Insider's Guide to the Best Spots in the BVI's by Boat

The journey started out on a beautiful catamaran from Alquivela MedCaribbean in Tortola, the largest and most populated island of the BVI's (still under 30k in population). This boat charter company is family run and also has an outpost in Ibiza, Spain.



The first stop on the excursion is at The Baths on Virgin Gorda - a national park that is a collection of massive granite boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter that form sheltered sea pools on the beach's edge. A true natural hidden gem of the Caribbean! The small beach is quaint and nestled between magnificent rock formations and gives the visitor an almost uninhibited overall feel, especially later in the day.



Next stop is the Bitter End Yacht Club - The go-to destination for a seaside break! Known for their famous "Timber Tree Houses" that are open air cottages, catching the Caribbean breezes and are situated in exotic gardens. The property also boasts a massive marina, two beachfront restaurants - one formal (The Clubhouse) and one informal (The PubCrawl), non-motor water activities, on property trails for hiking, golf cart transpiration services to get around the island and two retail boutiques and a sailing school (USSA accredited), a private fleet of over 100 vessels, a kids club -- pretty much anything you would need for an island day trip! The crew rode bicycles along the promenade beside massive yachts, paddle boarded, snorkeled around the small reef that had schools of beautifully colored fish and enjoyed a spectacle lunch that featured freshly caught red snapper and an array of Caribbean specialties.



A short sail leads to the next stop - Marina Cay. A small 8-acre outpost in the BVI's depicting British characteristics (i.e. a classic British phone booth sitting on the ledge of the marina). Marina Cay is only accessible by boat and offers a beautiful, crystal clear beach, small huts along the beach, a quintessential Caribbean restaurant and an extraordinary bar that overlooks all the small islands that make up the BVI's.



The last stop is the smaller counterpart of Tortola, Beef Island, that is accessible via boat or a puddle jumper and features private surf schools, incredible "full moon" parties that are right on the beach coupled with extravagant beachfront buffet dinners. Josiah's Bay, the true definition of paradise and known as a surfer's retreat, was the best way to round out the journey!