Here is a list of the Top 5 places to visit in the BVI, (POST IRMA) with picturesNo. 1 Spring bay, Virgin Gorda. This magnificent Virgin Gorda beach, which is adjacent to The Baths, is a great place for snorkeling, swimming or just hanging out in the sun, probably one of the most beautiful bays in Virgin Gorda if not the whole British Virgin Islands, a must-stop on any BVI sailing vacation or charter, Reviewed March 2018 Jennifer wrote "Absolutely beautiful turquoise water!!! Such a serene stretch of breathtaking beach. We were going to snorkel, but the water was way too cold for this southern girl! We climbed over/around some rocks and enjoyed the waves crashing instead. It was so beautiful that we went back again another day!" No. 2 Horseshoe Reef, Anegada. This Anegada reef is the third largest in the world and the site of many shipwrecks, making it a diver’s dream, Anegada used to be an intimidating trip for first time charterers in the BVI but now due to accurate GPS and chart plotters on almost every charter boat in the fleet the cautious mariner can safely navigate the tricky entrance into this one of a kind Island paradise in the BVI. Reviewed by Janver in May 2018 he wrote "Our group joined Captain Kelly on our second day in Anegada for a 4 hour excursion and needless to say, we were blown with the scenery and tribal knowledge the Kelly presented to us! He knew exactly where the big Lobbeys were hiding and got us up close and personal to the stunning pink flamingos. We also had the opportunity to take some fresh conch home to make some wonderful ceviche. Kellys passion for the islands and preserving its well being will allow myself and future generations to be in continued awe of this amazing place #bvistrong" No.3 White Bay Jost Van Dyke. The classic white sand beach, rum bar, azure blue sea, there is something unmistakable about this spot, instantly recognizable in any photo, this quiet little beach is transformed during the day into the party spot! People watching? This is definitely the place to do it but get there early as the anchorage can fill up quickly. Reviewed by Lucy August 2018 she wrote "Literally, our favorite place on earth (STILL)! We just made a return trip to Jost in August 2018. Fearing the worst, we weren't sure what to expect, but White Bay has been mostly restored to it's pristine glory after being ravaged by 2 Cat 5 Hurricanes less than 1 year ago. New mature palms have been planted and the beach bar favorites have been rebuilt/restored. The water is as crystal clear as ever and the white sand is as pure and clean as I've ever seen it. The locals have clearly worked their tails off rebuilding, and the result is nothing short of amazing. Every time we return to White Bay is better than the last, and we can't wait to come back again soon! If you've never been, you're missing out on the best beach in the Caribbean. If you've been before, you already know what you are missing so hustle back and show the locals your support by having a few Painkillers and getting some BVI Strong merchandise! No.4 Savannah / Pond Bay, Virgin Gorda. Virgin Gorda's loveliest beach is a long strand of powdery white coastline lapped by placid waters, can be tricky to get into and off limits to some charter companies very often you can be the only boat in the anchorage and the sunsets are quite stunning, not recommended in a Northerly swell. Reviewed by Roamin April 2018 he wrote "We went here on a day trip to the baths. We sailed with four couples and took a dingy in, then took a taxi to the baths. After lunch at the top of the baths we got a taxi over to Savannah Bay. We literally had this beach all to ourselves. Our driver left for a while and returned with beer for our group and we mostly splashed in the water with our drinks in hand. We took one of the best photos of our entire trip here. The beach is clean, and the sand is soft and perfect for walking barefoot or wading in the water." No.5 RMS Rhone wreck dive. Park that encompasses the wreck of the HMS Rhone, a mail ship that sunk during a hurricane in 1867. People still travel from all over the world to dive the famous wreck of the "Rhone" the dive site suffered some minor damage from the hurricanes but is still a world class wreck dive. Here is what Scott and to say in July 2018 "This is still a fantastic dive, even after the hurricane. Really great photography opportunities and a good place if you have divers of varying skill levels (novices on the prop, more advanced divers on the deeper sections)." Images and reviews courtesy of Tripadvisor
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7 day charter in the BVISo you are still a bit nervous about chartering in the BVI and are worried about the horror stories of devastation, well don't be, because the fact is 90 % of your time will be spent cruising the wonderful bays and Islands in the British Virgin Islands that have mainly escaped unharmed, the greenery is growing back, the beaches are still golden, the diving is still world-class, and the sea is still a beautiful blue-green color that can only be found in the BVI, the mainland is starting to recover so that being said here is my recommendations for a sample 7 day Itinerary in the BVI on-board a bareboat mono or Catamaran. Day 1. Most charters start at Midday in the various charter bases on the main Island Tortola, to save some time you can always use Ritway Food stores https://www.rtwbvi.com/howto to get your provisions delivered straight to your boat (They deliver to all BVI charter boat locations). Once off the dock head straight over to Great Harbour, Peter Island for one of the many mooring balls in the anchorage, first night will be the famous Willie T floating bar and restaurant for an evening of mayhem, the new boat boasts a huge upper deck with lots of tables, the new bathrooms are clean and organized all great improvements from the original and you can still jump off the top deck, a right of passage for any BVI charter vacation. Day 2. Head East from Great Harbor towards the South West tip of Salt Island for the wreck of the Rhone, you can pick up one of the many mooring balls there, and snorkell right over the wreck (Good visibility in 25' of water around the stern section) , once done you can continue along the reef where there are lots of fish and creatures to see, watch out for the surge along the southern end, from there head east again to Cooper Island early in the afternoon to pick up a mooring for the night (Cooper always gets full up quick so get there as soon as possible), great spot for paddle boarding and snorkeling the various reefs there, the rocks off Cistern point is a great place to Snorkel, always a great place to hang out for the day and cocktails at sunset at the Rum bar is a must. Day 3. Head over to the Baths early in the day to avoid the crowds, lunch on the anchorage or at the restaurant " The Top of the Baths" a short hike up the trail from the beach, if there are North swells in the winter this coastline can be a bit rolly and sometimes untenable so I recommend heading up to North Sound, Virgin Gorda in the afternoon and anchor in fine sand off Prickly Pear Island or take a mooring or slip at Leverick Bay resort, always very reasonable and welcoming in this great little resort and the perfect place to re-provision mid-week, the grocery store is well stocked there and you will find lots of items there not available anywhere else on your trip. Day 4. Leave early and head North to Anegada for a day of adventure on the Sandy Isle, for the adventurous we always rent some scooters and explore the Island, Cow Wreck to the West and Big Banana to the east, 3 hours is plenty to see all the sights and even spot thew famous Pink Flamingoes on the way back, a beach BBQ at one of the many fine restaurants is a must on Anegada and of course hardwood smoked Lobster is the main event for the evening, dance the night away at Potters for those with some energy left! Day 5. Another early start and straight to White Bay, Jost Van Dyke for a beach day in THE place to be seen in the BVI, the famous Soggy Dollar bar, which has been rebuilt and is just as much fun as ever and, depart around 4pm to Great Harbor for an evening at the famous Foxy's Tamarind bar, still a place not to be missed on any BVI itinerary, if you are lucky enough to be there on a Friday or Saturday the all you can eat BBQ is the best in the Islands. Day 6. Continue Anti-Clockwise around Tortola and head on over towards Norman Island, moor off the Indians if there is room for a snorkel and then head into the Bight for the evening, Snorkel the Caves before sunset and then drinks at "Pirates" restaurant. Day 7. Your charter is nearly over just time for a quick dip before you head back to your charter base and return your home for the week at Midday, start planning the next one! AuthorSteve Varrow has over 60,000 ocean miles as skipper including 5 trans-atlantic deliveries and has been sailing, instructing and chartering full time in the Caribbean since 2005. |
Andrea González Yacht Charter Broker Let's explore the islands together for your next adventure! |