BVI BY LAND & SEA
The Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke is home of the original, island-favorite Painkiller. Created and perfected here, the Painkiller is a signature drink of BVI and a must-have libation while in town. Dubbed the Soggy Dollar because of the sailors who’d swim ashore to grab a beverage and pay with wet cash, the Soggy Dollar is a tried-and-true BVI legend that simply must be visited.
Foxy’s is another famed haunt on Jost Van Dyke. The beach bar located in Great Harbour is a classic must-visit spot and the restaurant’s annual New Year’s Eve/Old Year’s Eve parties are legendary. Be sure to down a glass of Foxy’s Firewater rum when you’re visiting. It’s sure to set the tempo for the rest of your day. In Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, there is plenty to see and do, including dozens of scenic beaches and Tortola Pier Park, a frequent stop for ships with plenty of shopping and restaurants.
The BVI capital Road Town also is located on this island. Road Town is home to Charlies, which is renowned for its Italian fare with Caribbean flair. Located at the Mariner’s Inn, the restaurant offers impeccable views of the Inner Harbour and all the boats floating about as well as the cruise ship pier. If relaxation is on your to-do list, be sure to visit the Amara Spa for a rejuvenating service while you’re in town.
Virgin Gorda is one of the most breathtaking islands you can find. From white sand beaches, volcanic boulders, lush greenery and azure-color seas, the stunning scenery will have you falling in love. The Baths, a unique collection of gigantic boulders, is a must-see site with secluded rock pools and beaches for visitors to explore. Then, before hopping to the next island, enjoy a blend of Asian and Latin cuisine at Coco Maya Restaurant. Located on Anegada, the low-lying only coral island in BVI’s volcanic chain, Anegada Beach Club is one of the newest hot spots in the BVI. From excursions and activities to “glamping” in beachside luxury tents, The Beach Club offers experiences unlike any you’ve had before. While visiting, try your hand at kite surfing, sport fishing, water sports, bone fishing; explore the island on bicycles, or go snorkeling for a peek below the waterline. Here you’ll find mazes, tunnels and drops among the reef, rich with marine life.
Venture out to dine at one of the Anegada’s several infamous restaurants such as Cow Wreck Beach Bar and Grill, where former U.S. President Barack Obama and Sir Richard Branson have enjoyed a meal. With conch fritters acclaimed to be the best in the BVI, they specialize in lobster, conch and fish and fuel their grill with local wood. Norman Island is the perfect place to moor the yacht for an evening in the pristine beauty of the bight — one of the most beautiful and safest anchorages in the BVI. The bight has more than 100 moorings available for guests to use and is well-known for snorkel and dive sites such as the Indians and the Caves. The uninhabited island is a privately owned 610-acre area full of hiking trails and a white-sand beach where Pirates Bight Restaurant is located.
Norman Island was the inspiration for the famed Robert Louis Stevenson novel “Treasure Island,” ensuring the restaurant’s name is not only fun, but also accurate. In fact, it is rumored that there is still pirate treasure waiting to be discovered on the island.
Cooper Island Beach Club is a one-stop-shop resort island for fun in the sun. It has a marina with 30 moorings and two tender docks, a restaurant, a coffee shop, microbrewery, boutique and more. Guests also can enjoy captained day charters, excursions, deep-sea fishing, massage therapy and sailing classes, use of the on-site paddleboards, kayaking and snorkeling among other activities on site. Stop by their restaurant and rum bar to enjoy the largest rum collection in the region
For more information on the British Virgin Islands, please visit bvitourism.com or call +1 800 835 8530
