©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd British% Virgin Islands POP 28,000 / 284 Includes ¨ Why Go? Tortola . 233 The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are territories of Her Majes- Virgin Gorda . 241 ty’s land, but aside from scattered offerings of fish and chips, Jost Van Dyke . 245 there’s little that’s overtly British. Most travelers come to Anegada . 248 hoist a jib and dawdle among the 50-plus isles. With steady trade winds, calm currents, protected bays and pirate-ship Out Islands . 251 bars, this is one of the world’s sailing hot spots. Understand British Main island Tortola is known for its full-moon parties and Virgin Islands . 252 sailing prowess. Billionaires and yachties swoon over Virgin Survival Guide . 254 Gorda and its magical rocks. Anegada floats in a remote reef and has a hammock waiting for those serious about unplug- ging. And who can resist little Jost Van Dyke, the ‘barefoot island’ where Main St is a calypso-wafting beach? Best Places The islands have a quirky edge, and despite all the fancy to Eat boats and celebrity visitors, they remain relatively undevel- ¨ Hog Heaven (p244) oped. ¨ CocoMaya (p243) ¨ Hendo’s Hideout (p247) When to Go ¨ Cruzin Bar & Grille Mid-Dec–Apr Peak season when the weather is at its (p239) best, everything is open, and the sailing scene is in full ¨ Wonky Dog (p250) swing. May & Jun Good for those who like the ambience dialed down a notch. Everything is still open, but crowds are Best Places less, lodging rates decrease, and winds are more mild for to Sleep sailors. ¨ Anegada Beach Club Nov–Jul Lobster season when the famed crustaceans are (p249) at their juiciest and widely available. ¨ Guavaberry Spring Bay Homes (p242) ¨ Ke Villas (p238) ¨ Evening Star Villas (p247) 232 Captain Auguste George Airport Cow Wreck Loblolly Bay Bay Flamingo Red Ù# Flash of Pond Pond –# Beauty Pomato Point #5 #\ The Anegada A T L A N T I C Settlement O C E A N BRITISH VIRGIN VIRGIN BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Necker I Mosquito I (UK) Island SLANDS SLANDS SLANDS Island Great 44 Guana Virgin Gorda Peak Island Camanoe (1359ft)R #8 Saba Rock The Dogs #2 Boat Trips Little Jost Josiah's Virgin Great Jost Bay Savannah Gorda Tobago Van Dyke Terrence B Bay 44444 BR Van Dyke 6 –# Virgin Gorda Airport #\ Cane Garden # Lettsome White Bay #3 Bay #\ –# #\ itis Great Airport Spanish East End Little Harbour #7 #_ #1 Town Tobago Carrot Beef Bay Tortola ROAD Hodges Island H V H 444 Th4e Baths4 6Apple R 6Creek 66 Great Bay TOWN Thatch Sage Mt Cooper #\ cis l I (1716ft) an ne Island Ginger R r n West End r F ha Island gi Si e C 4 4444444a4k 4# r N I N D Salt Peter Island S #\ St John Island L 444A C4ruz Bay 44444 6N 666Norman 6 DS Island 444Hig 4US4 VIRGIN44 Caribbean ISLANDS Sea HL (US) ig 464 H 66 ts # 0 20 km e 0 10 miles British Virgin Islands Highlights 1 The Baths (p241) 4 Wreck of the Rhone strand of sand after a day of Wading around megaboulders (p251) Snorkeling or diving perfecting your surfing skills. and sloshing through grottoes . at the 1867 shipwreck by Salt 7 Cane Garden Bay 2 Boat trips (p244) Island . (p237) Dancing to reggae at Sailing around the islands in 5 Anegada (p248) the beach bars . a DIY charter boat or a glass- Leaving the world behind on 8 Saba Rock (p244) bottomed day-tour boat . the far-flung island. Joining the yachties for happy 3 White Bay (p246) 6 Josiah’s Bay (p240) hour at this fleck of island off Drinking a rum-soaked Kicking back on the dramatic Virgin Gorda . Painkiller on the dazzling sand ..