Best Things to do in the British Virgin Islands

If you’re looking for an out of body experience, then the British Virgin Islands are the way to go. Located southeast of Miami, these remote islands are just a few flights away that will get you closer to South America then you are to North America. It’s the perfect getaway that has you feeling like you’re in true paradise from the moment you step on land. I recently spent a week in this untouched seclusion of the world, exploring the treasures most only dream of seeing. Today I’m here to share my top 5 things to do in BVI!

#5 North Beach on Scrub Island

Stephen and I stayed on Scrub Island during our trip, which was absolutely unreal. Marriott owned the entire resort, and their crew made our stay comfortable and stress free. The island has a road that circles the entire circumference of the island (which is only about 1-2 miles). On the opposite side of the resort is North Beach. It overlooked the blue-green water with a relaxing breeze keeping you cool while you could lay on the provided chairs. There is also a bar located on the beach to order refreshing cocktails or food that would be chartered to you straight from the resort! If you’re lucky you’ll see a small shark or sting ray swimming along the rocky reef. A perfect way to relax and get away from reality.

#4 Pussers Restaurant

About a three-minute ferry ride will get you to one of the best restaurants in BVI. Marina Cay is located just southeast of Scrub Island. The ferry is free to take you there and is the home of Pussers Restaurant. The restaurant is located right on the water so you can enjoy your dinner with the cool ocean breeze and the sound of waves washing in. I HIGHLY suggest getting the lobster. It’s freshly caught and you get a full pound, served with roasted vegetables and rice for only $28. You can add a second pound for $19 if you’re feeling hungry or wanting to share with a partner! If you haven’t heard of a pain killer, you’ll learn all about these at Pussers. They use their famous Pussers Rum combined with a concoction of juices and cream and topped with freshly shaved nutmeg. After one of these babies down, you’ll understand why it’s called a painkiller! This is the perfect date or group night out that has something everyone will love!

#3 Snorkeling

BVI has an abundance of spots to snorkel, but a couple definitely stood out! If you don’t own your own snorkeling gear, you can rent all the gear you need from most of islands for a reasonable price ($10-$15). We rented ours from Scrub Island for $15 for the full day! If you’re looking to stay close to the island, you can easily snorkel up and down the pier and still see quite a few amazing sites along the way. I highly recommend checking out a few of the other island spots, however. My absolute favorite were the caves off of Peter Island. A boat will take you to this spot and drops you off just a short swim away. We saw the most extravagant and colorful fish there. If you look closely you might even see a stingray or a starfish, too. I was lucky enough to see both! You actually got to swim through the caves where you could see the purple rocks come brighter and brighter as the water got more shallow. Another of my favorite spots was snorkeling over a ship wreck off the coast of Salt Island. One of the first ever steam engine boats hit a rock during a treacherous storm and quickly sunk of the bottom of the sea. Legends say only one survivor made it, due to the fact that every other member on board were tied to their beds for fear the would fall off during the middle of the night. If you like an eerie sight, this is a must see!

#2 The Virgin Gourda

The Virgin Gourda was the most amazing island. It was about a 30-minute ferry ride going east and it only cost $30 for round trip. Upon arrival there are taxis waiting to bring you to your destination. Make sure to barter with your driver, because most will stick with you for the entire day. Our driver gave us a deal of $25 per person for the whole day. We started our day at the Baths. The Baths are created by enormous boulder formations that come together to making shallow waters in-between them. Seriously the most extravagant spot for a photo-opt! Climbing through the rocks will bring on an appetite. There is a restaurant at the top of the baths that overlooks the gorgeous view; perfect time to sip on a Rum Punch or Corona. While this is a great view for lunch, I suggest taking a little detour across the island to a shack on the peak of the island called Hog Heaven. The name is suiting; it sits high on the island and overlooks the beautiful point where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. To top it off, they have some of the best BBQ in the BVI. Can’t really top a day like that!

#1 Island Hop with Your Own Private Captain

I have had some amazing experiences in my life, but this was by far one of the most memorable. Stephen and I, along with 3 other couples, rented a speed boat and our own private captain. We went through the Virgin Island Charter Company which was a great deal because we split the fee and save us a ton of money! It ended up being $150/person. Our captain picked us up at 10:00 AM and we had him all day to go hop between islands as we chose. We started our morning off a Cooper’s Island. It’s small, but is a great spot for snorkeling and getting a very clear view of the icy blue water that homes that rainbow fish below. From there we cut across to Salt Island where we snorkeled over the ship wreck talked about earlier.

After all the snorkeling we worked up an appetite so we rode over to one of the most insane restaurants I have been to. It was a giant ship that goes by the name of Willy T’s that sat right in the middle of the sea. From tacos to sandwiches and everything in-between, it was perfect for a quick bite and drink. While the food was great, nothing beat the thrill of jumping off the top of the boat into cold blue water below. Rumor has it if you strip down to your birthday suit before you jump, you’re get one of the famous t-shirts. We passed on the free tee, but jumping off was still an experience worth having.

We made one more pit stop for snorkeling at the caves off of Peter Island before heading to our final destination. About a 30-minute ride west across the open waters will get you to the highlight of my trip—the Soggy Dollar Bar. This bar is unlike any you’ve every seen before. It’s a little shack on the edge of the beach. The only way to get to it is to literally swim ashore from where your boat anchors—which usually isn’t too close. Everything from chest down is gonna get a little wet—hence the name soggy dollar. They’re known for the best versions of the pain killer. My go to was the Nilla Killa, it was made with Vanilla Rum and went down like water. Nothing beat relaxing next to the Caribbean Sea, getting a deep tan with good friends and a hot fiancé by my side. You won’t regret this day, I guarantee it!

The British Virgin Islands are unreal. You feel like you’re in a whole new world and is far from reality. While there is plenty to do in BVI, I hope my guide helps you pick some of the best options during your stay!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Huber