Attractions in British Virgin Islands...Things to Do!...Places to Go!

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Tortola

Tortola is a cool and peaceful refuge located in the centre of Road Town. The beautiful four-acre garden includes a lush array of indigenous and exotic tropical plants. Open M-F 8:30am - 4:30pm, Sat 8:00am -4:00pm.

The Callwood Rum Distillery at Cane Garden Bay is housed in a ‘stone plantation era’ building. The rum distillery still produces rum in much the same fashion that it did over two centuries ago and is a major attraction for sightseers.

Fort Burt
Originally built on a hill to defend Road Town, this site has commanding view overlooking Road Harbour. This fort was rebuilt by the English in 1776, and named after Willian Burt, Governor of the Leeward Islands. Presently the site of a hotel and restaurant, opening hours vary during various seasons.

Old Government House
The refurbished Old Government House, a national landmark, was once the governor’s residence and it now operates as a public museum open Monday through Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm.

Virgin Island Folk Museum
Located on Main Street just past The Plaza, the Virgin Island Folk Museum has some Arawak and Carib pottery and stone tools, including a decorated spindle, wreck of The Rhone and H.M.S. Nymph artifacts, plantation items and reef conservation information. Open 8:30am-4:30pm.

Virgin Gorda

The Baths
This attraction is considered as one of the true natural wonders of the islands and an obligatory stop for every visitor. Huge granite boulders are strewn along a white-sand beach creating grottos to explore and rocks to climb, while the underwater boulders are a snorkellers delight. Some are as tall as a three story house, with caverns eroded into the sides.

Devil’s Bay National Park
A 15-minute hike from the top of the Baths unveils the picturesque Devil’s Bay at Virgin Gorda’s southwestern tip. Its beaches are great for swimming and snorkeling. Mooring buoya and a dinghy dock allow boaters to access the beach.

The Copper Mine
This national park located on Virgin Gorda’s desolate southwest tip was mined by Cornish miners between 1838 and 1867, and perhaps even earlier by the Spanish. Today the remains of the chimney, boiler house, cistern and mine shafts can be seen.

Little Fort National Park
Little Fort National Park can be found just south of the Yacht Harbour. It was the site of a Spanish fortress and some masonry walls still exist on the hillside, including the ruins of a structure called the Powder House. The 36-acre area is also a wildlife sanctuary.

Jost Van Dyke

Diamond Cay, declared a national park in 1991, is a bird sanctuary located off Long Bay on Jost Van Dyke. The .25 acre nesting site is home to several species of birds as well as the endangered leatherback turtle. The Island is part of a proposed protected area, which includes the privately owned islands of Sandy Cay, Sandy Spit, a portion of Little Jost Van Dyke, and the surrounding marine area.

Kayaking
The powdery sand beaches along the BVI coastline and exposed waters near inlets and barrier islands are remarkably scenic, quiet, and full of wildlife. The many lagoons throughout the islands are excellent to paddle your kayaks.

Surfing
One of the best water sports when it comes to making a splash in our turquoise waters. Surfing is quickly becoming a favorite activity along our beaches.

Windsurfing
Our year-round trade winds allow for great windsurfing and kite boarding experiences. We are also home to the annual Highland Spring Windsurfing and Sailing Adventure. Competing windsurfers will cover over 150 miles as they race between seven and nine times from one island to another.

Parasailing
The scenery is superb when you’re suspended under a colourful parasail. See the beauty of the entire island from 600 feet above sea level.

Sailing
The BVI has the constancy of the Caribbean trade winds, clear blue water, islands close enough for a day sail, and sunshine every day. Winds generally blow northeast to southeast at 10-25 knots, and are sometimes stronger in the winter months.

From the main capital island of Tortola, sailors have incredible variety in a cruising area that is about 32 miles long and 15 miles wide. A sailing vacation gives you the freedom to create your own itinerary amid the sixty islands and cays that form the BVI. Host to many yacht clubs, the BVI Spring Regatta features three days of exciting festivities and competition.

Fishing
Anegada is known for some of the finest shallow water and deep sea fishing in the world. For those interested in fly-fishing, Anegada’s waters offer a wide variety of game fish. Fishermen with the necessary fishing permits, and adhere to CLOSED/OPEN season for certain species, can spend hours in water eight inches to two feet deep casting into schools of silver bonefish visible below. Although these fish typically weigh between three and ten pounds, they are, pound for pound, the strongest fighting fish in the world.

Fisherman can also rent a classic wooden boat or a newer ocean kayak and cruise the mangroves or flats where they will find bonefish, tarpon, snooke, jacks, and of course, the barracuda.

COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENCES

A Commercial Fishing License may be defined as a license issued to local fishermen on a basis in which the fishermen catch fish to sell as a mean of surviving.

This type of license is only granted to a person who can provide proof of residential status.

It is unauthorized for a foreigner or foreign fishing vessel to fish commercially in the British Virgin Island waters without permission from higher authority.

Commercial fishing consists of methods such as:

Fish traps/pots
Seining
Hand-line
Fishing rods

Fish commonly caught may include: Trigger Fish, Yellow Tail, Red Hind, Doctor Fish, King Fish, Hard-Nose, Angel Fish, Parrot Fish, Nassau Grouper, Shellfish etc.

If granted by the Minister of Natural Resources & Labour, a Commercial Fishing License is valid for one year.

BIG GAME/SPORT FISHING LICENSES

A Sport Fishing License is a license granted to Fishermen or individuals who escort mostly tourists on a fishing expedition. This type of fishing is usually carried out by Foreign Sport Fishing Companies and local fisher-persons.

It is illegal to have in one’s possession billfish such as Blue & White Marlin, Sailfish and Sword Fish. It is also illegal to have more than thirty pounds of fish by weight in one’s possession per boat.

It is illegal to fish in the BVI waters without a valid fishing license or permit granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour. Any one witnessing the practice of illegal fishing activities in the BVI waters should either contact the Royal Virgin Island Police Force or the Conservation & Fisheries Department immediately.

While visiting the BVI and having any interest in fishing in the BVI, one should contact the MNR&L or the Conservation & Fisheries Department.

The majority of persons applying for this type of fishing license are foreigners. These foreigners mostly migrate from the surrounding islands e.g. U.S. Virgin Islands.

The BVI is known for it’s wealthy fishing banks such as:

The North Drop
The Sea Mount

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