Exploring Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Tortola is the capital of the British Virgin Islands. It’s also the largest and most populated island in the BVI chain. You’ll find powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and a sheltered yacht-filled harbor on the island. In exploring the island, you’ll find the past of the West Indies meeting the present of the British Virgin Islands.
The northern coast has the best beaches. They include Smuggler’s Cove, Long Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Josiah’s Bay, and Lambert beach. In addition to beaches, Tortola offers sailing, surfing, scuba diving, historic sites, hiking, and many more. It’s a great starting point for crewed yacht charters as well.
Experience the beauty of Tortola. Swim or stroll the white-sand beaches, explore ancient ruins, and enjoy delectable local cuisine. Or, you can just drop anchor and rock with the rhythm of the azure ocean.
In Tortola, you’ll find a variety of Caribbean vacation activities to engage in. Dining opportunities are numerous as well. Satisfy your taste buds and indulge in a four-star dinner at a coveted sugarmill or a quaint meal in a pastel-painted cottage.
Tortola offers plenty of warm, friendly and hospitable places to stay. They range from luxury resorts and private villas to smaller hotels.
Tortola Activities
Water Sports
You can fish, scuba dive, snorkel, kite-board, and windsurf on the island’s many beaches. Well-equipped facilities on the island also allow you to enjoy other water sports activities.
Natural Beauty
Explore the island’s natural beauty. Take your Caribbean vacation to new heights on the cool slopes of Sage Mountain National Park. You can still see traces of an ancient rainforest at higher elevations there. This is an excellent spot for a day hike or or bird watching.
Culture and Heritage
- 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum
- Fort Burt
- Mount Healthy Windmill
- Callwood’s Rum Distillery
- J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens
- Old Government House Museum
- VI Folk Museum
Shopping
You can find almost everything on Main Street in Road Town, the capital city. There, you can buy local spices, jams, rums, soaps, handcrafted jewelry, silk-screened fabrics, and local art items.
WANT MORE? GO TO…TOP 7 THINGS TO DO ON TORTOLA
Tortola Anchorages
- Brandywine Bay
- Cane Garden Bay
- Hodge’s Creek
- Soper’s Hole
- Trellis Bay, a boater’s paradise
Tortola Beaches
Swim or snorkel at the secluded palm-shaded sands of:
- Apple Bay
- Brewer’s Bay
- Elizabeth Beach
- Josiah’s Bay Beach
- Long Bay Beach
- Smuggler’s Cove
Tortola Dining
You don’t have to go far to experience the island’s finest cuisine! Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas’ restaurants include the beachfront 1748, romantic Pasta House, and elegant Palm Terrace. The latter is renowned for the quality of its continental cuisine.
Do you want a taste of the Caribbean’s rich cultural mix and local delicacies? Indulge in fresh lobster, conch, spicy goat curries, Johnny Cakes and West Indian roti.
- 1748
Delightfully informal, 1748 is a popular beachfront deck restaurant. Part of an 18th-century sugar mill, it offers buffet breakfasts and extensive lunch and dinner menus. They feature anything from grills and fresh seafood to tasty local dishes. Special weekly events include a “Barbecue Cook-out” and a “Taste of Tortola” buffet, both evenings featuring live entertainment.
- The 1748 Beach Bar
This is where to get an “Island Fizz” with breakfast, a “Long Bay Cooler” with lunch or a “Papaya Daiquiri” with dinner!
- The Pasta House
This restaurant is on the upper terrace of an 18th-century sugar mill. It’s an intimate dining venue open for dinner twice a week. It serves traditional Italian cuisine complemented by fine wines and ocean views. Reservations are necessary.
- The Palm Terrace
This restaurant is one of the finest in Tortola. Here, you can have an elegant, leisurely candlelight dining amid a Palm Garden. It boasts fresh-from-the-reef seafood and a tempting selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, fine wines, and liqueurs.
- Palm Terrace Bar
This bar offers a social or romantic setting that’s perfect spot for enjoying cocktails in the lounge or outside on the terrace.
- Pelican Swim-up Pool Bar
This popular swim-up pool bar serves tropical drinks and tasty snacks (burgers, sandwiches, and salads).
Tortola Getting Around
You can rent a car at the Beef Island Airport, where you can also find numerous taxi services.
CONTACT US for more Information about Tortola British Virgin Islands at 321-777-1707
Tortola Getting There
You can reach the island either by sea or air. It’s a convenient location for exploring other British Virgin Islands. Regular ferries, private and crewed yachts, and planes offer visitors daily commuting options.
- Getting There BY AIR
Flights to the island arrive at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. The airport is on Beef Island, just east of Tortola, and connects to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Seabourne, Cape Air, and Air Sunshine provide scheduled service from San Juan.
Island Birds Air Charter can connect you from San Juan, St Thomas, Antigua, or or St Marten.
- Getting There BY BOAT
Many ferry companies provide guests the opportunity to travel by sea. The ferries run between Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, Red Hook in St. Thomas and St. John, and Road Town.
CONTACT US for more Information about Tortola British Virgin Islands at 321-777-1707