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Authors
Visual Travel Tours, "Beyond the self-guided tour" Denver Business Journal, 2/19/10 excerpt.

Exploring The British Virgin Islands By Sailboat


 

The British Virgin Islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea are a sailor’s paradise! Enthusiasts from around the world arrive in the BVIs to hoist their sails in the consistently steady trade winds. Voyage with us from Tortola island to Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch mariner. Next we go to Anegada, the only all-coral atoll in the BVIs. Back into the Sir Francis Drake Channel, we navigate to Virgin Gorda, the second largest island in the archipelago. Also in the channel is Norman Island, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate tale “Treasure Island.” And Salt Island is great for a shipwreck dive on the R.M.S. Rhone. So come aboard for the adventure!

 

 

 
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Tips in this Tour:
Although only a stone’s throw away from the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a separate country and a valid passport is required for entry. No advance visa is necessary, all are stamped free upon entry, but there is an airport departure tax. Most visitors arrive in the BVI by air. The main airport is on Beef Island, connected to Tortola by a short bridge.
The currency is the US dollar. Nearly everything needs to be imported here, so the prices are higher than the mainland. Although English is the official and spoken language, sometimes the Caribbean accent is rather thick and can be hard to understand. This is one of the most affluent countries in the Caribbean… the people are very friendly and eager to show off their proud culture.
The main harbors for renting a boat are Road Town and Sopers Hole, both on Tortola. You can get a private charter, or you can hire a crew to perform all the sailing duties and even cook your meals. Some of the best beaches, dive sites, and Caribbean bars are only accessible by boat. Knowledge of boating is required for private or “bareboat” charters.
A basic understanding of raising the sails, motoring with the engine, avoiding hazards, and dropping anchor or pulling up a buoy is required. Each afternoon it will be necessary to catch a floating ball with a rope that needs to be tied off on the bow of the ship. There is usually a nominal fee for using a ball, but it is safer that dropping an anchor in the shifting bottom.
By booking a charter boat vacation, the scene outside your port window will change as you move to a different location every day. Your floating hotel room offers the closest possible interaction with nature. Virtually every anchorage has abundant seabirds flying above, or great snorkeling right off the boat!

Enjoy an audio/video sample of this tour:

Click to see a QuietGuide™: Scroll as you stroll. Text+photos formatted for mobile. 

Transportation: By Boat
Specialty: Off the Beaten Path
Category: Travel Log - play before you go
Added:08/06/2008
Duration: 30 min

Chapters in this tour:
     Introduction
     Road Town to Soper's Hole: A Primer for a Sailing Adventure!
     Get in Touch with Your Inner Pirate on Jost Van Dyke Island
     Journey to the Sunken Island of Anegada
     Virgin Gorda is for Nature Lovers!
     Surrender the Booty on Norman & Salt Islands
 
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Provider: Brad Olsen

 Brad Olsen is a Contributing Editor for World Explorer magazine and writes a travel column for Heartland Healing called “Sacred Destinations.” His seventh book, “Sacred Places Europe: 108 Destinations,” was released in March, 2007. Brad's commentaries have appeared on National Public Radio, CNN and the Travel Channel. He enjoys extended global travel, and public speaking on the subject of sacred places.