Is Tortola nice?
Tortola is very popular for cruises and single destination vacations alike. With its beautiful scenery, amazing beaches, plentiful scuba diving sites, and booming tourism, there is no doubt that Tortola is one of the best places to visit in the Caribbean.
Tortola is very popular for cruises and single destination vacations alike. With its beautiful scenery, amazing beaches, plentiful scuba diving sites, and booming tourism, there is no doubt that Tortola is one of the best places to visit in the Caribbean.
Tortola is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. From white sand beaches like Cane Garden Bay Beach to black sand beaches like Smuggler's Cove Beach, there's something for everyone.
Tortola's wide sandy beaches are rarely crowded on Tortola, unless a cruise ship is in port. The best beaches are on the northern coast, especially Cane Garden Bay with its silky stretch of sand and gin-clear waters. Apple Bay is best for surfers, and Long Bay West is a dazzling strip of white sand running for a mile.
John offers easier access to land-based activities (hiking, snorkeling off the beach) while Tortola offers more boat-based activities (island hopping, diving, offshore snorkeling). Even so, the differences are very slight. If there's one big difference, it would be shopping.
If you are interested in beach activity during your visit to Tortola, the closest beach is Cane Garden Bay, less than five miles west of the cruise port – so you may need to consider a taxi, or a Disney Cruise Line – Port Adventure in Tortola that offers a beach.
The cheapest Virgin Island to stay at is St. Thomas as it has the largest airport, most conveniences, public transit, and many options for stay.
Frequently asked questions about walking trails in Tortola
Mount Sage National Park is home to 7 walking trails with an average 2.5 star rating from 82 community reviews.
Which of the BVI are best for nightlife? Head to Tortola, the largest island in the archipelago, to pay a visit to Road Town – the capital of the BVI. This lively town also happens to be the party capital of the archipelago, with live music and dancing throughout the bars and clubs until the early hours.
Of all the islands, Tortola has by far the largest population, some four-fifths of the total. About one-fourth of all Tortolans live in Road Town. English is the official language; far more frequently used in practice, however, is an English-based creole, Virgin Islands Creole English.
Do you need a car on Tortola?
The island of Tortola has a reliable public transportation system. You can tour the island by boat, which can be accessed by the docks in Road Town or on the West End. Taxis and buses can both navigate the island for you. However, compared to renting a car, these methods of transportation will end up costing you more.
Find paradise along St Thomas's most popular stretch of sand
Magens Bay Beach is easily the most popular beach on the U.S. Virgin Islands' main isle of St. Thomas.
| Level of crime | 42.86 | Moderate |
|---|---|---|
| Problem people using or dealing drugs | 60.71 | High |
| Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft | 50.00 | Moderate |
| Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 50.00 | Moderate |
| Problem corruption and bribery | 50.00 | Moderate |
St. John has the best beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the best hiking in the whole archipelago. Accommodations range from beachfront campgrounds to high-end resorts. Laid-back Cruz Bay and Coral Bay provide an antidote to the outdoors with funky shops, hip restaurants, and buzzing bars.
In terms of convenience, St Thomas has an edge over Tortola. It's closer to many other Caribbean islands, so it's easy to take day trips or longer excursions if you want to explore more than one place. In addition, there are plenty of snorkeling operators on St Thomas who offer equipment rental and guided tours.
Thomas) - Road Town (Tortola) Travel Time: The ferry between Tortola and St. Thomas takes 1 (one) hour, this includes time for boarding, customs, and sailing.
You should rent a car or take a taxi to move about larger islands like Virgin Gorda or Tortola. You'll probably get on a boat at least once during your vacation – either because that's the way you arrived in the British Virgin Islands or that's the way you traveled among them.
United States citizens traveling into the British Virgin Islands, no matter the departing country or territory, must present a valid passport upon entry. Passport requirements include travel to Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, or any other smaller island within the British Overseas Territory.
Although it's the largest of the three islands, St. Croix sees the fewest tourists, making it a great destination if you want a less commercialized Caribbean experience.
Which US Virgin Island is the safest? St John is the least populated and has the lowest crime rate in the US Virgin Islands. Therefore, St John is considered to be the safest US Virgin Islands territory.
What is the best time to go to the British Virgin Islands?
The best time to visit the British Virgin Islands is between April and May, when the weather is dry and the trade winds aren't as cool in the evening. The climate is tropical and humid, moderated by these cooling northeast winds.
As the archipelago's largest island, the Capital isle of Tortola is the most likely starting point for your British Virgin Islands adventure. Ancient ruins of historic settlements past coexist side-by-side with oceanside luxury resorts and modern townships here.
The British Virgin Islands are a picture-perfect paradise. These idyllic islands are home to white-sand beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, crystal-clear turquoise water, scenic hiking, lots of boating opportunities, and more cheap rum you can handle. However, life here is not just hammocks and piña coladas.
The excursion to St. John will give you a bit of snorkeling at Honeymoon Bay. If you want to do it on your own, St. Thomas is going to have better options and easier to get around than Tortola - Secret Harbor and Sapphire Beach are pretty good.
Virgin Gorda: the most popular island in the BVI
It is the most visited island in the BVI and the most touristic as well. The island is located 30 minutes by ferry from Tortola. It seduces tourists with its many attractions, such as The Baths National Park located in its southwestern tip.
Montserrat. Nicknamed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” both for its terrain and the heritage of its inhabitants, Montserrat is a British territory in the Leeward Islands and it is considered to be the safest island in the Caribbean, with its last recorded murder occurring in 2008.
The best time to visit the British Virgin Islands is between April and May, when the weather is dry and the trade winds aren't as cool in the evening. The climate is tropical and humid, moderated by these cooling northeast winds.
The U.S. government's current travel advisory for the British Virgin Islands is at level 1, which means exercise normal precautions. The UK government maintains that crime is low in the British Virgin Islands but advises foreign travelers that serious incidents such as robberies or drug-related gun crimes can occur.
The British Virgin Islands are made up of 36 islands, islets and cays, which total about 59 sq miles. Tortola comprises 21 sq miles; Anegada, 15; Virgin Gorda, eight; and Jost Van Dyke, four. Can I drink the tap water? Most tap water is desalinated salt water, which is safe to drink.
Magen's Bay
Located on the north side of the island, a sugary mile of white sand lines a heart shaped bay with crystal clear waters. Magen's Bay is part of the U.S.V.I. national park system and the government charges a small entry fee of $5 per person to maintain the area.
