Travel Guide: British Virgin Islands

NATURE’S LITTLE SECRETS

WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TRAVEL GUIDE, A PARTNERSHIPBETWEEN THE BVI TOURIST BOARD AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

The BVI Tourist Board is a statutory organization that aims to foster, develop, and promote sustainable tourism across the British Virgin Islands. Our volcanic archipelago is formed by 60 unique, unspoiled islands, and we market the region’s unique tourism product while ensuring its sustainability.

2019 was a monumental year for us as we celebrated 50 years of the BVI Tourist Board. We have offices in both North America and London, and also work with agencies in Italy, France, Germany, Latin America, and Puerto Rico to market our region to potential guests.

The British Virgin Islands is known as “nature’s little secrets”, and we are responsible for marketing and public relations as well as keeping the region pristine. Some of the key projects we have been involved with recently focus on making properties greener. We are also working on environmental protection and clean-up campaigns throughout the islands.

54 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE We work closely with several agencies and service groups — including the Association of Reef Keepers — and want to keep tourism as sustainable as possible. Recently, we worked on an exciting replanting program called Seeds of Love, for which we planted close to six thousand trees in the aftermath of 2017’s storms. This saw the collaboration of world-wide agencies and experts, as well as Virgin Islands bars, hotels, marinas, and even past guests. Recovering after the storm, of course, has caused us to look at things differently. their own attractions, and expanding to the next level.

Tourism has helped our recovery by facilitating community growth and prosperity. Tourism accounts for one-in-three jobs in the territory, and it has helped BVI residents to attain a higher standard of living. Tourism also feeds into other industries, including construction, fishing, and agriculture. Along with financial services, tourism is one of the twin pillars of the British Virgin Islands’ economy.

We are a leader in luxury in the Caribbean. When we say luxury, we don’t necessarily mean a price point, but rather the quality of experience offered here. After 50 years of operations, the BVI Tourist Board has a great deal of customer service experience. We share that with our community through educational workshops for tourism stakeholders and local businesses, all of whom benefit from the growth of the industry. We also support local businesses in developing For us, the bright future of BVI tourism includes a greater role in the products and continued training of other residents. And, of course, we need to maintain a pristine environment, not just for the guests, but for the generations to come. We are a small community of 30,000 people with 60 islands, but we make what we do very positive. The main focus is sustainability; and a sustainable today means a sustainable tomorrow.

WHERE TO START YOUR ADVENTURE

Capital: Road Town Population: 30,149 Language(s): English Major resort areas: Tortola, Little Sisters, Anegada Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke Tourist season: Any time Annual visitors: 408,000 Annual tourism earnings: ZMK 4,408 million Currency: US Dollar (US$) Avg. temperature: 73-84 °F Highest point: 1,709 ft (521 m)) Time zone: UTC-4:00 (AST) Dialling code: +1-284

KEY ATTRACTIONS

Restaurants

Island hopping

Surfing

Dolphin and Whale watching

Bike rentals

Music

Shopping Hiking Kayaking

Snorkeling

Historic places Bars

Local Wildlife

Waterfalls Ship Wreck

KEY REGIONS

Tortola

Virgin Gorda

Jost Van Dyke

Little Sisters

Anegada

WHAT TO DO IN...

TORTOLA

KAYAK AT CANE GARDEN BAY Tortola is the capital island in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and Cane Garden Bay is one of its quintessential beaches. Kayaks can be hired from local water sports vendors, providing a unique view of the white sands and bright blue water. However, if you would prefer to put your feet up, there are also plenty of beachside bars offering regional cocktails. The Callwood Rum Distillery offers drinks, fresh gelato, and an educational history.

VISIT MOUNT SAGE NATIONAL PARK Established in 1964, this conservation area was the BVI’s first ever national park. It preserves and protects the Mount Sage’s old-growth forest, adjoining watershed areas, and a diverse ecosystem. Local wildlife includes bo-peep frogs, hermit crabs, red tailed hawks, and the Caribbean martin. Hiking is an extremely low impact activity and one of the best ways to observe and enjoy the natural beauty and indigenous wildlife. Mount Sage itself includes panoramic views of the park, bays, and surrounding islands.

ALSO IN TORTOLA: • Hire a surfboard at Josiah’s Bay in East End for the BVI’s very best surfing. • Attend the Emancipation Festival, Spring Regatta, or BVI Music Festival. • Discover Tortola’s history by visiting the Sugar Works and Old Government House.

JOST VAN DYKE

OBSERVE WHALES AND DOLPHINS Sail with humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins just off the coast of Jost Van Dyke. Certain local guides provide ethical, sustainable tours of the local wildlife, including whale watching. Jost Van Dyke is tiny, so observing the area’s whales from the beaches is also an option. The Island—named after an early Dutch settler and former pirate—combines rugged scenery and natural beauty with a rich history and colourful folklore.

EXPLORE WELL-KNOWN BARS Jost Van Dyke is famous for its bars, numerous restaurants, and bustling parties. The Soggy Dollar Bar serves a flavourful rum cocktail called ‘The Painkiller’, complete with fresh grated Grenadian nutmeg. Foxy’s Bar serves several speciality drinks using rum made in-house. Foxy’s also owns the a brew-house, and serves fresh draft beers.

ALSO IN JOST VAN DYKE • Visit the sea-formed, natural ‘jacuzzi’ at East End. • Tour well-known bars, numerous restaurants, and bustling parties. • Explore the sugar-mill ruins and follow old trails that criss-cross the island.

Your Home Away from Home

ENJOY A LUXURY STAY AT M&M APARTMENT SUITES ON VIRGIN GORDA

Located in the heart of Spanish Town, M&M Apartment Suites are your “home away from home” on Virgin Gorda. There are eight, one-bedroom units and two, two-bedroom units, all with air conditioning, wireless internet, satellite TV, and a full kitchen. Located adjacent to the apartments is M&M bakery, open from 6 pm to 11am every day (except Saturday nights) for tasty treats and delicious take-out meals. The Coppermine ruins and the world-famous Baths are nearby, and if you want to rent a car to explore the island, parking is safe and abundant. Located a short walk from Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor and close to restaurants and shops, M&M Apartment Suites is the perfect base for your Virgin Gorda vacation. Relax and enjoy what our Islands have to offer.

BELMARS HOLDINGS

M&M Apartment Suites & Short-time Rentals +1 284-495-5054 belmarsholdings@gmail.com

Enjoy the beautiful Caribbean

Escape to Gordian Terrace on the gorgeous island Virgin Gorda. Located in British Virgin Islands.

Your home away from home, Virgin Gorda’s Newest Island Charm. Guests welcome the warmth of this tranquil, serene, majestic home in Virgin Gorda. Gordian Terrace neatly sits on an elevated lot within the amiable community of North Sound, on the island of Virgin Gorda. Encircled by the flora and fauna of the indigenous shrubs like bougainvillea, hibiscus, and oleander, the Gordian Terrace is the ideal property for whatever your motive or occasion may be.

Little Hill, PO Box 1102, Spanish Town, VG1150, British Virgin Islands 284-544-9439 | 284-499-6045 | gordianhouse.com

LUXURY SAILING E C O F R I E N D L Y

VACATIONS!

Visitors to the newly renovated Soper’s Hole Marina facility will see more than just brand-new docks, shops and restaurants.

The VOYAGE charters docks, in the heart of the marina, will showcase a brand-new fleet of luxurious Eco-Friendly electric charter yachts, the flag ship of which is the VOYAGE 590 Electric. Four of these groundbreaking catamarans will join VOYAGE charters BVI in 2020, bringing their electric hybrid fleet to 5 vessels. The company are leading the way with a commitment to sustainable BVI chartering whilst still delivering the highest levels of luxury, comfort and performance required by todays discerning clients.

Recent articles in two of the USA’s leading publications have given name checks to both VOYAGE charters and VOYAGE yachts; Conde Nast Traveler referenced VOYAGE as a builder and operator of electric powered yachts and highlighted the increasing demand from elite travelers for more Eco Friendly, luxury sailing experiences. The New York Times just picked the BVI as number 2 “must visit” destination for 2020 and noted VOYAGE charters as providing emissions free sailing aboard electric powered yachts.

The VOYAGE 590 Electric follows the success of VOYAGE charters’ first electric charter vessel, VOYAGE 480 “Electrified”. These bigger cousins accommodate 12 guests plus crew in luxurious en-suite cabins. The vessel features a flybridge helm and alongside lounge seating. Forward and aft cockpits that combine into an expansive, single level entertainment area through the salon. The bright and airy guest cabins feature walk around queen sized beds, ample storage and shelf space and lots of head room. A forward-facing, gourmet galley serves all dining areas of the vessel with ease. The vessel will please keen sailors and is designed with great sailing performance in mind. The flybridge helm has double seating and its own direct access from the cockpit, whilst the guest seating area along-side has its own separate access. Whether on the flybridge, main deck or in the cabins, movement around the vessel is easy and accommodating.

Powerful electric motors give a comfortable cruising speed of 8 knots under power and a secondary, lower helm position in the salon allows control of the vessel whilst motoring in open waters.

All systems and motoring operate off the vessel’s large lithium-ion battery bank. In charter use the vessel generates most of its electricity from solar and propeller regeneration but stand-by battery charging generators automatically turns on as needed, ensuring the vessel is never at a loss for power. The VOYAGE 590 Electric is an ultra-luxurious, eco-friendly charter yacht available for your next Crewed, Captain only or Bare Boat vacation exclusively from VOYAGE charters.

SNORKEL IN PRISTINE WATERS Snorkel, swim, and trek in the splendid Devil’s Bay national park—home of The Baths’ white beaches, huge granite rock formations, low caves, and shallow tidal pools. The natural beauty of Virgin Gorda is perfect at sunrise or sunset, and you can hike through caves to reach further unspoiled beaches, including Savannah Bay, Pond Bay, Mahoe Bay, Spring Bay, and of course Devil’s Bay itself.

CLIMB GORDA PEAK Hike through indigenous plant-lined trails, bustling nature sanctuaries, and protected flora and fauna to reach the island’s highest point. The peak includes more panoramic views of the surrounding islands, and gives an overview of the region’s African, Indian, and Spanish history—from ruins in Little Fort National Park to the Cornish Copper Mines. You could even see turtle nesting, which has been recorded at Valley Trunk Bayy, just outside of Fort Point National Park.

ALSO IN VIRGIN GORDA • Take part in a replanting event hosted by environmental organization Seeds of Love. • Enjoy the parades, live calypso, and local food at the annual Easter Festival. • Explore Beyond the Reef’s artificial reef system off Great Dog Island, made from wrecked planes.

LITTLE SISTERS

EXPERIENCE ISLAND HOPPING Wherever you stay in BVI, island hopping is one of the best ways to explore the region’s smaller islands. The Little Sisters, located just south of Tortola, provide some once-in-a-lifetime scenery, and most can only be reached by private or chartered boat. If snorkelling isn’t your thing, some local vendors also provide glass-bottomed boat tours of the area, and there are several marine sanctuaries.

EXPLORE THE RMS RHONE The U.K. Royal Mail ship RMS Rhone was wrecked just off the coast of Salt Island in 1867. It now provides some of the best wreck-diving in the Caribbean, and was even used in the 1977 thriller ‘The Deep’. Now the Rhone National Marine Park, the RMS Rhone provides a habitat for marine wildlife including the moray eel, turtles, and octopi. As the stern of the ship lays in shallower water, snorkellers can also view the wreckage. ALSO IN LITTLE SISTERS • Discover indigenous flora and fauna by hiking and biking on Peter Island. • Visit Dead Chest Island, centre of Blackbeard’s apocryphal marooned crew. • Eat at Cooper Island Beach Club – an ‘eco-luxe’ restaurant dedicated to providing sustainable eco-tourism via green-focused facilities.

DIVE THE HORSESHOE REEF Anegada offers the only coral in the BVI’s volcanic region. Visitors can take part in sustainable, recreational dives and explore the striking mazes and tunnels of the stunning natural reef. This area provides a subtle and diverse ecosystem which mindful divers can observe from the water. Needle fish, bonefish, stingrays, parrot fish, and countless other marine creatures live in the coral and off the coast of Anegada. The island is nearly flat, and is blessed with clear springs that bloom from the coral beds.

VIEW LOCAL WILDLIFE You can see nurse sharks in the water from Windlass Bight, as well as turtles and lobster in the beach areas in general. Local tour guides are available for sustainable and ethical visits to local animal’s habitats. You can also watch Caribbean flamingos in the salt ponds from specially designed viewing platforms, or visit the Rock Iguana Sanctuary, which works with international institutes to conserve and protect the endangered iguana population.

ALSO ON ANEGADA • Explore more than 300 wrecks off the shores off Anegada – the ‘drowned island’. • Rent a bicycle to tour the island in a serene and environmentallyfriendly way. • Explore the maze of stone walls that surround The Settlement.

PARADISE FOUND

The British Virgin Islands is home to unspoiled Caribbean beaches and lush greenery, with clear water and white sands, as well as old-growth forest and diverse inland flora and fauna.

Eco-tourism in the British Virgin Islands is increasingly popular, and local residents are active participants in the protection and preservation of the region’s natural beauty. Here are some tips on how to enjoy the beautiful islands and the water that surrounds them in a responsible and sustainable way.

When visiting the larger islands - Tortola, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda - hiking through national parks is a popular and sustainable activity. When exploring the various larger trails, or even island hopping in the Little Sisters, following the general hiking rule of “leave no trace” is always a good idea. Take care not to leave designated trails, which can cause undue wear and erosion to the land.

Cycling is also an effective and low-impact way to tour the islands, and there are several routes that are particularly bicycle-friendly. Similar to hiking, it is important to stick to designated routes and ensure that you minimize your impact on the paths. Be mindful of disturbing wild animals, and always take any trash home with you.

The British Virgin Islands provide some of the most striking swimming spots in the region, ranging from shallow tidal pools to vast beaches, and coral reefs to sunken ship wrecks. These areas are part of a complex local ecosystem, which includes animals such as parrot fish, barracuda, starfish, turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins, and flora such as the fragile coral reef itself.

When diving and snorkelling, in particular, it’s important not to damage these delicate marine ecosystems. Swimmer pollution is a leading cause of threatened reefs, and even visitors’ sunscreen can cause damage. Choosing natural, mineral sunscreens in place of chemical products can mitigate this risk.

Some native animals are endangered, including turtles, and visitors must take great care not to disturb their nesting spots. Supporting local, ethical guides is a way to invest in the sustainability of the island, and guides can offer tours, as well as the most reliable information on where to go, where not to go, and how close it is appropriate to be to the island’s wildlife.

Sailing and boat trips can provide an ideal viewing platform, enabling visitors to observe both land-based and aquatic wildlife without impacting it. Whales, sharks, and turtles can all be seen from such vessels, and using sailing or electric boats can help preserve the environment too. Kayaks can be hired from local vendors and are particularly useful for this, as they can reduce your emissions to an absolute minimum, while giving you the best views.

Different vendors, bars, and restaurants in the British Virgin Islands may vary in their sustainability, and another way of having a positive impact is to support businesses with existing green infrastructure. Look out for solar and wind powered vendors and companies, recycling infrastructure, and local produce.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself – you’re in paradise after all! By supporting local, sustainable tourism experiences, you’re ensuring the long-term viability of the pristine natural environment of the British Virgin Islands. c

V I S I T T H E BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS & D I S C O V E R PARADISE EVERY DAY