Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SPECIAL
moments
IN THE BRITISH
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Here are some of the best attractions
the B.V.I. have to offer:
W
Visit a Tropical Park:
If you'd
like to explore mountainous
landscapes that look the way
they did when Christopher
Columbus first landed, head to
Sage Mountain National Park
on
Tortola (p. 216). Although it gets
only 254 centimeters (100 in.)
of rain a year, the park has
the appearance of a primeval
rainforest.
W
Ponder the Mystery of the
Baths:
The most celebrated site
on the island of Virgin Gorda is
the Baths (p. 233), on the
island's southwest shore, where
huge granite rocks are strewn
along the beach. Granite is rarely
found this far south, and accord-
ing to ancient island mythology,
the rocks were placed here by a
race of giants. Or they were
moved south by some ancient
glacier. Most scientists favor the
explanation that they were
spewed up by volcanic activity.
The important thing is not to
solve the mystery but to explore
the cavelike passages between
6
the rocks and to seek out the
hidden pools, which are just
right for a quick dip.
W
Explore Remote Anegada Island:
Anegada (p. 239) is easy to
miss—it covers only 38 sq. km
(15 sq. miles) and stands only
8.2m (26 ft.) above sea level at
its highest point. Because of the
treacherous coral shelf nearby,
more than 300 ships have sunk
just offshore. Here's the good
news: The entire island is sur-
rounded by white-sand beaches,
and the population is only about
250 people, so you can often
walk for miles without seeing
anyone. You'll feel like a mod-
ern-day Robinson Crusoe.
W
Exploring Deserted “Treasure
Island”:
Legend has it that tiny
Norman Isle (p. 219), south of
Tortola and east of St. John, was
the inspiration for Robert Louis
Stevenson's
Treasure Island.
The
sea caves on this island are
some of the best snorkeling
spots in the British Virgin
Islands. To cut costs, ask three
or four other people to rent a
sailboat with you to go over for
a day's adventure.
Getting Around
BY BOAT
On Tortola,
Smith's Ferry
(
&
284/495-4495;
www.smithsferry.com) and
Speedy's
Fantasy
(
&
284/495-5240
) operate ferry links to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Club (a
30-min. trip). The
North Sound Express
(
&
284/495-2138
), near the airport on
Beef Island, has daily connections to the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda.
Peter Island Boat
(
&
284/495-2000
) also shuttles passengers between Road
Town on Tortola and Peter Island at least seven times a day. The ferry cost for both
round-trip and one-way is $20.
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