British Virgin Islands

Islands, top bars & restaurants, travel notes, and a 7-night sample itinerary

The British Virgin Islands are one of the world’s premier sailing destinations, with short distances between islands that make them ideal for exploring by crewed catamaran. Calm waters, steady trade winds, and well-protected anchorages provide a smooth and comfortable cruising experience. Each island offers its own highlights — from the lively beach bars of Jost Van Dyke to the dramatic Baths of Virgin Gorda and the lobster feasts of Anegada. A crewed catamaran allows travelers to enjoy the best of the BVI with ease, combining seamless service, local expertise, and the freedom to hop from one island paradise to the next.

  • TORTOLA

    Tortola is the BVI’s largest and busiest island and home to the capital, Road Town — it’s the logistics hub for provisioning, customs/immigration, and the main marinas. Expect a mix of local beach bars, casual cafés and a few higher-end restaurants for evenings ashore.

    Our To Do List

  • VIRGIN GORDA

    Virgin Gorda is famous for The Baths — dramatic granite boulder formations with tidal pools and short walks — and also for quieter bays and higher-end resorts. Spanish Town and Leverick Bay are the main hubs for dining and provisioning when visiting by yacht.

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  • NORMAN ISLAND

    Norman Island is famous in BVI lore (it’s often called “Treasure Island”) and offers great snorkeling, caves and a lively anchorage with a few memorable floating and beach bars/restaurants. It’s a popular overnight spot for yacht crews who enjoy the sunset anchorage and evening music. 

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  • JOST VAN DYKE

    Tiny, lively Jost Van Dyke is famous for beach-bar culture (White Bay) and a party/boat-anchor scene — it’s where people go for Painkillers, live music and a festive evening ashore. Great for a day stop or an evening party after snorkeling and beaches. 

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  • ANEGADA

    Anegada is the BVI’s flat coral island — miles of sand, fantastic lobsters and one of the Caribbean’s largest surrounding reefs (great for snorkeling and kite sports). It’s quiet, remote and prized for fresh lobster dinners and pristine beaches. 

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  • COOPER ISLAND

    Cooper Island is a small, eco-oriented island with a beach club vibe that’s easy to reach by tender — it’s famous for relaxed beach dining and a solar-powered microbrewery. Great stop for craft beer tastings, snorkeling and a relaxed beach lunch. 

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Our Favourite Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival Tortola → Norman Island

    Arrive midday to Road Town, board your crewed catamaran, and settle in with a safety briefing. Enjoy a short afternoon sail to Norman Island; snorkel the Caves or relax at anchor before sunset cocktails and dinner onboard or ashore at Pirates Bight. (Overnight: Norman Island)

  • Day 2 — Norman Island → Cooper Island

    Sail north to Cooper Island with a swim/snorkel stop at The Indians along the way. Spend the afternoon at Cooper Island Beach Club — sampling the microbrewery or relaxing on the beach. (Overnight: Cooper Island)

  • Day 3 — Cooper Island → Virgin Gorda (The Baths → Spanish Town)

    Morning sail to Virgin Gorda; go ashore at The Baths to explore the granite boulders and tidal pools. Have lunch ashore or onboard, then relax in Spanish Town or nearby anchorages for the evening. (Overnight: Virgin Gorda — Spanish Town area)

  • Day 4 — Virgin Gorda (North Sound)

    A short sail into North Sound for water sports, snorkeling, or paddleboarding. Evening ashore at Leverick Bay or CocoMaya for dinner and drinks, or enjoy a quiet dinner aboard with North Sound views. (Overnight: North Sound — Leverick Bay/Prickly Pear area)

  • Day 5 — Virgin Gorda → Anegada

    Set sail early for the longer passage to Anegada, the BVI’s coral island. Spend the afternoon on endless beaches or take an island tour, and enjoy a famous Anegada lobster dinner in the evening. (Overnight: Anegada)

  • Day 6 — Anegada → Jost Van Dyke

    Sail southwest to lively Jost Van Dyke, anchoring in White Bay. Visit Soggy Dollar Bar for a Painkiller cocktail, then head to Foxy’s in Great Harbour for live music and nightlife. (Overnight: Jost Van Dyke — White Bay/Great Harbour)

  • Day 7 — Jost Van Dyke → Tortola (Cane Garden Bay)

    Cruise back toward Tortola with a relaxed stop at Cane Garden Bay. Spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or strolling the beach, then enjoy a farewell dinner either onboard or at a local beachside restaurant. (Overnight: Cane Garden Bay — Tortola)

  • Day 8 — Return to Road Town, Tortola — Disembark

    Enjoy a short morning sail back to Road Town. Have breakfast onboard, say goodbye to the crew, and disembark in time for flights or ferries home.

How to get to the BVI from the United States

Direct to the BVI (EIS — Terrance B. Lettsome Int’l, Beef Island/Tortola)

  • There are a small number of direct routes into EIS from nearby hubs (seasonal/limited); Cape Air operates frequent regional connections from San Juan (SJU) and St. Thomas (STT) into Tortola, and some carriers list direct service at times. Check Cape Air and major flight search engines for current non-stop options. 

Typical / most reliable routing from the U.S.

  1. Fly to St. Thomas (STT) — major U.S. carriers (American, Delta, United and others) operate regular flights from many U.S. cities to STT. From STT you can take a short inter-island flight (Cape Air / inter-island carriers) or a fast ferry to Tortola (about 45–60 minutes by fast ferry). This is the most common approach for mainland U.S. travelers. 

  2. Fly to San Juan (SJU) — another convenient hub; Cape Air and some regional carriers fly SJU → EIS (about 40 minutes), which means a single connection on many itineraries. 

Ferry options / on-water transfers

  • Regular fast-ferry services connect Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) with Road Town (Tortola) and other BVI islands; private water taxis and scheduled ferries (Smith’s/Native Son/Road Town Fast Ferry and others) run multiple daily sailings—handy for groups or those with more luggage. Always check schedules and customs requirements before booking.  The the ultimate in convenience, we highly recommend take a private water taxi service. We’d be happy to help you make these travel arrangement.

Quick tip: because schedules and seasonal direct flights change, many travelers book to STT or SJU on U.S. carriers and then take the short regional flight or ferry into Tortola.