Island adventures in The British Virgin Islands

• The British Virgin Islands are draped with soft, white beaches. However, many of them are accessible only from the sea, which allows for a remote and secluded atmosphere.
• The crystal-clear water and various underwater species around the islands offer excellent snorkeling, diving and fishing. Most of the hotels rent equipment and boats for such activities.
• Bareboating (self-crew yacht chartering) is the way most visitors explore the islands. Navigation is not difficult, as the water and weather are generally clear. There are several excellent reference guides, for your convenience. However, if you do not feel confident in directing a yacht alone, you can hire a full crew or a skipper.
• The annual spring regatta is held in Sir Francis Drake’s Channel. It is part of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (CORT) series of regattas. The race attracts competitors from all over the world.
• Snorkeling tours are available along with daily sails to all the little islands.
• Windsurfing is another popular watersport. There is an annual Bacardi Hi-Ho (hook in and hold on) race, which attracts international windsurfers.
• The 17.5-kilometer Horseshoe Reef, off the south shore of Anegada, is the third largest reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef and Belize). There are 80 visible wrecks around Anegada alone. There are over 60 charted dive sites, many of which are in underwater National Parks. They include walls, pinnacles, coral reefs, caverns and wrecks. The most visited wreck is the Rhone, which sunk in 1867. Another wreck is the 246-foot Chikuzen, which sunk in 1981 about six miles north of Tortola, where you will have the opportunity to see larger fish such as barracuda and rays.
• Another amazing sight and one not to be missed is the humpback whales. They migrate to the islands every year. Similarly, leatherback turtles travel to the north shore beaches to nest. To capture those great memories on film, good quality underwater photography is offered to you. The price is high but well worth it.
• The BVI Summer Festival is held every summer. There is entertainment every night with steel bands, calypso music, a Prince and Princess show, and a calypso show.
• During the year there are many regattas, such as the annual BVI Spring Regatta in April, Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta in September and windsurfing events.
• In addition to all of that, there is a tennis club on Tortola and many hotels have their own courts. Unfortunately, golf has not been developed, although a couple of the hotels have small practice courses.
• Horse riding can be arranged through the hotels, and beaten trails are scattered throughout the islands for those interested in hiking and birdwatching.
• On Virgin Gorda’s North Shore, there lies an ecological and majestic wonder called The Baths. The Baths is a series of sea pools hidden underneath granite boulder caves near the edge of the beach. After discovering The Baths, one can continue through a series of ladders to find Devil’s Bay and Spring Bay which lie on secluded beaches.
• Explore the reminents of Spanish exploration at The Copper Mine in Virgin Gorda. There is even a chimney still standing from a Spanish settlement from the 1800’s.
• Experience the highest point in the British Virgin Islands when you visit Sage Mountain National Park. Located in Tortola, the park has the highest mountain ridge with an elevation of 1,716 feet. It is also a great place to study different types of trees indigenous to the island such as the Mahoganies, White Cedar, Kapok trees, and many more.