Where to visit in the BVI

[dbecker68]

The Admiral and I are chartering a 34' monohull in the BVI, the end of May and first of June. I just wanted to ask others who have been there before for recommendations. We love to snorkel and visit the local restaurants/beach bars. We plan to make the complete circuit of the islands.

Where should we be sure to visit? Everyone knows about Foxy's, and the Willie T, and the Baths, but what about some other less known spots?

Where should we be sure to avoid?

We will be there for two weeks, and have no fixed itenerary except the Full Moon Party at Trellis Bay on the 25th. All suggestions and recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rob2435]

Anegada!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anegada

 

[jroddy]

Try to time your visit to Foxy's on Jost Van dyke fot Friday or sat nite BBQ $25US. Well done and fun..probably best fresh Mahi with sauce you will have! Full Moon party fun...fire balls are Kewl. Really no bad place just some better than others. Started chartering here early in late 70's we move around but still enjoy BVI friends. Have Fun!

 

[FourPoints]

Here's a few of my favorites...

Bubbly Pool on Jost Van Dyke - nice late morning or early afternoon hiking destination
Top of the Rock on Virgin Gorda - Great Lunch place
The Rock Café on Virgin Gorda - Amazing place for dinner (go after dusk, sit out back)
Saba Rock in Virgin Gorda Sound - Amazing place for dinner (go after dark, sit on dock)
West side of Great Dog - best snorkeling in the BVI

 

[Ken Prichard]

My favourites:
- Marina Cay
- Spanish Town
- Leveric Bay
- Anegada
- Cane Garden Bay
- Soppers Hole
- The Byte

 

[Tim R.]

Highly opinionated recommendations below.

Best snorkeling spots I have been to are Loblolly on Anegada, Monkey point, the Indians and the caves.

Best food is Wed. night BBQ at Ivans on Jost.

Best beach is Sandy Key. Get there early in the morning.

Best Bar scene is Saba Rock.

Best high end beach bar is Pirates Bight

Best low brow beach bar is Soggy Dollar, One Love and Willy T's.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Leverick Bay - enjoyed missing the crowds at Bitter End, nice pool, snorkeling is OK west of there, Mosquito Pass, the place you shouldn't bring a boat through

Cane Garden Bay unless there are northern swells - great beach

Jost - obviously

Cooper Island Beach Club - lovely restaurant

Norman island - great snorkeling around the corner and to the left (south) just past the caves, there's an underwater mound that is superb

The Indians, just west of Norman, great snorkeling, lunch stop only

Sopers Hole and Spanish Town - Sopers is too crowded and I never figured out what was there except the same bar that's at Leverick Bay and nicer at Leverick's; Spanish Town is sweltering by boat and a waste of time IMHO.

I found the Baths to be over rated. We once rented a car at Leverick's and toured the island by car - more fun and good for reprovisioning, and went to the Baths that way. Not such great snorkeling and too crowded for us.

Monkey Point lunch stop for great snorkeling off the wall. I've heard there is a good anchorage just north of there, but wouldn't try it in north swells.

Marina Cay - dead bottom no snorkeling, used to be nice, seemed a waste last time we were there.

Anegada - never been, wish we could have been.

If you read any of the guide books, they will advise you, too.

Have a great trip.

 

[Steve L22188]

Cooper Island Beach Club

Sitting in the Cooper Island Beach Club bar with a coldie and looking out over the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the boats on moorings and the beach right in front of you....really terrific!

And, there's good snorkeling right off that beach - and even better snorkeling just a dinghy ride about 1/2 mile west - there's a dingy mooring rope and it's always filled with wonderful fish.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Steve, wow! Brings back great memories. Our favorite place. Enjoy. I still have the T shirt!

 

[Steve L22188]

Yep...

Yep...Cooper Island is as near to heaven as I've been in a while. We've been to the BVIs twice - and been here both times. We're going back again next Spring and all of us agree Cooper Island is a "must."

And thanks for the info re the hexarachet block on the other post - I'll check the Harken site.

Steve

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Divers?? We sailed, snorkeled, dove and napped during the days, partied at night.Two of the sites previously mentioned:

Cooper Island
Dove the Inganess Bay (136 foot island freighter) six months after she was scuttled. Great for wide angle pics.

View attachment 64313
Bow windlass on the Inganess Bay

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View attachment 64314
Inganess Bay forward mast
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Marina Cay
Decent night dive on Diamond Reef. Good for macro pics.

View attachment 64315
A brittle star reaches out of tube coral at night on Diamond Reef
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[Tim R.]

Marina Cay's reef may be dead but there is still a lot of life there. We saw stingrays, barracuda, puffers, lobster and even a moray eel.

 

[Cwoody]

We will be there for two weeks, and have no fixed itinerary.

Just got back from a seven day sail. Seven of us on a B50.5 With two weeks you can do a lot. Couple days each at Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost and everything else in between.

Here are our Garmin tracks:

http://cwoody.smugmug.com/Vacation/Sailing/BVI-2013-Tracks/29423671_k7SCm9#!i=2512317948&k=GtSwXF9

Have fun.

Check out this forum for some great uptodate info:

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=bvi

 

[Steve Walsh]

In addition of the other great suggestions so far, consider the Full Moon party at Trellis Bay (no idea when the next full moon is) and Quito's when he is performing at Cane Garden Bay. The Memorial Day weekend music festival in Cane Garden Bay is super crowded and a lot of fun, if you like noise levels that can vibrate your standing rigging when anchored almost as far out as the reef. Expect a crowded and fun anchorage and few huge yachts and dinghies buzzing everywhere, lots of socializing.