Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cious bathrooms and - a concession to modern times - wi-fi. Rates include three meals a
day, from a breakfast buffet to evening cocktails and snacks, as well as use of tennis courts,
kayaks, snorkel gear and sailboards. Hiking the island's trails, watching the wildlife and
swimming are the principal activities here. Children are welcome, but must be closely su-
pervised by their parents.
A private ferry picks up guests from Trellis Bay/Beef Island on Tortola's east end. Vis-
iting mariners can anchor off the beach at White Bay and enjoy the excellent snorkeling in
the bay and along the cliffs that stretch to Monkey Point, but note Guana does not welcome
nonguests to its grounds or trails.
The Dogs
This clutch of six islands lies halfway between Tortola and Virgin Gorda. The Dogs take
their name from a now-extinct monk seal known as
lobo marina
(sea wolf). These animals
had colonies on the isles before hunters harvested them into oblivion. Today the BVI Na-
tional Parks Trust protects the islands, and they are sanctuaries for both birds and marine
animals. The bridled tern, sooty tern, roseate tern and red-billed tropicbird all nest here.
Snorkeling around each of the islands is superior. Sometimes the schools of glassy sleepers
can be so thick you are enveloped in a cloud of fish. Scuba divers will want to check out
Joe's Cave
,
Flintstones
and
Wall-to-Wall
just off the coast of West Dog.
A dive boat or charter boat are the only way to reach the Dogs. Pick up one of the park's
moorings. It's best to come early in the day.
Ginger Island
Ginger Island is a dramatic piece of uninhabited real estate east of Cooper Island. It has
sheer cliffs on its north and south sides and a perfect cove to the east. Some of the BVI's
best coral formations grow just offshore. Renowned dive sites include
Alice in Wonder-
land
, a deep-water reef with surreal, 15ft, mushroom-shaped staghorn coral; and
Ginger
Steps
, another deep-water reef where sharks and eagle rays make appearances. You'll need
to board a dive boat or charter boat to get here.
