British Virgin Islands

Far less developed than the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands are ideal if your wish is to experience the quintessential vibe of island life. Each island in this self-governing, British overseas territory flaunts its own unique personality. Tortola (Spanish for “turtle dove,”) is the commercial hub of these islands and home to several national parks, museums, a botanical garden, and architectural remains of eras past.

For a chance to marvel at some of Mother Nature’s most amazing handiwork, explore The Baths at Virgin Gorda, piles of granite that eroded into large boulders over millennia. The boulders now form an impressive landscape of natural arches, grottoes, and tidal pools that visitors are free to walk through and explore.

Of course, no trip to the BVIs would be complete without a stop at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke! Here, you can try the famous painkiller cocktail while engaging in a friendly game of ring toss with locals and visitors alike on this flawless white sand beach.

The last of the major islands, Anegada “drowned island,” is the only of the British Virgin Islands not formed from volcanic rock. Coral and Limestone make up this tiny island and it happens to be home to the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean. The danger that it presents for ships has led to hundreds of shipwrecks over the centuries dating all the way back to 1523. For years, treasure hunters set up shop here in hopes to find what the tragic wrecks had left behind.  If the weather cooperates, you may just experience the best diving of your life.  The best months for calm seas and excellent diving conditions are August and September.