Must-see attractions in British Virgin Islands

  • Palm tree and rocks at The Baths beach.

    The Baths

    Virgin Gorda

    This collection of sky-high boulders marks a national park and the BVI’s most popular attraction. The rocks – volcanic-lava leftovers from some 70 million…

  • Cow Wreck Bay

    British Virgin Islands

    Here’s what you’ll find on dazzling, secluded Cow Wreck beach: the most sea-green water you’ve ever laid eyes on, colorful wooden beach chairs under…

  • British Virgin Islands, Tortola Island, Sage Mountain National Park, epiphytes and tropical vegetation

    Sage Mountain National Park

    Tortola

    At 1716ft, Sage Mountain rises higher than any other peak in the Virgin Islands. Seven trails crisscross the surrounding 92-acre park, including the main…

  • Flamingo Pond

    British Virgin Islands

    The large salt pond at the island's west end hosts a flock of greater flamingos. They were plentiful on Anegada and other cays in the BVI until hunters…

  • Cane Garden Bay

    Tortola

    Cane Garden Bay is probably on the postcard that drew you to the British Virgin Islands. The gently sloping crescent of sand hosts plenty of beachside…

  • Savannah Bay

    Virgin Gorda

    A short distance north of the Valley, Savannah Bay features more than a mile of white sand. Except for the beaches of Anegada, no other shore provides…

  • Norman Island

    British Virgin Islands

    Since 1843, legend has told that treasure is buried on Norman Island, supposedly the prototype for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. It fits the…

  • Spring Bay

    Virgin Gorda

    An excellent beach with national-park designation, Spring Bay abuts the Baths to the north. The beauty here is having a Baths-like setting but without the…

  • Brewers Bay

    Tortola

    Shady, tree-lined Brewers has decent snorkeling and a more tranquil scene than you'll find at nearby Cane Garden Bay – possibly because getting here…

  • Necker Island

    Virgin Gorda

    Private Necker Island belongs to Richard Branson, famous adventurer and founder of the Virgin Atlantic airline and Virgin Records. About 1 mile north of…

  • Salt Island

    British Virgin Islands

    This T-shaped island is a forlorn place. The salt making (which gave the place its name) still goes on, but the RMS Rhone is the big attraction now. The…

  • Josiah’s Bay

    Tortola

    An undeveloped gem at the foot of a valley on the north shore, Josiah’s Bay is a dramatic strand that has excellent surf with a point break in winter…

  • Smuggler’s Cove

    Tortola

    Near the island’s northwestern tip, Smuggler’s is a gorgeous patch of sand that is lightly trod compared to its neighbors, as access is via a crazy-narrow…

  • Cooper Island

    British Virgin Islands

    Lying about 4 miles south of Tortola, Cooper Island is a moderately hilly cay and is virtually undeveloped except for the Cooper Island Beach Club – its…

  • Aragorn’s Studio

    Tortola

    Local metal sculptor Aragorn Dick-Read started his studio under the sea-grape trees fronting Trellis Bay, the broad beach just east of the airport. It…

  • Loblolly Bay Beach

    British Virgin Islands

    Loblolly is an idyllic stretch of sand with a few bars, fixed umbrellas for shade, a shower (US$3), and snorkel-gear rental (US$10 per day) at bar…

  • White Bay

    British Virgin Islands

    This gorgeous long white crescent lies pressed to the sea by steep hills. A barrier reef shelters the water from swells and waves, making for good…

  • Flash of Beauty

    British Virgin Islands

    Flash of Beauty is just east of Loblolly Bay Beach. With perfect white sand and deep turquoise water, it certainly lives up to its name. There’s a bar…

  • North Shore Shell Museum

    Tortola

    It’s more a folk-art gallery and junk shop than a museum, but it’s funky however you describe it, with a hodgepodge of shells and signs painted with…

  • Gorda Peak National Park

    Virgin Gorda

    At 1359ft, Gorda Peak is the island’s highest point. Two well-marked trails lead to the summit off North Sound Rd, and make a sweet hike. If you're coming…

  • Apple Bay

    Tortola

    Apple Bay is long and narrow, and is known as the ‘surfing beach,’ especially from late December to March, when the consistent swells roll in. It’s not a…

  • Callwood Rum Distillery

    Tortola

    Just off the North Coast Rd at the west end of Cane Garden Bay, this is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Eastern Caribbean. The…

  • The Dogs

    Virgin Gorda

    This clutch of five little islands lies 2.5 miles off the northwestern coast of Virgin Gorda. Partly protected by the BVI National Parks Trust, the Dogs…

  • 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum

    Tortola

    There are no bells and whistles here, but if you're keen to take time and read about the area's history, this museum in an old sugar mill is a worthy stop…

  • Anegada Iguana Headstart Facility

    British Virgin Islands

    The Parks Trust started this facility because feral cats were eating the island’s baby iguanas, endangering the rare species. Workers now bring the babies…

  • Conch Shell Mounds

    British Virgin Islands

    You'll find thousands of conch shells on island-like mounds off the East End of Anegada. These human-made features are testament to the island's…

  • Peter Island

    British Virgin Islands

    This lofty L-shaped landmass, about 4 miles south of Tortola, is the BVI’s fifth-largest island and home to the luxurious Peter Island Resort (ravaged by…

  • Tortola Pier Park

    Tortola

    Located right by the cruise-ship dock, this area holds lanes of brightly painted, purple-roofed buildings filled with souvenir shops, clothing and jewelry…

  • Long Bay

    Tortola

    Long Bay is an attractive 1-mile stretch of white sand well used by joggers and walkers. A top-end resort sits on the eastern portion, where you can get…

  • Copper Mine National Park

    Virgin Gorda

    You’ll drive down a winding, boulder-avoiding road to reach this forlorn bluff at Virgin Gorda’s southeastern tip, but it’s worth it to see the impressive…

  • Faulkner House Museum

    British Virgin Islands

    No, this museum has nothing to do with the American Nobel laureate. It's dedicated to Theodolph Faulkner, a political activist who led the charge to…

  • Old Government House

    Tortola

    Standing at the extreme south end of Main St like an imperial symbol, this whitewashed manor (once the home of England’s governor of the BVI) is a classic…

  • JR O’Neal Botanic Gardens

    Tortola

    These elegantly dilapidated 4-acre gardens provide a shady refuge from Road Town’s hullabaloo and heat. Benches are set amid indigenous and exotic…

  • Methodist Church

    Tortola

    Flanking the north side of the prison, this working Methodist house of worship dates from 1924. It’s a fine example of classic West Indian timber-framed…

  • St George’s Episcopal (Anglican) Church

    Tortola

    This candy-cane-colored Anglican chapel is a survivor of the 18th century but was rebuilt in the early 19th century following a hurricane. It was formerly…

  • Queen Elizabeth Park

    Tortola

    This small community park bordering the western side of the harbor south of Government House is a good place to cool off in the trade winds while letting…

  • HMS Prison

    Tortola

    Located at the heart of Main St, these stark, white rubble walls date to the 18th century and mark the oldest building in Road Town. The prison sits empty…

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