Sailing the British Virgin Islands: Part 2
Happy Spring, everyone! Today I'm excited to share Part 2 of our sailing itinerary through the stunning British Virgin Islands - packed with must-visit spots, travel tips, and unforgettable experiences on the water.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1 for a recap of the first three days of our adventure!
Day 4: After a morning of snorkeling around the Dog Islands area, it was a short sail to North Sound, an area located at the northern tip of Virgin Gorda. We then headed to lunch in a safari-style taxi to the peak of the island. A casual bar and grill specializing in barbecue, Hog’s Heaven offers the most spectacular vista on Virgin Gorda, including views of Sir Richard Branson’s Necker and Moskito Islands. From there we sailed up the coast to the Bitter End Yacht Club for some afternoon cocktails on the beach, and then popped over to Saba Rock Resort that evening to watch the Super Bowl. Both resorts have been completely rebuilt since the destruction of Hurricane Irma in 2017, and are great if you want to mix it up with a resort vibe.
Day 5: After breakfast we set sail for Anegada, which is a low-lying, completely flat coral island, and unlike any of the other volcanic islands that make up the British Virgin Islands. We took a really fun private tour with SherWin’s Sea Adventures, which included an afternoon of snorkeling and learning about the unique ecosystem around the man-made conch island. My husband and I are scuba divers and have seen our fair share of turtles, but this was perhaps the most I’ve ever seen in one place! We then went conch diving and brought back our finds to Sherwin’s outdoor kitchen on the dock, where he made the most delicious fresh ceviche! Sherwin’s selection of 90’s hip hop music throughout our tour was an added bonus ;). We enjoyed our second dinner off the boat that night at the Wonky Dog, where they specialize in lobster and surf and turf.
Day 6: This was our longest sailing day, which took about three hours to reach Jost van Dyke. We enjoyed an afternoon hike to the “Bubbly Pool”, a natural jacuzzi that is formed as waves roll through a large crack in the boulders. It was low tide when we arrived so the effect wasn’t as grand, but still very cool!
Day 7: We spent the morning hanging out on the beach at Sandy Spit, and then headed over to White Bay for a fun afternoon at several beach bars, including the famous Soggy Dollar, Gertrude’s, and Ivan’s Stress-Free Bar. After our last wonderful dinner on the boat, we headed out to the fabulous Foxy’s in Grand Harbour, where we also anchored for our last night. Foxy’s has been serving up food and rum to sailors and visitors since 1968, and is one of the more famous spots in the BVIs not to be missed! It was such a fun way to end our trip - more details on that and the other restaurant options in the next post!
Day 8: After breakfast we sailed back to Soper’s Hole on Tortola, where we then debarked and hopped on our water taxi to take us back to St. John’s to clear customs before then heading to St. Thomas and the airport to fly home.
This trip was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, making it an ideal way for first-time visitors to experience the best of the British Virgin Islands. From breathtaking anchorages to exciting island-hopping, it truly showcased everything the BVIs have to offer.
Stay tuned for Part 3, where I’ll share my top packing tips, dive into more details on the food, and what it's really like to live on a catarman for a week!