Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To the north of Tortola are Jost Van Dyke (with tourist facilities) and both Great
Tobago and Little Tobago. Other islands south of Drake Channel include Norman (of
Robert Louis Stevenson fame) and Peter Island (site of a luxurious resort).
The most northerly of the B.V.I. is Anegada, flat, dry, and bare of foliage, its highest
elevation reaching only 8.5m (28 ft.). It is not volcanic in origin, like the other islands,
but is a coral atoll fringed by dangerous horseshoe-shaped reefs. The island is home
to the endangered rock iguana.
South of Tortola, Salt Island is known as the site of the wreck of the
Rhone,
the
most famous dive site in the Caribbean. The vessel sank in 1867 in one of the most
devastating hurricanes ever to strike the B.V.I.
With its white sandy beaches and scalloped coastlines of tiny coves, the B.V.I.
remains the most secluded spot in the Virgin Island archipelago, a retreat of yachties
seeking safe havens and visitors who want to escape from modern civilization.
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RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Eco-tourism is a relatively new concept to the Virgin Islands. Many of the islands
were clear-cut in the 1700s to make way for sugar plantations, destroying much of
the natural landscape. All through the 1900s, while real estate developments on St.
Thomas continued to grow, little concern was given to preserving and sustaining the
natural resources of the U.S.V.I. Today, there is a very different attitude toward the
ecosystem of the Virgin Islands among permanent residents and visitors alike.
While the eco-tourism infrastructure is still underdeveloped, and the terms “eco-
friendly” and “sustainable” can be misused, it is still possible to find truly eco-friendly
lodgings on the islands. Camping is always an option. St. John, which is almost
entirely a national park, has numerous campsites. Aside from those run by the
National Park Service, there is the
Maho Bay Camp
(p. 121), which is an umbrella
name for two different campsites with several types of eco-friendly lodgings ranging
from bare cottages to comfortable studios. On St. Croix, there is
Mount Victory
Camp
(p. 158), which relies on renewable energy to power its cottages. The British
Virgin Islands are less developed than their American cousins, so lodgings tend to be
more eco-friendly by nature. You don't have to camp out to stay in eco-sensitive lodg-
ing. The
Cooper Island Beach Club
(p. 203) meets the middle ground between
luxury and roughing it.
Guana Island
(p. 244) is a private island with only one hotel.
The entire island is a wildlife sanctuary watched over by the attentive owners.
Low-impact activities like hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking abound in the Virgin
Islands. While on St. Croix, contact the
St. Croix Environmental Association
(p. 158), which hosts hikes, tours of research facilities, and events based around
the hatching of baby sea turtles. Aside from the many companies that offer tours,
the St. Thomas-based
Virgin Islands Ecotours/Mangrove Adventures
(p. 84)
offers tours with professional naturalists of the mangrove lagoon and nature
reserve at Cas Cay.
St. Thomas, with all its development and modern conveniences, faces the biggest
challenges in regard to sustainable development. To learn more about recent land-use
debates, see the section “The Virgin Islands Today,” earlier in this chapter.
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