Caribbean tips you can trust
Why the
British Virgin Islands
are special
The British Virgin Islands (nicknamed BVI) is celebrated for its sailing, fishing and beaches - and for its exclusive Virgin Gorda Island.
Among its several dozen (mostly uninhabited)
islands, three are the most popular with visitors:
Virgin Gorda
Tortola
Jost Van Dyke
Virgin Gorda
It's has been popular with the rich, famous and powerful for a long time.
The elite includes
Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Airlines. He has
his own small private island, Necker, which he rents out when he's not
using it. Necker Island is the Caribbean's most exclusive and expensive
resort. Update: In August 2011, a lightning
strike burnt down the main complex. It will be rebuilt.
Little Dix Bay is another
superlative resort.
Virgin Gorda as a
whole has a well-developed tourism infrastructure of outstanding resorts,
villas and restaurants - and a ritzy yacht haven.
The Bath is the best
Virgin Gorda (and some say BVI's) best attraction. It comprises a collection
of colossal, smooth rock boulders standing along the shore. It's fun to
squeeze between them on foot or by snorkeling.
Virgin Gorda
means "fat virgin" in Spanish.
Tortula
This is the most populated British Virgin Island. Its also home to the nation's capital, Road Town. Although Tortola has less cache and overall appeal than Virgin Gorda, it has two satellite islands sporting luxury resorts: Guana Island and Peter Island.
Jost Van Dyke
This small and quiet island is known for its pristine white-sand beaches. It was named for a Dutch pirate who used the island as his base. The first name is pronounced "yost" (rhymes with "toast").
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