Day 1 in Tortola Island
Welcome to Tortola Island! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check-in, and head out to explore! There is so much for you to see and do!
We recommend you get acquainted with the island, chances are you arrived in the capital of the island Road Town, many cafes, shops, restaurants, galleries, and bars line Main Street here. Wander around and stop into the shops, then choose a restaurant of your choice for a delicious lunch accompanied by a refreshing tropical cocktail, like the island`s famed `Painkiller`. Don’t miss Cockroach Hall on Main Street, built on a huge rock, and check out the charming, colorful architecture in town, it's very island-esque.
Head to the beach or your accommodations, which will most likely be beachfront or allow access to the miles of soft white sand that encircles Tortola. You can take this time to absorb the island's atmosphere, swim in the resort pool, bask in some of the on-site amenities, or make your way to one of the magical tropical beaches the island is known for.
Cane Garden Bay is said to be the finest beach on the island, nestled under verdant hills boasting soft white sand in a secluded bay lined by swaying palm trees. Relax on the beach, soak up the sun, and cool off in the tranquil turquoise waters, which also offer plenty of watersport activities and sailing adventures. This beach is the center of activity on the island where visitors can spend time on the beach or in the waters with a plethora of activities such as boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and jet skiing. You may wish to spend the rest of your day here, unwinding and capture a sunset, Cane Garden is a happening place to be after the sun goes down, with happy hours aplenty, live music and bustling bars, and great restaurants to enjoy with a fun laid back atmosphere.
Tortola is one of the top sailing destinations in the world, with its luxury yacht-filled harbors, there are many opportunities to get out on the water with a sailing charter. Take a romantic sunset sail and soak up the island from the stunning surrounding turquoise waters.
Day 2 in Tortola Island
Take an early morning stroll along the beachfront and feel the soft white sand between your toes, rinse off with a refreshing swim and head out to one of the local cafes, or restaurants for some breakfast. Many local places specialize in breakfast, stop into one of the local bakeries that serve pate, similar to an empanada filled with chicken, meat, fish, or veggies, pick up some picnic items for lunch later.
Head out to Sage Mountain, which stands tall over the island at 1,716 feet above sea level on Tortola, it is the highest peak on all of the Virgin Islands. The first national park established in the B.V. Island, the park sits 1,000 feet above sea level filled with lush verdant rainforest, filled with a plethora of trees, such as hanging vines, ferns, cedar and mahogany, colorful flowers, and tropical birds. Explore the park along with one of the 12 fun looped hiking trails that take you through the forest that leads to some pretty magnificent sweeping viewpoints. Find a shaded spot to sit back and enjoy your picnic lunch in the stunning scenic surroundings. Hummingbirds, martins, and kestrels can be spotted in the park, be sure to bring your camera!
Make your way to Rhone National Park, via a dive trip or boat tour, where the shipwrecked RMS Rhone lies, a British mail steamer wrecked against the rocks during a hurricane in 1867. The intact vessel sits off the southwest coast of Salt Island, the wreck today is one of the island's best diving sites, intermediate and advanced divers can swim inside the coral-encrusted bow of the old ship and see schools of snappers, grunts, soldierfish, and parrotfish and other marine life like turtles, eels and lobsters. The marine park also includes two coral caves that sit 85 feet below sea level, and Blonde Rock, another premier dive site through tunnels and caves.
Head out to Norman Isle, which lies 32 miles across the Drake Channel from Tortola, an uninhabited island once used as a pirate den with treasure ships back in the 18th century. Norman Isle is said to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's `Treasure Island`. There are a series of caves that can be explored via a dinghy and some of the best snorkeling spots of the B.V.I. where vibrant fish, eels, octopus, squid, and colorful coral can be seen. Hikers will be interested in a climb up Spy Glass Hill through the verdant scrubland. Situated just off Norman Isle is an old boat that has been turned into a floating bar named Willy T`s, it's a great place to sip on a cocktail and mingle with partying people.
Once back on Tortola, catch another stunning sunset at one of the beaches or right from your resort. Venture out to one of the local restaurants, enjoy some traditional Caribbean fare or delicious freshly caught fish and seafood, wash it down with a classic rum punch, and call it a night.
Day 3 in Tortola Island
There are many opportunities for island hopping when visiting Tortola, with its spectacular surrounding cays and islands boasting secluded beaches, charming hidden bays, and other exciting attractions. Take a boat trip or charter a sailboat to reach Virgin Gorda Island, home to famed `Baths`, a stunning natural wonder located at the bottom of a hill at the southern end of the island. Visitors can wade or swim through the colorful natural coves and caves, past the smooth gray granite boulders of varying sizes that rise from the crystal clear waters to the Cathedral Room, a natural pool found within a small cave onwards to delightful Devil's Bay, the stunning beach found at the end of the rocks. Spend some time soaking up the rays on the beach and relaxing in the wonderful warm waters. There is a restaurant situated at the top of the hill `Top of the Baths` where you can enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks with a view, this would be a fantastic spot to witness a vibrant island sunset.
Anegada Island is the only coral island in the Virgin Islands, surrounded by a stunning maze of coral extending miles offshore. The island is great for reef and bonefishing, diving with the most shipwrecks off its coast in the entire Caribbean. This is a beautiful island filled with salt ponds, cacti, wild orchids, and plants along with flamingos and rock iguanas. Stroll along or sunbathe on the stunning stretches of idyllic white-sand beaches including the serene Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck Bay Beach. Anegada is protected by Horseshoe Reef, one of the largest reef systems in the entire world.
Another fantastic location for island hopping is Jost Van Dyke, with White Beach at the southern end, one of the most popular beaches and most beautiful in all the British Virgin Islands. The steep verdant hills of Van Dyke plunge to the sparkling strips of soft white sand, where a sheltered barrier reef protects the tranquil tropical turquoise waters from waves and swells, great for swimming and snorkeling opportunities. The area is buzzing with activity as it is situated conveniently to Great Harbor where the majority of the island's restaurants, bars, and accommodations are located. Stop into one of the buzzing bars or local restaurants such as Soggy Dollar or One Love Bar and Grill for some great grub and killer drinks, like the painkiller, made with coconut, pineapple, and orange juice, drowned in dark rum and topped with nutmeg! This famed drink is said to have originated on Jost Van Dyke.
Spend your evening in Soper`s Hole, the former pirate`s den where the Dutch settlers landed back in 1648. A beautiful harbor in a sheltered bay brimming with restaurants, shops, and bars with colorful West-Indian style buildings. A great place to savor your last evening in Tortola listening to local steel bands playing, sipping on cocktails under the magical starlit skies.
Additional Days in Tortola Island
If you are able to spend additional days in Tortola Island, take a boat trip over to Salt Island and check out the salt ponds situated on the south side of the island. The uninhabited island offers great snorkeling on the outer reef and a deserted town near the salt pools.
Spend a day on Peter Island, the largest private island in the BVI with a famous history with explorers, pirates, and slave traders. The Peter Island Resort and Spa was established by a sailor and offers to relax and rejuvenating spa services, along with five stunning beaches, hiking and biking trails, and excellent snorkeling.
The BVI is the gateway to many other spectacular Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and St. Barts, plan to incorporate one of these other fantastic destinations with your Tortola Island stay.
Your Last Day in Tortola Island
Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.