A perfect day in the British Virgin Islands - Go Here, There, and Everywhere

A sailor’s paradise, the British Virgin Islands consists of 4 main islands and countless smaller ones. Reef lined beaches backed by volcanic mountains rising from the sea are a tropical dream come true. This post is all about taking a day trip from St. John (for a full itinerary: The best of St. John, click here). Here, we’ll offer an array of choices that will add an unforgettable journey to your Virgin Islands experience.

There are multiple charters and tours leaving St. John and St. Thomas to give adventurers a taste of the BVIs. After much research we chose Calypso Charters ‘Bad Kitty’, a small group tour (about 25 people) as it had the itinerary we wanted in an economical yet intimate experience.

Plan on a long day. Leaving Cruz Bay at 8am, passports, entry forms and entry fees to the BVIs should all be taken care of by your charter, in advance.

There’s nothing like planning an excursion months in advance, watching the weather and getting the glorious day you hoped for! Bright sun and calm seas…

A seat near the captain or crew member is a great way to get the specific geography of what you are seeing. Additionally, some history of the islands always brings the experience to life.

Our first stop was The Baths in Virgin Gorda. After checking in at customs (a crew member does this for you) we anchored at Devil’s Bay. The narrow beach between the stacked granite boulders is immediately visible upon approaching the island. This is just the beginning of an amazing experience of a natural wonder.

The Baths at VG are only one of two places on earth where this natural phenomenon occurred (the other being the Seychelles). Formed over millions of years the Batholiths or ‘Baths’ are a series of interconnecting boulder formations creating unique grottos to wander through, with crystal clear waters and caves within to explore. This is truly one of the wonders of the Caribbean.

A short swim took us to shore. We immediately organized and began the tour. Personally, I wanted more time to take in and photograph Devil’s Bay. The massive boulders form aquamarine pools to swim and snorkel through…a photographers dream. I snapped what I could and we were on our way to the caves.

The short hike is a series of up and down ladders, across planks and along ropes. In many places you’ll have to practically crawl through. It could freak you out if you really thought about the immense boulders stacked above your head, but you’ll be too busy taking in how cool this is.

Many of the rocks are named for their shapes that resemble whales, dolphins, lion’s mouth, etc.

Seeing the light stream through gaps in the boulders is beautiful.

Eventually you arrive at an iconic moment: The Cathedral. Many famous photos have been taken here where the light enters the chamber from above, casting reflections off the turquoise water and shimmering on the rock wall like multi-colored stained glass. Simply spectacular.

Our next stop: snorkeling off the coast of Norman Island. The rugged shoreline was a dramatic backdrop as waves crashed against the rocky shore. We explored the reef and steep shelf that dropped to the deep sandy bottom that was teeming with colorful fish.

Our final stop was one of the world’s most famous day-long, year-round beach parties, set on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke. A strip of soft, powdery sand, lined with colorful umbrellas in front of the beach bars. Backed by a steep emerald green mountain with nothing but vegetation gives you a special feeling of being transported to the most remote tropical destination.

Without a dock, boats pull up as far as they can, but by entering at least 4 feet of water…or swimming to shore, the signature beach bar takes its name: the Soggy Dollar.

A decades old destination for partying, the signature drink – ‘The Painkiller’ is legendary. Rebuilt after Hurricane Irma in 2017, the beach shack charm remains, even with the addition of a large retail store. This is still the place to be, and if you’re not having fun, well…that’s on you!