Self Excursion to the Baths

[danadi18]

For those of you who have taken a self-excursion to the Baths, did you just have to pay for the cab and ferry ride? From what I read, Speedy's is the company that runs the ferry and also provides cabs. Are there any other expenses?

 

Thanks!

[blue_water]

You can buy a package with Speedy's that includes the taxi if you want. We'd just sit buy the ferry passes and do the taxi on our own in case we want to visit a few different spots on VG. Taxi fares are very reasonable within the Valley area...

[mpc128]

We are just back from our cruise and found exploring the Baths on our own very easy. We walked off the ship and it was a 15 minute walk to the ferry. We purchased the roundtrip from Speedy's ($38) which included the ferry and open air taxi to the Baths and back to the ferry.

 

One thing we discovered at the Baths is that it's better to take the trail down to the Baths (much easier taking it down!). When you get to the bottom, there's an open area to swim (but crowded). Walk to the left (the sign points to the Caves), walk through the caves (not too difficult). That puts you out at Devil's Bay. Nice big rocks to sit on and much less crowded for swimming. Then walk back up to the top from Devil's Bay - a very easy walk up and watch for the lizards and hermit crabs! Nice little restaurant at the top for lunch and drinks overlooking the Baths.

[crusingnut]

We are just back from our cruise and found exploring the Baths on our own very easy. We walked off the ship and it was a 15 minute walk to the ferry. We purchased the roundtrip from Speedy's ($38) which included the ferry and open air taxi to the Baths and back to the ferry.

 

One thing we discovered at the Baths is that it's better to take the trail down to the Baths (much easier taking it down!). When you get to the bottom, there's an open area to swim (but crowded). Walk to the left (the sign points to the Caves), walk through the caves (not too difficult). That puts you out at Devil's Bay. Nice big rocks to sit on and much less crowded for swimming. Then walk back up to the top from Devil's Bay - a very easy walk up and watch for the lizards and hermit crabs! Nice little restaurant at the top for lunch and drinks overlooking the Baths.

 

Is $38 round trip per person? What time did you catch the ferry? Thinking of doing this on our own, but we are a group of 6 adults & 5 kids.

[blue_water]

Ferry is $30pp round trip, taxi to the Top of the Baths on your own is $6pp round trip for 3 ppl or more. Paying the taxi yourself just saves $2pp in your case, but the main benefit is if you want to stop somewhere else you are not restricted to the taxi that is just returning to the ferry dock. Taxi fares in the Valley area of VG are very inexpensive and the driver will work with you so you can stop for lunch, for example.

[mpc128]

Yes, the cost was $38 pp round trip. We walked off the ship around 8:30 and easily caught the 9:00 ferry. The driver came back for us at the Baths at 12:30 for the 1:00 ferry back. We were there on a Sunday, and the 1:00 ferry was the last one from Virgin Gorda back to Tortola. There was plenty of room on the ferry, so you shouldn't have any problem with your group.

[blue_water]

Speedy's ferry site -

http://www.bviferries.com/

 

Speedy's special for $48 which includes RT taxi on VG and lunch at the Bath & Turtle in Spanishtown where you can also shop -

http://www.bviferries.com/specials.html

 

Smith's ferry services -

http://www.smithsferryservices.com/

 

If you are in port long enough to take advantage, you can also take a different ferry each direction to maximize your time on VG, that's $20pp each way instead of fhe $30 RT but is a great way to see more of Virgin Gorda if your schedule allows.

The ferries are very reliable and they will add extra ferries when it's a busy port day. But if you want to be assured of getting back on a 1PM and not a 1:15 for some reason just get back to the ferry terminal a little early. The ferry is a short walk from Spanishtown as well.

[Winston Wolf]

You can buy a package with Speedy's that includes the taxi if you want. We'd just sit buy the ferry passes and do the taxi on our own in case we want to visit a few different spots on VG. Taxi fares are very reasonable within the Valley area...

 

Does Speedy's take credit card for the ferry tickets, or is it cash only?

[SeaWatcher65]

I worry what could go wrong if going on our own... since there are limited ferries, could the ferry be too full to get on in time to get back to Tortola? Do the ferries stop running if the water is too rough or if there is lightning? Do the ferries break down? Makes me nervous going from Tortola to another island.

[jmkrsail]

Does Speedy's take credit card for the ferry tickets, or is it cash only?

 

When at Speedy's in mid-October we were told the card machine was not working and they only wanted cash.

[blue_water]

When at Speedy's in mid-October we were told the card machine was not working and they only wanted cash.

 

Yes good point - internet service is notoriously unreliable in the islands so you'll want to have cash for anything you're paying for there...

[Sheeba67]

Smith's Ferry no longer goes to Virgin Gorda on Sunday's, so you have to plan to do Speedy's at 9:00am and return at 1:00pm. We got screwed when we showed for the supposed 10:00am Smiths ferry. Had to change plans and go the CGB. This was the only thing we really planned for this cruise and we were very disappointed when we couldn't get to the Baths.

[blue_water]

Smith's Ferry no longer goes to Virgin Gorda on Sunday's.

 

That is odd - Their schedule shows the 10AM departure to VG on Sun as usual. Was their a notice posted at the terminal?

Edited November 18, 2015 by blue_water

[Sheeba67]

That is odd - Their schedule shows the 10AM departure to VG on Sun as usual. Was their a notice posted at the terminal?

 

No notice at terminal, just showed up at 9:45 am and they said they discontinued that service. I think Speedy's add a 10:40 departure, but still had to return at 1:00pm or 4:30pm, which was too late. I told them their website still shows the 10:00am schedule, and they just shrugged their shoulders like that was not their deal. Quite disappointing.

[blue_water]

No notice at terminal, just showed up at 9:45 am and they said they discontinued that service. I think Speedy's add a 10:40 departure, but still had to return at 1:00pm or 4:30pm, which was too late. I told them their website still shows the 10:00am schedule, and they just shrugged their shoulders like that was not their deal. Quite disappointing.

 

Yes, sorry to hear that. When you're there for a short matter of hours you want to be able to rely on the published schedules. Things happen in the islands, but..