Tortola: A Great Place to Start

The ferry system in the BVI is a fabulous and easy way to see many islands. One of our favorites is neighboring Jost Van Dyke. It's a tiny little gem with a picture-postcard beach (White Bay), a world-famous beach bar (Foxy's on Great Harbour), and a wonderful bartender named Casey (at the Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay). The water is a "hard to imagine" palette of blues and greens, and the hammocks quietly beckon you to laze away the afternoon.

Another great day trip via ferry is Virgin Gorda. A short taxi ride or easy 25-minute walk from the ferry dock will bring you to the Baths. The Baths are a series of huge granite boulders that are on the beach and in and under the water. You can snorkel among the rocks and see lots of amazing sea life. Don't miss the hike through the cave to Devil's Bay.

For a totally different island adventure, ride to Anegada. There is currently a ferry available (in true island fashion, something happened to their plane--not sure what!) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Anegada is the only island in the BVI that was formed by coral, so it is very flat, unlike the other islands. Spend the day at Cow Wreck Bay, walking the long beach, looking for huge conch shells the fishermen have left onshore, and having lunch and a drink with Bell.

If you drive to Beef Island, which is connected to Tortola by a bridge, you need to head to Trellis Bay. From here there is a FREE ferry to Marina Cay. The Cay is a small spit of land with a lovely beach, a Pusser's store, and a Pusser's restaurant. There isn't much snorkeling here, but the water is great!

Quick Tips:

The best place to find out what is happening in the BVI is to check the free weekly magazine the Limin' Times, available throughout the island. Another handy book is the restaurant guide, available in most hotels and guesthouses.

Best Way To Get Around:

The only way to go on Tortola is to rent a car. It is very mountainous, and walking is nearly impossible. The taxis are fine if you're only going to be on island for a day. The drivers are great tour guides if you want to see the high points.

As with many restaurants in the Caribbean, Coco Plums doesn't look like much from the outside. Do yourself a favor - go inside! The food is outstanding and the portions quite large. I had the stuffed chicken (which was stuffed with spinach, cheese and mushrooms), and my husband had the cabonara. Both were so good, we ordered the same things the second time we were there! Many entrees come with a salad and bread - another nice surprise.

Capriccio di Mare is a great little Italian restaurant in the heart of Roadtown. The pasta servings are very large (easy to save some for tomorrow's lunch), and the food is wonderful!

The Botanic Garden at the edge of Roadtown is a hidden jewel. Many locals don't know where it is, and the map books tell you it's in the heart of Roadtown. It isn't. It's just past the round-about, across from the police station, behind a yellow wall. There are many beautiful flowers and trees, along with a few types of birds to see. It's a nice, relaxing way to spend a half-hour or so.