Travel Recap: Sailing Around the British Virgin Islands (Part 1)
Last month I happily escaped the northern Ohio winter and fulfilled a bucket list trip at the same time. My husband and I, along with four like-minded adventurous friends, charted a catamaran and spent a week sailing around the BVIs. To say it lived up to my expectations is an understatement! From relaxing mornings on the deck to fun-filled afternoons at casual beach bars, and plenty of hiking, snorkeling, and sunbathing/naps in between, this truly was a trip of a lifetime (and so, so good for my winter weary soul!).
Keep reading for highlights of our journey, resources, and some helpful packing tips in case you are inclined to embark on such an amazing adventure yourself! This was our first time to the area, and the following itinerary was the perfect way to get a taste of all that the BVIs have to offer.
Itinerary At-A-Glance:
Day 1: Arrive in St. Thomas; Water taxi to Tortola; Embark on our boat and sail to Norman Island for the night
Day 2: Snorkeling in the Treasure Caves; Willy T’s Floating Bar; Overnight at Peter Island
Day 3: Paddle boarding & snorkeling; Sail to Cooper Island (Beach Club & Rum Bar); Sail to Virgin Gorda (Hike The Baths); Dinner at Coco Maya
Day 4: Virgin Gorda (Hog’s Heaven lunch; Bitter End Yacht Club; Saba Rock)
Day 5: Sail to Anegada (Conch Diving & Dinner at The Wonky Dog)
Day 6: Sail to Jost van Dyke (Bubbly Pool Hike)
Day 7: Sandy Spit; Beach bars on Jost van Dyke
Day 8: Sail back to Tortola and disembark for home
The Details:
Day 1: We flew into St. Thomas and used Dolphin water taxi service to Sopers Hole (west end of Tortola) to clear customs. It’s a direct transfer to your boat, and the crew takes care of the immigration and customs clearance while guests relax on the boat and enjoy a beverage. It couldn’t have gone more smoothly and I highly recommend it! From there it was a quick ride across the bay to our boat, Moonstruck, a 48-ft catamaran that we chartered through Voyage Yacht Charters. We were greeted by our crew, Captain Tate and Chef Nicoletta, who made us feel at home the second we stepped aboard (more on these fantastic people later). It’s common to spend that first night at the dock and set sail the next morning. However, we were fortunate to be on the boat by 5 pm, and had time for the 1-hour sail over to a quiet cove on Norman Island. We enjoyed a fantastic mahi mahi dinner on the boat, and anchored for the night.
Day 2: The next morning we headed around the corner to Treasure Caves. These caves, renowned for their tales of buried treasure, are even more captivating for spectacular snorkeling adventures. Thousands of vibrant orange cup coral and red sponge adorn the cave walls, creating a truly breathtaking underwater landscape. We encountered rain on and off during the day, but it didn’t take away from the water’s clarity at all. After snorkeling we headed back to our boat for some lunch, and then over to the famous floating bar, Willy T.’s, for afternoon margaritas. We wrapped up the day with the short jaunt over to Little Harbour on Peter Island to anchor in a secluded bay for the night.
Day 3: We enjoyed a relaxing morning on the bay. It was so calm that it seemed more like an inlet lake, and was perfect for paddle boarding or just floating around in the crystal clear water. There was also an easy hike up to an old tobacco processing house for those of us that wanted to stretch our legs a bit. After lunch we headed over to Cooper Island Beach Club and The Rum Bar for their special tastings. Later in the afternoon we explored The Baths on Virgin Gorda, a collection of massive, cavernous granite boulders and secret rock pools. The day concluded with a fantastic dinner off the boat at Coco Maya.
Be sure to check back next week to read more about the second half of the trip and get some helpful tips for planning your own adventure (hint: I took these, this, and this to make packing a breeze)!