Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fort Recovery
HISTORICAL BUILDING
This fortification near the West End is the BVI's oldest intact structure. It has a turreted gun
emplacement with 3-foot-thick walls that date from Dutch construction in 1660. The Villas
of Fort Recovery Estate now surround the building.
Dungeon
HISTORICAL BUILDING
Built in 1794 by the Royal Engineers, this is a ruined fort located halfway between Road
Town and West End. It was nicknamed 'the Dungeon' because its underground cell holds
remnants of what might be prisoners' graffiti.
Beaches
Apple Bay
SURFING BEACH
The beach at Apple Bay (which also includes Cappoons Bay) has long been 'the surfing
beach.' In actuality, there's not much beach to be had, other than the bit down by Sebasti-
an's hotel. The action is out on the water - and at the infamous Bomba's bar (
Click here
).
Long Bay
RESORT BEACH
Long Bay is an attractive mile-long stretch of white-sand beach that extends west of Apple
Bay. A top-end resort and clutch of rental villas line its eastern portion. The western end of-
fers slightly less development and good swimming. Beach joggers come here for workouts
during the early morning and evening. Visitors can use the resort's beach restaurant for
food and drink. And just to confuse you: there is another Long Bay on Tortola's eastern end
at Beef Island.
Smuggler's Cove
SECLUDED BEACH
An undeveloped beach at Tortola's western tip, Smuggler's Cove used to be a secluded
patch of island where you could risk topless or nude sunbathing. Now the dirt track to
the beach gets clogged with rental Jeeps and folks trying to escape the predictable scenes
at their beach resorts. You can't blame them: the cove is a gorgeous piece of real estate
(pretty enough that Hollywood staged a remake of
The Old Man and the Sea
here in the
late 1990s). There's a bar and snack stand, and good snorkeling off the beach.
