The gorgeous beaches of the BVI

The beaches of the BVI are indeed beautiful and this thread is meant to provide brief descriptons and comparisons of the beaches for those new to the islands, and to allow others to add their experiences and descriptions. For those wanting a gorgeous beach with some amenities and no crowd there is not one beach that fits that criteria anywhere, of course. But there are several excellent options to choose from in the BVI, and all BVI beaches are free and open to the public.

Tortola -

Cane Garden Bay (CGB) on the northwest side of Tortola is the primary beach destination for cruisers because of the amenities it offers. It is a nice beach in a larger bay that is generally calm but can be wavier with sea swells as with most beaches. CGB is home to several beach bars/restaurants including Myett's, Stanley's (now cousin Tony's), the Elms, Rymers, Big Banana, and Quito's. Quito Rymer is a popular reggae/island recording artist who plays at his bar Thurs & Fri evenings, not to be missed if you have the opportunity. All of these spots have good bar food and drinks and Myett's and others rent lounges.

CGB becomes the most crowded bay in the BVI when cruise ships are docked in Tortola, and if you like a busier or more active vibe CGB is your best choice. Good beer, drink and food choices, as well as some watersports rentals and a water taxi to Jost. There is also taxi service available if you decide CGB is not for you and you want to go to a quieter beach (see below).

Brewers Bay is just to the north of CGB and is a nice beach with great snorkeling, Nicole's beach bar serves drinks and food and rents chairs. Brewers is between CGB and SC in terms of the number of people.

Josiah's Bay lies to the north of Brewer's and is a nice beach with rougher water, very popular with surfers.

Smuggler's Cove is south of CGB and is one of the most beautiful and natural Tortola beaches with calm waves and offers great snorkeling off the beach and gorgeous views of Jost and Sandy Cay. There are currently no vendors at SC so you need to pack a picnic. Smuggler's is a little harder to drive to because of an unpaved and bumpy road for the last mile or so and the fare is a little higher than CGB or Brewer's. And there are just portapotties and no fixed facilities (yet). So it gets less of the crowds and attracts more locals and that's the beauty of Smuggler's. The best spot to enjoy a beautiful beach without the crowd of CGB. You'll need the taxi driver to return to pick you up here.

You will pass Long Bay (Tortola) on the way to Smuggler's and that is a long, beautiful stretch of sand you'll see on picture postcards. Great spot to walk, picnic, or enjoy watching the pelicans dive. Home of the Long Bay Resort which offers day passes and has a small swim-up bar and is a very nice resort. The $20 day pass is for the use of their small pool and pool bar, for $45 you get a burger and 2 drinks.

Long Bay (Beef Island) is a very nice beach locals go to near the airport, very natural with no facilities or amenities.

Trellis Bay near Long Bay Beef is a popular mooring bay with some fun bars and evening fire shows. Many folks who fly directly into EIS (Beef Island airport) will walk to Trellis to enjoy their first cocktail at De Loose Mongoose bar - "You have arrived!". But the beach isn't as nice as the others mentioned.

Here's a http://www.skyviews.com/bviold/tortola/map.htmlmap of Tortola for reference.

Jost Van Dyke -

White Bay on Jost Van Dyke (JVD) is a nice, white sand beach with several beach bars. There's often a busier vibe during the day because a flotilla of cats and motor boats stop there throughout the day to enjoy the scene. It can be a busy vibe along the beach so White Bay is not recommended as a destination for those wanting to enjoy nature and a quiet, relaxing beach. But it can also be quieter, just depends on the day. It is a great spot to enjoy drinks at the Soggy $, Ivan's Stress Free Bar, or be entertained by the magic and card tricks of Seddy (Foxy's son) at his One Love Bar. And you can find good music in the afternoon and evening from Rubin Chinnery at Ivan's on Thursday I believe. It gets quiet at night and is a great place to stay if you want dark skies and quieter nights.

Great Harbor is over the hill and home to Foxy's and other places. Foxy's is a fun place to enjoy, the owner (Foxy Callwood) plays guitar and entertains with his stories. This is a very popular spot for New Years Eve as well. Great Harbor does not have the nice beach like White Bay but is a good spot for mooring and is where the West End, Tortola and USVI ferries dock.

Virgin Gorda -

There are also nice beaches on Virgin Gorda like Savannah and Spring Bay, and of course the famous Baths are bvery unique and worth a visit for those who have yet to experience them. Everything is within a short drive in the Valley which makes it easy to see this part of VG. The easiest way there is on your own, just walk to the ferry to the left of the cruise ship dock and take the 30 min ferry to Spanishtown, Virgin Gorda. You find many taxis available for the short ride to the top of the Baths, you will walk down a trail to get to the beach and the boulders. The drivers will recommend a time to be back at the top for your return to Road Town. There are 2 ferry services (Speedy's and Smith's), and because they have different schedules you can often spend more time on VG by taking one over and the other back but it will cost $10 more per person. If time allows you can have lunch at the Top of the Baths restaurant or even taxi to the Mineshaft Café to enjoy the panoramic view and their signature drink the Cave In - "It's all in the Juice, mon!". Also a little shopping available in Spanishtown a short walk from the ferry dock.

Anegada -

The beaches of Anegada are also gorgeous, this is a flat island as compared to the others and is a bit far away for a cruise ship stop but worth a visit if you return for a longer stay.

So the islands of the BVI offer several options for beach-goers, just depends on the experience you want to have. For a more active vibe hit CGB or White Bay, and for snorkeling or a less busy vibe try Smuggler's or Brewers (or Josiah's and Long Bay, Beef Island for a more secluded spot).

And be sure to treat the beaches and other areas with respect and pick up after yourselves, the folks who live there will be very appreciative. The beaches will also be as pristene as you remember them when you return to spend more time in the beautiful BVI!

Enjoy your time in our favorite islands and be sure to post your favorite experiences here too! :)

What a lot of fabulous information.

Thank you.

Ellen

Thanks Ellen! I guess it's obvious I love staying on Tortola and I just want to let those new to the BVI Know what they can choose from. There is a lot of "confusing information" here and it can ruin a short day for someone. We don't want that! :)

The beaches of the BVI are indeed beautiful and this thread is meant to provide brief descriptons and comparisons of the beaches for those new to the islands, and to allow others to add their experiences and descriptions. For those wanting a gorgeous beach with some amenities and no crowd there is not one beach that fits that criteria anywhere, of course. But there are several excellent options to choose from in the BVI, and all BVI beaches are free and open to the public.

 

Tortola -

Cane Garden Bay (CGB) on the northwest side of Tortola is the primary beach destination for cruisers because of the amenities it offers. It is a nice beach in a larger bay that is generally calm but can be wavier with sea swells as with most beaches. CGB is home to several beach bars/restaurants including Myett's, Stanley's (now cousin Tony's), the Elms, Rymers, Big Banana, and Quito's. Quito Rymer is a popular reggae/island recording artist who plays at his bar Thurs & Fri evenings, not to be missed if you have the opportunity. All of these spots have good bar food and drinks and Myett's and others rent lounges.

 

CGB becomes the most crowded bay in the BVI when cruise ships are docked in Tortola, and if you like a busier or more active vibe CGB is your best choice. Good beer, drink and food choices, as well as some watersports rentals and a water taxi to Jost. There is also taxi service available if you decide CGB is not for you and you want to go to a quieter beach (see below).

 

Brewers Bay is just to the north of CGB and is a nice beach with great snorkeling, Nicole's beach bar serves drinks and food and rents chairs. Brewers is between CGB and SC in terms of the number of people.

 

Josiah's Bay lies to the north of Brewer's and is a nice beach with rougher water, very popular with surfers.

 

Smuggler's Cove is south of CGB and is one of the most beautiful and natural Tortola beaches with calm waves and offers great snorkeling off the beach and gorgeous views of Jost and Sandy Cay. There are currently no vendors at SC so you need to pack a picnic. Smuggler's is a little harder to drive to because of an unpaved and bumpy road for the last mile or so and the fare is a little higher than CGB or Brewer's. And there are just portapotties and no fixed facilities (yet). So it gets less of the crowds and attracts more locals and that's the beauty of Smuggler's. The best spot to enjoy a beautiful beach without the crowd of CGB. You'll need the taxi driver to return to pick you up here.

 

You will pass Long Bay (Tortola) on the way to Smuggler's and that is a long, beautiful stretch of sand you'll see on picture postcards. Great spot to walk, picnic, or enjoy watching the pelicans dive. Home of the Long Bay Resort which offers day passes and has a small swim-up bar and is a very nice resort. The $20 day pass is for the use of their small pool and pool bar, for $45 you get a burger and 2 drinks.

 

Long Bay (Beef Island) is a very nice beach locals go to near the airport, very natural with no facilities or amenities.

 

Trellis Bay near Long Bay Beef is a popular mooring bay with some fun bars and evening fire shows. Many folks who fly directly into EIS (Beef Island airport) will walk to Trellis to enjoy their first cocktail at De Loose Mongoose bar - "You have arrived!". But the beach isn't as nice as the others mentioned.

 

Here's a http://www.skyviews.com/bviold/tortola/map.htmlmap of Tortola for reference.

 

Jost Van Dyke -

White Bay on Jost Van Dyke (JVD) is a nice, white sand beach with several beach bars. There's often a busier vibe during the day because a flotilla of cats and motor boats stop there throughout the day to enjoy the scene. It can be a busy vibe along the beach so White Bay is not recommended as a destination for those wanting to enjoy nature and a quiet, relaxing beach. But it can also be quieter, just depends on the day. It is a great spot to enjoy drinks at the Soggy $, Ivan's Stress Free Bar, or be entertained by the magic and card tricks of Seddy (Foxy's son) at his One Love Bar. And you can find good music in the afternoon and evening from Rubin Chinnery at Ivan's on Thursday I believe. It gets quiet at night and is a great place to stay if you want dark skies and quieter nights.

 

Great Harbor is over the hill and home to Foxy's and other places. Foxy's is a fun place to enjoy, the owner (Foxy Callwood) plays guitar and entertains with his stories. This is a very popular spot for New Years Eve as well. Great Harbor does not have the nice beach like White Bay but is a good spot for mooring and is where the West End, Tortola and USVI ferries dock.

 

Virgin Gorda -

There are also nice beaches on Virgin Gorda like Savannah and Spring Bay, and of course the famous Baths are bvery unique and worth a visit for those who have yet to experience them. Everything is within a short drive in the Valley which makes it easy to see this part of VG. The easiest way there is on your own, just walk to the ferry to the left of the cruise ship dock and take the 30 min ferry to Spanishtown, Virgin Gorda. You find many taxis available for the short ride to the top of the Baths, you will walk down a trail to get to the beach and the boulders. The drivers will recommend a time to be back at the top for your return to Road Town. There are 2 ferry services (Speedy's and Smith's), and because they have different schedules you can often spend more time on VG by taking one over and the other back but it will cost $10 more per person. If time allows you can have lunch at the Top of the Baths restaurant or even taxi to the Mineshaft Café to enjoy the panoramic view and their signature drink the Cave In - "It's all in the Juice, mon!". Also a little shopping available in Spanishtown a short walk from the ferry dock.

 

Anegada -

The beaches of Anegada are also gorgeous, this is a flat island as compared to the others and is a bit far away for a cruise ship stop but worth a visit if you return for a longer stay.

 

So the islands of the BVI offer several options for beach-goers, just depends on the experience you want to have. For a more active vibe hit CGB or White Bay, and for snorkeling or a less busy vibe try Smuggler's or Brewers (or Josiah's and Long Bay, Beef Island for a more secluded spot).

And be sure to treat the beaches and other areas with respect and pick up after yourselves, the folks who live there will be very appreciative. The beaches will also be as pristene as you remember them when you return to spend more time in the beautiful BVI!

 

Enjoy your time in our favorite islands and be sure to post your favorite experiences here too! :)

Great info thank you so much.

Note that there is a new development with the Long Bay Resort, they areclosing some of the resort property and will be scaling back. So we'll have to wait and see if there is a new pool and poolbar built as planned and day passes sold.

But Long Bay is still a beautiful beach to just lay and stare at and watch the diving pelicans. For swimming go to the right (as you're facing the water) to avoid rocks.

Thank you for the wonderful information! Do you have any recommendations about SCUBA diving? My husband would like to dive and I'd love a beach or resort to relax at while he's diving. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!!

Sorry I'm not much help there. There is a good diving outfit, divebvi dot com. I'm not sure where they pick up but maybe they can help you with that.

http://www.divebvi.com/

Blue Water thanks for all the beach info. Heading to tortola for the first time next year. Wondering do you snorkel? Any advice on decent snorkeling from shore or any OMG great tours. Again, thanks & appreciate the advice!

Hi, we're not big snorkelers but on Tortola Smuggler's and Brewers are noted for good snorkeling, I've seen several good reviews from folks who snorkeled at Brewers. Not so many anymore on Smuggler's but that's because it's so secluded and there are no longer any vendors or amenities there. So I would look at Brewers for snorkeling on Tortola.

For great snorkeling if time allows there are daysails that go to the Indians and Norman Caves and other spots, you may also want to look into that. I know Aristocat Charters, Patouche, and others are very popular for these excursions. Divebvi has a site with more information on the different dive and snorkel sites. They are based on VG so you'll need to contact them to see if they can accommodate your time in port. I'm sure they have packages that fit some of the ship schedules.

Good luck!

Thanks Blue! :)

Seeing several questions on beaches so bumping...

Thanks for the information! Carnival offers an excursion to the Baths and snorkeling at Marina Cay for $90. I read we would be better off using a ship excursion to see the baths because the ferries aren't very reliable there. Do you think it would be worth it or should we just do a beach day? We are only there until 2:30.

Not sure where you read about the ferries being unreliable but that is very inaccurate. The ferries run very regularly. There can always be problems but they have 2 ferry services as well as back-up.

The Carnival day is short, the ferry is 1 hour roundtrip plus any wait time, with a 40 - 50 minute roundtrip taxi to and from the Top of the Baths. So you're looking at at least 2 hours of transfer time. And you'd also need to look at the ferry departure times. I always recommend the Baths because they are unique. But with a shorter day in port it's a hard call.

Questions -

What time do you arrive at Road Town?

Do you snorkel, and do you like quieter beaches? Or do you like a beach with several beach bars and a more lively vibe to enjoy?

Not sure where you read about the ferries being unreliable but that is very inaccurate. The ferries run very regularly. There can always be problems but they have 2 ferry services as well as back-up.

 

The Carnival day is short, the ferry is 1 hour roundtrip plus any wait time, with a 40 - 50 minute roundtrip taxi to and from the Top of the Baths. So you're looking at at least 2 hours of transfer time. And you'd also need to look at the ferry departure times. I always recommend the Baths because they are unique. But with a shorter day in port it's a hard call.

 

Questions -

What time do you arrive at Road Town?

Do you snorkel, and do you like quieter beaches? Or do you like a beach with several beach bars and a more lively vibe to enjoy?

If Road Town is where Carnival docks, then 7:00.

Yes we snorkel. My husband prefers quiet beaches but I don't have a strong preference for one over the other, however I do like amenities.

If a beach day sounds good I would do Brewers because there is good snorkeling as well as 1 beach bar and restrooms. Shouldn't be too crowded and a relaxing day!

Do the open air safari type cabs go to Brewers? What would be the cost from the port.

Thanks again for all your help.

Ellen

Yes they goto Brewers and CGB. The taxi fares are listed here, look at the rates from the cruise dock. Generally there will be others with you so the $8pp each way (3-person rate) will apply.

http://www.bvivacation.com/transportation/tortola-taxi-fares-rates.php#.UlM6E2t5mK0

Thank you again.

Ellen

Yes they goto Brewers and CGB. The taxi fares are listed here, look at the rates from the cruise dock. Generally there will be others with you so the $8pp each way (3-person rate) will apply.

http://www.bvivacation.com/transportation/tortola-taxi-fares-rates.php#.UlM6E2t5mK0

Do the taxis wait to fill up or for multiple people? I'll be going solo and would glady share a taxi. Also, are the taxis easy to get on the beach? I'm would like to see a beach in Tortola if time permits after visiting the Baths.

If you are going to a beach on Tortola after the Baths you will find a driver ready to take you. The busy time is when the first crowd gets off for Tortola,.

Are they easy to get in Great Harbour going to White Bay?

Yes. For the return Soggy $ will call if needed.

Thank You for the great information. My question is this...I have a group of 10 and we are looking at Cane Garden. Will we be able to get a taxi for 10 and how much do you think that fare would be?

Thank You,

Peggy

When we stay at Myett's in CGB we see several 25 - 30 pax taxis dropping people, it's the most touristy beach so you will just share a taxi with others. The listed fare is $8pp each way for 2 or more ppl.

Thank You!

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