Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
site is unspoiled (just one or two concessionaires and no hag-
glers) and a fun snorkeling spot as well.
Hikers should save time for a visit to
Sage Mountain Na-
tional Park,
284-494-3134, on Tortola. The BVI's highest
point has an altitude of 1,780 feet and is lush with greenery
that can be viewed from its many gravel walkways.
Underwater Delights
Divers will find plenty of activity in the waters off any of the
British Virgin Islands. The best known dive spot is the wreck of
the
RMS
Rhone
,
a mail steam packet that broke up in a storm.
You may be familiar with this wreck - it was used in filming the
movie
The Deep.
Located off Salt Island, the bow lies just 80 feet
below the surface, making it an easy wreck dive (and it's usu-
ally even visible to snorkelers). Other top dive sites include
Al-
ice in Wonderland,
a deep dive with mushroom-shaped
corals, the
Chikuzen
,
a 246-foot fish-filled wreck just 75 feet
below the surface, and
Santa Monica Rock,
located near the
open ocean and a good place to spot large fish. For dive informa-
tion, call
Dive BVI
(Virgin Gorda,
284-495-5513) or
Sunchaser Scuba
(Bitter End, Virgin Gorda,
284-495-
9638).
BVI Shopping
Unlike the “other” Virgin islands, shopping is not a major at-
traction of the BVI. However, you will find a good variety of
shops in Tortola in
Road Town
and
West End
at
Soper's
Hole
. Look for
Pusser's Rum,
spiced rum, or guavaberry li-
queur; you may bring back one liter duty free. Spices are also
popular buys, from hot sauces to West Indian mustards to chut-
ney.
For inexpensive buys, visit the open-air market on
Main
Street
. Here you can haggle for jewelry, T-shirts, calabash
bags, and straw hats. The mood is friendly, and you'll be enter-
tained most days by steel band musicians.
Another popular Road Town stop is
Pusser's Company Store
,
located near the ferry dock. Here you'll find plenty of Pusser's
Rum as well as souvenirs bearing the name of this local drink.
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