The British Virgin Islands, or BVI, are located in the Caribbean Sea and are part of the West Indies in the Leeward Island chain. Charming hillside cottages, and awe-inspiring colorful views captivate the traveler to the jeweled collection of desired islands. The people of the islands welcome and enjoy guests, and offer the finest of hospitality in their villages.

The capital, Tortola, lies just 8 miles east of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Apart from Tortola, the main, inhabited islands are Virgin Gorda, Anegada & Jost Van Dyke. The British Virgin Islands are amongst the most popular Caribbean vacation destinations, in part for some of the best in sailing territories. Tortola is also home to the world's largest yacht charter fleet.

The British Virgin Islands are exactly what one dreams about when getting away to a special warm place on the beach. The Caribbean vacation is often the first choice - whether its lounging on a hammock under the palm trees, or hiking nature trails, scuba diving, windsurfing, bone fishing, underwater photography, or surfing, the inviting choices are endless.

For example, tourists have the option to charter a bareboat yacht for a week, or take the family out for a crewed day sail adventure from Tortola to Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke or Anegada. Visitors often enjoy seeing some of the other nearby islands as well. Smaller power boat rental (or sailboats for a day) to explore on one’s own is also an option. For the more adventurous types, a little parasailing or a flight in an ultra light plane to see the islands from a bird's eye view is there for the taking. Yacht Charters, boat rentals, day sailing trips & water sports are also available.

Accommodations

There are literally hundreds of accommodation options on the islands. The main island of Tortola offers many of intimate Inns, villa rentals, guest houses, hotels, and resorts. Virgin Gorda has a wide variety of choices with private villas nestled amongst the famous boulders.

Several very exclusive Resorts and a handful of private island resorts are located at or near the North Sound. Some of the accommodations include Lambert Beach Resort, Tortola, and Biras Creek Virgin Gordais, a unique 140 acre property. The exclusive setting hosts about 60 guests at a time.

The Lighthouse Villas are located in one of the most desirable locations on the beautiful Caribbean Island of Tortola. The Lighthouse Villas are nestled on a hillside less than a two minute walk from Cane Garden Bay's magnificent palm tree lined beach, with over one mile of soft white sand. This new three-story hotel has six oversized villas with large balconies overlooking Cane Garden Bay and a beautiful sandy beach. French doors lead to a private balcony where beaches and visiting yachts can be viewed.

Restaurants

A wide array of local style and Caribbean food, prepared in the manner and tastes of the generations before, are sumptuous. Local fish and vegetable condiments are ever ready and are mouth watering.

International cuisines of : Thailand, France, Italy, UK, America, Cuba, China, as well as the ethnic dishes of Creole & Cajun exist in abundance.

The Islands are filled with fine BBQ, Creative Caribbean Fusion, American Bistros, Pizzas and of course, the ever popular "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

Hosts of these ethic restaurants include: the Brandywine Bay Restaurant;
Little Dix Bay Hotel, Virgin Gorda and Great Harbor, Peter Island.


Shopping

The Islands offer many diverse shops, art galleries, gift boutiques and jewelry stores in which to browse. Colorful island apparel and T-shirts make wonderful gifts to take back home as a reminder of your trip to paradise and add to the collectables for the tourist.


Arts

A style of island art exists in many of the local art galleries for some intriguing island creations from oil paintings, watercolors and unique works of art made of steel drums or coconut shells. There are also jewelry stores and small gift shops with imaginative local handicrafts.

Major Attractions

When was the last time you built a sandcastle? These beaches are made for such outdoor creativity as well as sailing regattas, surfing competitions, windsurfing events, cycling races, car rallies, music festivals, and cricket matches.

The August Festival Celebration is the biggest cultural event of the year in the British Virgin Islands and visitors delight in joining in the fun. The Festival commemorates the emancipation proclamation of Friday, August 1st, 1834 which marked the abolition of slavery in the British Virgin Islands.

Also, the annual HIHO windsurfing adventure combines a week of water sports fun with an inter-island odyssey. The HIHO fleet of 100 windsurfers charts a course through the British Virgin Islands. Windsurfers cover over 150 miles as they race over 7 times from one island to another. Non-windsurfers delight in the nonstop action provided by a team from the Bitter End Yacht Club.

The Caribbean 1500 Cruising Rally is a long distance cruising rally which has taken place for the past 11 years. Departing from Hampton, Virginia, and the fleet heads for Virgin Gorda, a passage of more than 1500 miles.

Local History

In Pre-Columbian times, the archipelago known as the British Virgin Islands was settled by tribal groups migrating from South America in ocean-going dugout canoes. The Arawakan-speaking Taino Indians came first and were followed by the Caribs - from whose name the word Caribbean is derived.

Columbus discovered the islands in 1493 on his second voyage to the West Indies. The British Virgin Islands is a colony of the United Kingdom and is linked with Great Britain. The word "British" was added to the Territory’s name for clarity, when at the end of World War I, the United States bought the "Danish West Indies" from Denmark and renamed them the "U.S. Virgin Islands."


The British Virgin Islands consist of over thirty islands, islets, cays, and jagged rocks, sixteen of which are inhabited, with a total area of 59 square miles and a total population of about 19,000. The largest islands are Tortola (Turtle Dove), Virgin Gorda (Fat Virgin) and Anegada (Drowned Land). Guana Island, the seventh largest island in the chain, is named for an iguana-shaped rock formation on its northwestern coast.