spotted Eagle Ray
- Hawksbill Turtle
BVI Location
Between Salt Island and Ginger Island
Natural Wonders
Markoe Point offers a sheer rock wall plunging 70 feet to the ocean floor, perfect for keen divers.
Beaches
Cooper Island offers a good sandy beach with great views of some of the other islands, as well as providing a fantastic sunset spot.
Fishing
Deep sea fishing available
GINGER ISLAND
Interesting Features
Alice in Wonderland dive site offers one of the best dives in the BVI.
Ginger Steps and Alice’s Backside/Back Door dive sites can also be found on the north shore.
Wildlife and Sea life
- Mushroom Shaped Coral
- Blue Cromis
- Butterfly Fish
- Lobster
- Octopus
- Pompano
- Turtles
BVI Location
Located between Cooper Island and Round Rock
Island Size
258 acres
JOST VAN DYKE
Interesting Features
Watersports and parasailing.
Desert Island Sandy Spit is an ideal spot for exploring, snorkeling and discovering the protected bird park.
Desert Island Sandy Cay offers beautiful beaches, rocks, and flora providing visitors a snippet of everything in this national park.
Green Cay – the playground dive site with white foaming surf and great snorkeling.
Diamond Cay National Park allows visitors to discover natural life in and out of the water, making it the perfect stop for those wanting to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Twin Towers dive site offers a fantastic scuba experience at White Bay.
Little Jost Van Dyke offers breathtaking snorkeling along the shore and reef – the Blue Hole reef is notable as a stunning micro-ecosystem.
Wildlife and Sealife
- Dolphins
- Sea Turtles
- Spotted Eagle & Manta Rays
- Whales
- Lobsters
- Crabs
- Reef Squid
- Juvenile Angelfish
- Glassy Minnows
- Large Dog Snappers
- Tarpon
BVI Location
Located approximately 5 miles north west of Tortola
Island Size
8 square miles
Natural Wonders
Green Cay Reef
Bubbly Pool – situated far east of the island at Diamond Cay, the Bubbly Pool is an incredible naturally-formed tidal pool that acts as a jacuzzi when the tide is up
Salt Ponds
Events
Foxy’s throws famous parties at Great Harbour, including:
- Foxy’s Old Year’s Eve party (involves a giant floating party raft in the harbour)
- Foxy’s Music Fest
- Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta
- Jost Van Dyke Festival
- Foxy’s Cat Fight Regatta & Halloween Party
Beaches
White Bay Beach is one of the best in the BVI!
MARINA CAY
Interesting Features
A beautiful island covered in flowers, surrounded by a soft white sandy beach.
Emerald lagoon with calm waters and warm water.
Fantastic sunset views over Great Camanoe island.
Sea kayaking.
Wildlife and Sealife
Colorful fish and sea life can be found in the coral reef, which largely surrounds the island. This is a great spot for beginner snorkeling and diving.
Island Size
8 acres
NORMAN ISLAND
Interesting Features
Norman Island is known as Treasure Island because of its legends about pirates and buried treasure. It is rumoured to have inspired Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure Island novel.
Snorkeling and Diving is available with Sail Caribbean Divers.
The Bight – take a dinghy over to Pirates Bight and enjoy a great hike up to Spy Glass Hill. Here you can experience a 360 degree view of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
Benures Bay offers a pebble beach with snorkeling at the western end. Hiking over the hill opens up more snorkeling and diving at Money Bay. Just east of the bay is the Spy Glass Dive Site, which has a fantastic sponge and fish covered mini-wall dropping from 20′ to 60′ and occasional sightings of eagle rays.
Wildlife and Sealife
- Waterfowl
- Coral
- Tropical fish
BVI Location
Situated south of Tortola, west of Peter Island and east of U.S. Virgin Islands’ St John
Island Size
2 1/2 Miles long, covering 610 acres
Natural Wonders
The Caves at Treasure Point are a beautiful natural wonder. There are four caves only 4ft deep with a 40ft drop off near the entrance! The caves have unique and enchanting rock formations that can be explored by snorkeling and are teeming with tropical fish for you to discover. Taking an underwater flashlight will allow you to see the beautiful colors and intricacies of the cave walls. For access, moor up at The Bight and take a dinghy over to Treasure Point.
Fantastic diving can be found at Ringdove Rock, Angelfish Reef and Sandy’s Ledge.
PELICAN ISLAND
Interesting Features
Rainbow Canyons is a great little spot for novice snorkelers and divers with shallow areas and with a good variety of sea life. The site offers a good place to spend the day with a nice beach, sand canyons, spur and groove reefs.
Uninhabited Island – Pelican Island is a great untamed location to explore, and apparently especially good after a storm.
Wildlife and Sea life
- Elkhorn
- Sea Fans
- Black Durgons
- Creole Wrasse
- Trunkfish
- Blue Chromis
BVI Location
Situated a short distance north of Norman Island
Natural Wonders
The Indians – incredible rock pinnacles with fantastic diving and snorkeling, including a shallow ‘fish bowl’ of bait fish. There is also a small tunnel and a cave nestled among The Indians. Be wary of surface currents in this area.
PETER ISLAND
Interesting Features
The Peter Island Resort and Spa privately owns Peter Island with only 300 acres developed to preserve the island.
A spa sits next to Big Reef Bay and Beach.
Water sports – Kayaks, Windsurfing, Hobie Cats, Sunfish Sailboats and Paddle boards.
Recreational Activities – Swimming Pools, Hiking, Biking, Beach Volleyball, Fitness Centre, Basketball.
Sunset at The Loop offers a great walking trail.
Coconut Grove Garden.
Big Reef Bay offers a walking trail along the beach, as well as foaming surf.
Shark Point offers a beautiful advanced dive site at Peter Island bluff.
Uninhabited Dead Chest Island National Park offers three dive sites – Coral Gardens, Dead Chest West (archways, caves, bowls, mazes), and Painted Walls (incredible colored coral). This island allegedly gained its name after the notorious Blackbeard (British pirate Arthur Teach) left 15 of his men on the island (after mutiny) with a bottle of rum – hence the song: “15 men on the Dead Man’s Chest, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.”
Wildlife and Sea life
- Green Sea Turtle
- Horse-Eyed Jacks
- Butterfly Fish
- Juvenile Blue Tang
- Starlet Fire Coral
- Hiding Flame Scallops
- Christmas Tree Worms
BVI Location
Located south of Tortola between Norman Island and Salt Island with Dead Man’s Chest (get the treasure island Trail Map) just north of Peter Island.
Island Size
1,800 acres
Natural Wonders
Seagrass beds
Salt ponds
Palm Forests
Carrot Shoal – black coral and rocky ledges
Black Tip Reef
Fearless – a great dive wreck
Truck Reef offers a collection of underwater cars and trucks for a dive with a difference
Events
Weekly events include:
- St. Thomas Excursion Grilling and Smoking Class
- Yoga in Tranquillity Garden
- Managers’ Cocktail Party
- Best of Caribbean Buffet with Steel Pan Band
- Virgin Gorda Sail and Snorkel Excursion to The Baths
- Vintner’s Five-Course Wine Dinner
- Seafood Gala Buffet with Live Entertainment
- St. Thomas Day Trip
Beaches
- Deadman’s Bay Beach
- Little Deadman’s Beach
- White Bay Beach
- Honeymoon Beach
- Big Reef Bay and Beach
Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing is available
PRICKLY PEAR ISLAND
Interesting Features
BVI National Park
An Uninhabited Island offering excellent hiking from Sand Box Bar to the North Beach
North Beach offers a great spot for swimming and snorkeling
Water sports facilities
Wildlife and Sea life
- Cacti
- Red Mangroves
- White and Black Mangroves
- Sea Urchins
Prickly Pear is also home to many resident and migratory birds.
BVI Location
Located in the North Sound, north of Virgin Gorda and between Mosquito and Eustatia Islands
Island Size
243 acres
Natural Wonders
Four Salt Ponds
Beaches
The northern and eastern shores boast two of the best beaches in the territory.
Closest Town or City
Spanish Town
Local Amenities
The Sand Box Grille and Bar (Vixen Point)
SALT ISLAND
Interesting Features
Salt Island is known for its salt ponds, which provided seasoning for the local islands as well as for passing ships.
The Wreck of the RMS Rhone (a Royal Mail Steamer that went down in 1867 during a hurricane) can be found at the Rhone Marine National Park, and is popular for being one of the Caribbean’s most well preserved wrecks.
Salt Island dive sites also include Rhone Reef, Blonde Rock and Vanishing Rocks.
Hiking to Salt Ponds offers a great break from water adventures.
The Cemetery & Wall commemorating sailors from the Rhone is also well worth a visit.
Wildlife and Sealife
- Angel fish
- Parrot fish
- Snappers
- Grunts
- Stingrays
- Eagle Rays
- Turtles
BVI Location
Located between Peter Island, Dead Chest Island and Cooper Island.
Natural Wonders
Salt Ponds
Beaches
Salt Island Bay Beach is a great place to enjoy a day as it is usually deserted.
Closest Town or City
Road Town, Tortola
SALT ISLAND
Interesting Features
Salt Island is known for its salt ponds, which provided seasoning for the local islands as well as for passing ships.
The Wreck of the RMS Rhone (a Royal Mail Steamer that went down in 1867 during a hurricane) can be found at the Rhone Marine National Park, and is popular for being one of the Caribbean’s most well preserved wrecks.
Salt Island dive sites also include Rhone Reef, Blonde Rock and Vanishing Rocks.
Hiking to Salt Ponds offers a great break from water adventures.
The Cemetery & Wall commemorating sailors from the Rhone is also well worth a visit.
Wildlife and Sea life
- Angel fish
- Parrot fish
- Snappers
- Grunts
- Stingrays
- Eagle Rays
- Turtles
BVI Location
Located between Peter Island, Dead Chest Island and Cooper Island.
Natural Wonders
Salt Ponds
Beaches
Salt Island Bay Beach is a great place to enjoy a day as it is usually deserted.
Closest Town or City
Road Town, Tortola
SCRUB ISLAND
Interesting Features
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina
Historical Tour of Tortola
Spa
Wildlife and Sealife
- Yellow Frogfish
- Angel fish
- Snappers
- Golden-Faced Coney
BVI Location
North east of Beef Island
Island Size
230 acres
Beaches
- North Beach
- Pavilion Beach
- Honeymoon Beach
Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing is available
Closest Town or City
Trellis Bay
Local Amenities
- Caravela Restaurant
- Carvela’s Rum Bar
- Tierra! Tierrra!
- Gourmet Market and CafÈ
- One Shoe Beach Bar and Grill