Idyllic Caribbean islands with sandy beaches, turquoise waters and laid back culture, British Virgin Islands are a good choice for a holiday in the Caribbean sun. The British Virgin Islands are a popular sailing destination, but also other water sports are well presented in the coastal waters of these idyllic islands carrying British cultural heritage.
Historical and cultural sights For visitors interested in history, British Virgin Islands offer small historic villages and architecturally interesting churches and fortifications, which are best available on the main island Tortola. It is here you can also find the capital town of the islands, Road Town that offers the best nightlife and shopping on British Virgin Islands. Road Town is also the place to go for Botanic gardens and for Folk Museum of the BVI. Even though natural attractions are widely available also on smaller islands, Tortola is the home of the highest point of the islands, Mount Sage, which rises up to the altitude of 521 m (1,709 ft) forming a good destination for inland walking trips. Virgin Gorda is another popular island within BVI with unique beach with grottoes called The Baths.
Weather. British Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate with little seasonal variation. Average monthly high temperatures on the islands are around 26–30⁰C throughout the year, and it is rare for the mercury to drop below 25⁰C.
British Virgin Islands, a sailing paradise in the Caribbean sun
Self-governing British overseas territory in the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands, also known as BVI, consist of more than 50 small islands, most of which are uninhabited. Some of the islands are flat and consist of corals as others are hilly and densely forested with volcanic ground. However, the islands are much more well-known for their coastline, which offers lovely beaches for sunbathing, fishing and water sports such as windsurfing, surfing and sailing in British Virgin Islands or diving in British Virgin Islands. Apart from that, the islands are naturally an excellent destination also for relaxing, with or without the famous Caribbean rum.Historical and cultural sights For visitors interested in history, British Virgin Islands offer small historic villages and architecturally interesting churches and fortifications, which are best available on the main island Tortola. It is here you can also find the capital town of the islands, Road Town that offers the best nightlife and shopping on British Virgin Islands. Road Town is also the place to go for Botanic gardens and for Folk Museum of the BVI. Even though natural attractions are widely available also on smaller islands, Tortola is the home of the highest point of the islands, Mount Sage, which rises up to the altitude of 521 m (1,709 ft) forming a good destination for inland walking trips. Virgin Gorda is another popular island within BVI with unique beach with grottoes called The Baths.
Practical information for your trip to British Virgin Islands
Located in the Caribbean Sea, the British Virgin Islands are best reached by air. As the airport of the Beef Island is very small and not capable of receiving big planes, flights to British Virgin Islands usually go through Puerto Rico or one of the other big Caribbean airports. Many Caribbean cruises visit Tortola and you can also travel to the islands from US Virgin Islands by ferry, with the travelling time being less than one hour. As British Virgin Islands consist of several small islands scattered in the Caribbean Sea, the best way to see the islands is by boat. Rental boats on British Virgin Islands are available in all major harbors.Weather. British Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate with little seasonal variation. Average monthly high temperatures on the islands are around 26–30⁰C throughout the year, and it is rare for the mercury to drop below 25⁰C.
Photo: superde1uxe, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Usually, the period between November and February is the driest time of the year, but for travelling to British Virgin Islands also other months outside the hurricane season, which lasts from June to November, are quite all right.
Tourism on BVI. Even though they are not among the most popular choices for holiday destination in the Caribbean, British Virgin Islands have recently increased their popularity as a holiday destination. The most popular travel destination is the main island, Tortola, but also smaller islands offer some interesting alternatives for hotels on British Virgin Islands. One thing bars and restaurants on British Virgin Islands are famous of is local rum, which you can enjoy anywhere on the islands. Of all the islands, Tortola has best choices for nightlife available. The English-speaking British Virgin Islands are a quite safe destination, where you should still avoid isolated areas after dark and keep your valuables hidden.
History and culture of the British Virgin Islands
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were discovered by Columbus but the Spaniards never settled them. The British Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in the middle of the 17th century. A few decades later the islands were annexed to Britain, and have stayed British ever since. This is why they have a lot in common with European cultures. African influences are also evident on BVI, as African slaves were brought there to work in sugar plantations. Today, British Virgin Islands are one of the wealthiest regions in the Caribbean.hint See also these nearby destinations: U.S. Virgin Islands, Luquillo, San Juan
