The Islands (continued)

Tortola

• N side of Tortola has groves of bananas, mangoes, and palms.
• Best beaches on NW and N coasts; Smugglers Cove, Apple Bay, Long (secluded but undertow), Cane Garden Bay, Josiahs Bay. West end has fine sandy beaches. N side beaches used by pirates as sheltered anchorage; buried treasure.
• Best restaurant- Sugar Mill Estate Hotel.
• Good snorkeling at Brewers Bay and Marina Cay.
• Hiking- take taxi to Sage Island National Park; easy hike from end of road to top- plan to spend three hours. Nothing has changed here in centuries, path winds through a tropical rain forest unlike anywhere else in the VI; views are stunning; wild animals.
• Cane Garden Bay
  • Post card anchorage; white palm fringed beach; one of the most beautiful anchorage's in the VI.
  • Good overnight anchorage's in late spring and summer, beware of N swells; mooring buoys; ice, fuel, provisions.
  • Stanley's in Cane Garden Bay , a native joint, has best nightlife in BVI; restaurants, steel band nights.
  • Old rum distillery; pleasant community, lots of friendly children will make your visit one to remember.
  • Good snorkeling when water is calm.
• Fat Hogs Bay- Beautiful, well protected overnight anchorage.
• Marina Cay
  • Private island just N of Beef Island.
  • Good shelling at nearby Scrub Island.
  • Good anchorage; if sailing enter from the N.
  • Marina facilities- boats use moorings and a dinghy dock; laundry showers.
  • Encircled by a reef, offering some of the best snorkeling in the BVI; good snorkeling on the N side and S shore of Great Camino.
• Nanny Cay- S shore beyond marina pebble/rock beach perhaps the best shelling spot in BVI.
• Road Town- Tortilla's Botanical Gardens recommended- four acres near police station, no fee; short distance away is Folk Museum behind Pussers- history, old maps, documents, etc.
• Sopers Hole- Restaurants,shops, Pussers, artifacts; a microcosm of the BVI.
• Sugar Mill restaurant excellent, not to be missed.
• Trellis Bay
  • Perhaps the best and easiest anchorage in the area, relatively shallow with good holding ground and all around protection although noisy in daytime with airport traffic and boats at government pier.
  • Good spot to spend evening ashore at local restaurants.
  • Last Resort on an island in middle of Trellis Bay (watch out for sand shoal off S end); good buffet food.

Virgin Gorda

• Baths- don't miss; get there in morning before crowds; anchor off second beach N from S tip of Virgin Gorda.
• Crawl- N of Baths and Guavaberry Spring Bay; a National Park enclosing a natural swimming pool and more boulders; highly recommended.
• Devils Bay- S of Baths- good snorkeling and diving.
• North Sound
  • You are surrounded by rugged trails, posh resorts, spectacular dive sites, and hundreds of miles of perfect beaches. Delightful playground for sailors. Hikes from Biras Creek Hotel. Visiting sailors welcome at Bitter End Yacht Club.
  • Large bay protected all around by islands and reefs, an ideal place to spend several days exploring the reefs and relaxing.
  • Biras Creek- Hotel with good cuisine.
  • Bitter End Yacht Club- moorings; nice rooms; day trips, meals, activities- windsurfing, Anegada trips.
  • Eustatia Sound- good exploring by dinghy and excellent snorkeling.
  • Gun Creek E of Leverick Bay- native settlement worth exploring; place to go for hiking, hitch-hiking, or taxi to Gorda Peak National Park.
  • Mosquito Island
    • Drakes anchorage good, bug free, moorings, restaurant superb.
    • Two nice trails to top starting at Drakes Anchorage on N side.
    • Swimming and excellent snorkeling on Colquhuon Reef.
    • Pina Coladas at open air bar are most enjoyable.
    • Excellent anchorage in summer directly W of Anguilla Point; excellent snorkeling on reef W of Anguilla Pt.
    • Good snorkeling on reefs in SW corner of Mosquito.
  • Leverick Bay- Newest recreational center here; resort has restaurant, gift shop, food women's body salon, full service marina, showers, Pussers store, etc.
  • Prickly Pear Island- land crabs; prolific reef life.
• Savannah Bay- very nice day time anchorage if going N to North Sound from Spanish Town; a secure anchorage in summer, cool, bug free; explore to N in dinghy to Pound Bay, Maho Bay, and Tetor Bay- all have excellent snorkeling, beaches.
• South Sound- a superb anchorage away from it all with a completely sheltered harbor; good day diving off reefs at mouth of harbor.
• Spanish Town- full service marina for 110 boats; good restaurants.
• Van Ryans Rock- off collision Pt.- lobsters, turtles, fish, corals, fans.

  

  ---

  This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page