About the British Virgin Islands

The BVI lie east of the US Virgin Islands, north of St. Kitts, and a short flight from San Juan. Tortola holds the capital, Road Town, and most of the population. Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada complete the four islands most visitors name; the rest of the chain is reached by boat. English is the official language. The US dollar is the currency. People drive on the left.

What the postcards cannot quite hold is the water. Because the islands are dry, little runoff clouds the sea. You see the bottom from the ferry. That clarity, the trades, and the way the islands sit within sight of each other is why this is called the sailing capital of the world — and why a week here is often spent changing bays rather than changing hotels.

The four you will hear first

Tortola

Largest island, charter-yacht capital, and home of Road Town. Green hills, rum, surf, and the gateway to every other island.

Virgin Gorda

Giant granite boulders at The Baths, empty Savannah Bay, and a luxury North Sound of villas, reefs and yacht harbours.

Jost Van Dyke

Four square miles of good humour: White Bay, the Soggy Dollar Bar, Foxy’s, and the original Painkiller.

Anegada

The only coral island in a volcanic chain: 16 miles of pale beach, Horseshoe Reef, flamingos, and the best lobster in the BVI.