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BVI bareboat charters

BVI bareboat charters - Yacht charter tips and sailing vacation guide in the British Virgin Islands - from people who have been sailing in the BVI since 1983.

  • 7 days sailing trip
  • Top 10 you must see
  • Top 10 chartering services
  • Top 10 eats & drinks
  • St. Thomas, USVI

Our top twenty favorite sights in the BVI

  • The Baths (Virgin Gorda)
  • Spectacular exploring, hiking, and diving among giant granite boulders unexpectedly piled at the water’s edge.

  • Anegada Island
  • The only BVI island that is coral as opposed to volcanic on origin; well worth the short sail for spectacular beaches without tourists.

  • Cow Wreck Beach (Anegada)
  • Anegada is a gem which is well off the normal charter boat’s path. With relatively few visitors, most charter boat sailors are arguably missing the best beach in the BVI and, on that beach, the best beach bar in the BVI. Cow Wreck Bay got its name from ships carrying cattle that went aground and sunk in the bay. The white sand beach is often nearly devoid of people and allows privacy and miles of walking if you choose. The water is very shallow near shore with a perfect sand bottom. This is the beach it seems you always see on postcards and is a perfect place for children as well as adults.

    The Cow Wreck Beach Bar and Restaurant is similarly idyllic and it is often thought to be the best in the British Virgin Islands. It has great drinks, conch fritters, and lobster salad sandwiches that seem to taste even better on that perfect beach. You will be board on the other side of the island (not far as the seagull flies), so you’ll have to catch a taxi to this not-to-be-missed spot.

  • Rhone National Maritime Park and the Wreck of the Rhone
  • RMS Rhone sank off the coast of Salt Island in the British Virgin Islands on 29 October 1867 in a hurricane, killing 123 people. It’s a remarkable dive and snorkeling spot.

  • Cane Garden Bay (Tortola)
  • The center of night life, restaurants, and drinking spots on Tortola. Well worth the visit, but don’t expect deserted beaches. Don’t miss the Rum distillery!

  • Smuggler’s Cove (Tortola)
  • Smuggler’s Cove is located west end of Tortola and at one end of cane Garden Bay. The beach here is beautiful and tends to be less crowded than other Tortola beaches. There is a beach bar and snack stand nearby. Snorkeling is excellent.

  • Norman Island
  • The Bight is one of the most protected anchorages in the BVI. 3 water-level caves at the base of cliffs just outside the western edge of The Bight are rumored to be the basis of Treasure Island. Spectacular snorkeling. The Indians nearby also have great snorkeling.

  • White Bay (Jost Van Dyke)
  • Spectacular beach, good anchorage, great nightspots on shore. What more could you ask. Be sure to hit Foxy’s and Sidney’s Peace and Love one bay to the East.

  • Great Harbor and Foxy’s (Jost Van Dyke)
  • We love Foxy’s Firewater rum (his special libation) and the social atmosphere here. The jerk chicken wings are some of the best we’ve had. Foxy’s wife runs a boutique selling unique island clothing and beach wear.

  • Cooper Island Beach Club Restaurant, Cooper Island
  • Cooper Island Beach Club combines an excellent restaurant with accommodation and a gift shop. We always think of conch fritters whenever we think of Cooper Island. The restaurant has great ambience and is open air with great views. You can enjoy your drinks under the palm trees on a small but scenic beach next to the restaurant. Cooper Island is quite near the wreck of the Rhone for snorkeling and diving. Dive tour operators will happily meet you here to take you to the Rhone and to provide snorkeling and diving lessons as needed.

  • Sidney’s (and Harris’s), Garner Bay (Jost Van Dyke)
  • Sydney’s Peace and Love is a British Virgin Islands institution at Little Harbor on Jost Van Dyke. Sydney’s is known for its honor bar (you make your own drinks as strong as you want) which you simply record in a ledger on the bar. Lobster is caught fresh daily and is amazing. Other food is served as well (seafood, ribs, etc.). Great place to hang out for the afternoon. You can place your lobster order early. Be prepared for a wait for dinner; just enjoy your wait! DJ music and dancing in the evening.

  • North Sound (Virgin Gorda)
  • The North sound on Virgin Gorda should not be missed. It is a large, very well protected anchorage surrounded by resorts and restaurants. Because of the number of resorts, there are many onshore and water sports activities available. This is also the home of Sir Richard Branson’s private Necker Island and the Saba Rock Resort, which we found to be a good place to take on fuel and water. We’ve often enjoyed the afternoon in a freshwater swimming pool (usually gratis with the purchase of lunch or drinks) as a welcome relief from salt water. There is also hiking available on Virgin Garda and the smaller islands in the North sound. We’ve enjoyed the hike over the top of Mosquito Island to Honeymoon Beach; you will see thousands of hermit crabs of every size and shape surprisingly far from the sea as you make this hike.

  • Savannah Bay (Virgin Gorda)
  • Another spectacular beach without a lot of people. A convenient stop on your sail to North Sound.

  • Sandy Spit (off Jost Van Dyke)
  • Sandy Spit is the idyllic picture of what an island should look like. It’s easy to slip anchor here, so pay attention. Romantic pictures are a natural here. Stop here on your way to Sidney’s or Foxy’s to overnight.

  • Cooper Island
  • Great stop for dinner and drinks. Close to the Rhone, so this is a good place to overnight before a dive. Take a mooring as holding and protection are not great.

  • Sage Mountain National Park (Tortola)
  • Mount Sage Park is named for the highest peak on Tortola. It contains a semi-rain forest and rises to a height of just over 1700 feet. You can hike in the park (there are a number of trails), including up to the peak, which has spectacular views.

  • Peter Island
  • Peter Island is best known for the Peter Island Resort and Spa. The island is family-owned and the Resort and Spa, occupying approximately 300 of Peter Island’s 1800 acres, is really the only thing on the island. It is upscale and quite nice. There are a couple other anchorages where you can spend the day if you don’t want to be around the resort itself.

  • The Dogs (Diving)
  • The Dogs is one of the more famous dive sites the British Virgin Islands. Dive sites include The Chimney, with a natural archway covered with colorful sponges and orange cup corals. Another popular dive site is a large coral reef and the wreckage of an inter-Island commuter plane. There are a number of other dives available at The Dogs; dive companies are more than happy to meet you here and supply you with the needed air and equipment.

  • Monkey Point (Guana Island) (Snorkeling)
  • Snorkeling at Monkey Point has been compared to snorkeling in an aquarium because of the coral and the number and variety of fish. Snorkeling is especially good along the rock walls on either side of the moorings. Anchoring is prohibited to prevent damage to the coral, so it’s a good idea to arrive early to get a National Park Trust mooring.

  • The Indians (off Norman Island) (Snorkeling and Diving)
  • Named “The Indians” because they were thought to resemble (from afar) Native American head dresses. The Indians is the second most popular dive site in the British Virgin Islands (after the Wreck of the Rhône). Snorkeling is also excellent in the shallower portions. The Indians, like The Dogs, are uninhabited, relatively small rocks, so don’t plan on going ashore there. The Indians are near the bight on Norman Island (and the famous cave), so we usually combine a short trip to The Indians with overnighting in The Bight.

News from the BVI

Noting a steady increase in  demand for flights between the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and San Juan in Puerto Rico. … [Read More...]

bvi-festivals-2016

The BVI holds an annual food festival with events throughout the islands to mark the beginning of the tourist season. … [Read More...]

lobster-dinner-BVI

Food festivals are an important part of BVI social and culinary life. The BVI Tourist Board announced a new event on … [Read More...]

What kind of yacht charter is right for you?

BVI yacht charter

You have decided to charter a yacht in the British Virgin Islands. A BVI yacht charter can range from a bareboat … Read More

Best time to travel to the BVI

Prices, sailing conditions, and weather vary depending on the time you visit the British Virgin … [Read More...]

About Us

bvibareboatcharters-about

We first sailed the British Virgin Islands in 1983. We were invited by some good friends to join … [Read More...]

Columbus “discovered” the Virgin Islands in 1493-- notwithstanding the fact that there had been … [Read More...]

Top 10 places you must see

The Baths (Virgin Gorda) Spectacular exploring, hiking, and diving among giant granite boulders … [Read More...]

Top 10 Eats and Drinks

Foxy's at Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke We love Foxy's Firewater rum (his special libation) and the … [Read More...]

Don’t-Miss Events

The Emancipation Festival is held in August of each year, commemorates the 1834 … [Read More...]

In the British Virgin Islands, almost anything makes a good excuse for a party, and a full … [Read More...]

Given the exquisite sailing in and around the British Virgin Islands, there are a number … [Read More...]

Snorkeling & diving gear, underwater camera

Snorkeling and diving gear has changed significantly in the last few years to make it much more … [Read More...]

The Spirit of Sharing

We hope to share with you our experiences and ‘local knowledge’ about sailing and yacht charters in the BVI. You can experience the freedom of sailing amongst these magical islands and set your own cruising paths and itinerary.
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