British Virgin Islands Travel Essentials

The 4 main British Virgin Islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. About 50 miles east of Puerto Rico, they’re in the Lesser Antilles and are part of the West Indies. Christopher Columbus first visited the islands in 1493. The islands became a notorious pirates’ haunt in the 16^th century before being conquered by the British in 1680.

Today, tourism is the main source of income of the tropical islands which are home to white-sand beaches and lively coral reefs. The area is also renowned as a first-class sailing destination. The main towns of the British Virgin Islands are Road Town in Tortola, Spanish Town in Virgin Gorda, Belle Vue in Jost Van Dyke, and The Settlement in Anegada.

Road Town

Road Town is the capital city of the British Virgin Islands, located on the south coast of Tortola – the largest island of the group. Road Town has a population of about 15,000 and is served by the Terrance B. Lettsome Airport and by many ferries. It’s home to historical buildings such as Her Majesty Prison on Main Street and is a famous yacht chartering place.

Spanish Town

Spanish Town is the main town on Virgin Gorda, the easternmost island of the group. Also known as The Valley, Spanish Town is the second largest town on the British Virgin Islands. It features good shopping facilities and has a small airport – Taddy Bay Airport. A top activity here is bareboat sailing. The main attraction of Virgin Gorda is The Baths National Park, just south of Spanish Town.

Belle Vue / Great Harbour

Belle Vue / Great Harbour is the main village on the south coast of Jost Van Dyke, the smallest island of the group. It features lively shopping, dining, and after-dining venues, and, hence its English name, is one of the busiest harbours in the British Virgin Islands. Bubbly Pool, Diamond Cay National Park, and White Bay are among the most popular things to see on Jost Van Dyke, while scuba diving and snorkelling are the highlight activities.

The Settlement

The Settlement is the only village on Anegada, the northernmost British Virgin Island and the only low-lying coral island of the group. The Settlement is also known as The Village and features a few shops, restaurants, and hotels. The island has a small airport, Auguste George Airport. Scuba diving and snorkelling are the main activities in Anegada. Sailing here requires good navigational skills due to the many reefs surrounding the island.

The British Virgin Islands have a tropical rainforest climate, with average temperatures ranging between 23°C and 27°C year-round.

• The rainiest time of the year is between September and November with about 14 rainy days per month. January–August sees an average of around 10 rainy days a month.
• Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands between June and November.
• December–April is the most popular time to visit the British Virgin Islands, but it’s also peak season when hotel and flight prices rise accordingly.
• Even so, September–November is the best time to visit the British Virgin Islands. You may have a few more rainy days, but temperatures are good, and you’ll be able to avoid the summer crowds, and hotel and flight prices are normally lower.

• Plug type: A and B
• Electricity: 110 V – 60 Hz
• Currency: United States Dollar (US$)
• International dialling code: +1 284
• Emergency telephone number: 999

Terrance B. Lettsome Airport

Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (EIS) lies about 9.6 km east of Road Town on Beef Island. Beef Island is a small island linked to Tortola by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Nowadays, Terrance B. Lettsome Airport is only served by flights within the Caribbean islands. The closest international airports serving EIS are Cyril E. King Airport in Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Terrance B. Lettsome Airport has 1 passenger terminal served by 1 runway. The terminal features a good choice of dining and shopping options as well as facilities like free Wi-Fi and banking and currency exchange services. Here are the transfer options to help you get to any destination on the island:

• Taxi ranks are right outside the Arrivals exit.
• Car rental agencies’ desks are inside the terminal, next to the Arrivals exit.

Taddy Bay Airport

Also known as Virgin Gorda Airport, Taddy Bay Airport (VIJ) is right east of Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda Island. Its runway is unpaved. Like Terrance B. Lettsome Airport, it’s only served by a handful of airlines from other airports within the Caribbean. Taxis and car rental agencies can be found within the terminal.

Ferries to/from the British Virgin Islands

You can get to the British Virgin Islands by ferry from Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. It’s a bit more complicated to get to the British Virgin Islands by boat from Puerto Rico, the journey takes many steps as there’s no direct ferry available. Ferries also link all the British Virgin Islands, so if you arrive by plane on Tortola Island, you can then reach the other islands by boat.

Travel tips

• The best way to explore the towns and villages is on foot.
• For longer distances, renting a car is the most convenient choice for getting around the 4 main islands. The roads are not particularly in good condition – expect potholes, live animals, narrow unpaved roads, and so forth. Note that you only need a valid driving licence from your home country to be able to drive up to 30 days here. If you stay longer, rental agencies can help you with the paperwork to get a temporary local driving licence. If you visit during the high season (December–April), it’s best to book a car a few months ahead.
• Taxis are available but they’ll cost you more for travelling throughout the island. Many of them are 12-seater vans.
• Getting from one island to the other by boat is favoured by holidaymakers in the British Virgin Islands. Public ferries between the main islands of the group are readily available. Note that there are 2 ferry piers on Tortola: one on the West End linked to Jost Van Dyke and Saint John (US Virgin Islands), and one in Road Town linked to Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Saint-Thomas (US Virgin Islands).
• Private water taxis are more expensive, yet they offer a great private way of getting around the British Virgin Islands.
• If you have NauticEd Bareboat Certification, chartering a bareboat is a fantastic way to explore the archipelago. Otherwise, you can also charter a crewed boat for one day or more.

BVI Summer Festival

• August
• The British Virgin Islands Summer Festival is a celebration of the abolition of slavery that dates back to 1834. It’s a carnival filled with street parades, a beauty pageant, live music, a horse race, and other fun events.
• Where: Road Town in Tortola is the best place to attend this festival

BVI Music Festival

• May
• Held on the Memorial Day weekend, the British Virgin Islands Music Festival is the largest event of its kind in the archipelago. International artists and bands playing all types of music, from funk to calypso and from reggae to rock, perform on Cane Garden Bay Beach for 3 days.
• Where: Cane Garden Bay Beach, Tortola

BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

• March
• One of the largest regattas in the Caribbean, the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival brings together more than 150 sailboats competing in races around the islands. The races are defined by boat class. Expect fun parties at the end of each race day.
• Where: Road Town

The Baths National Park

Located at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, the Baths National Park is a beach area covered with huge granite boulders. Between the rocks are patches of white sand and secret rock pools. Trails featuring rope handrails help you navigate through the boulders, and food and drinks are available at the top of the Baths.

Callwood Distillery

Callwood Distillery at the southern end of Cane Garden Bay, on the north coast of Tortola, is one of the Caribbean’s oldest continuous pot distilleries. You see how rum is produced and stored in original storage casks before sampling and purchasing. There’s an art gallery and gift shop on site.

Rhone National Marine Park

Submerged 9.6 km southeast of Road Town, the RMS Rhone gave its name to a stunning underwater park. The UK Royal Mail Ship sunk off the coast of Salt Island in 1867 and has become a popular dive spot for intermediate to advanced divers. Other dive spots in the park include Blonde Rock, Painted Walls, and Rhone Reef.

Road Town Main Street

Not only is Road Town Main Street the main shopping and dining hub on Tortola, but it’s also lined with historical buildings. Stretching for about 1.5 km between Station Avenue and Waterfront Drive, you’ll find here the Post Office built in the mid 19^th century, Saint George's Anglican Church, Britannic Hall, and the Virgin Islands Folk Museum.