Tortola

Apple Bay Beach is just over the hill from Long Bay. Here, on any day in season you can see at least a dozen surfers from all over the world. The bay is also known for its full moon parties at Bomba's Surfside Shack, as well as the Friday night fish fries hosted by local residents under the banyon trees. In the evenings, you can usually find music playing at one of the bay's two hotels and several local restaurants.


Brewer's Bay, once the site of several sugar plantations and distilleries (hence its name) is just around the eastern point by boat or over a steep hill by car from Cane Garden Bay. Ruins can be seen on the beach and along the road going out of the bay to town. In winter, the campground here is home to an interesting group of travellers who return year after year. The water offers some of the best snorkelling on the island because of its many reefs.


Centrally located on Tortola's north shore, Cane Garden Bay is a long, lovely, curved bay sheltered from heavy winds, making it a favoured anchorage for boaters. Attracting both tourists and residents, an abundance of activities can be found here: boating, windsurfing, water-skiing, and swimming. Some of Tortola's most popular bars and restaurants line the beach, and island music can be heard at many of these spots nightly.


Elizabeth Beach is without doubt, one of the widest on Tortola, providing sun worshipers plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the beautiful views of the British Virgin Islands.


This beach on Tortola's East End has a long and wide swath of sand that makes it ideal for sunbathing. There is a small beach bar on the beach and several guest houses and restaurants nearby. At certain times in the winter when the waves reach their optimum peak, it is a favourite surfing spot.


Lambert Bay, also known as Elizabeth Bay, is one of the north shore's finest beaches and is a favourite picnic spot for residents because of its sheltering palm grove and fine white sand. A resort is located behind the beach.


Long Bay is a mile-long stretch of white sand beach, perfect for a tranquil sunset walk. A resort and several guest houses line the eastern portion of the beach. The western end, fringed with palms and seagrapes, offers greater solitude and good swimming.


Located at the western-most end of Tortola, Smugglers Cove is secluded, sheltered, serene, and hard to reach. The road to it is unpaved, but passable. The water is exceptionally warm, clear, and calm. Snorkelling off both points is good and sometimes sea turtles can be found swimming close by.

Virgin Gorda

This National Park is accessible by boat or by walking through the trails of The Baths. The beach is pure white sand and sprinkled with large granite boulders. Its deep blue waters make for excellent diving and snorkelling.


This remote quiet beach with vivid blue water is located north of Savannah Bay. The bay lies at the end of a tropically landscaped drive leading to a restaurant, beach resorts, and villas. It's gentle sandy curves and two picturesque reefs afford wonderful water activities.


Located to the north of Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and with spectacular sunsets, Savannah Bay is a beautiful long curving stretch of sand perfect for relaxing on the beach and swimming.


Sprinkled with boulders, this stretch of white sand is one of Virgin Gorda's loveliest and features some of The BVI's clearest waters.


A National Park made up of a series of small sea pools lying beneath a canopy of giant granite boulders. These sheltered light-filled grottoes create a unique setting to swim and explore. Snorkelling along the outside perimeter of both The Baths and Devil's Bay reveals an area rich in colourful fish and coral.


Trunk Bay is one of a series of spectacular white sand beaches that line Virgin Gorda's western shore. Bordered by a private estate and a palm grove, Trunk Bay can be reached by boat or along a path from Spring Bay.

Jost Van Dyke

The island's arrival point with its white sandy horseshoe shape, offers a fabulous water sport facility with a host of friendly and casual beach bars and restaurants. Dinghy docks available.


Sandy Cay is a tiny island off the southeast coast of Jost Van Dyke that has a spectacular white sand beach perfect for sunbathing or snorkelling. A path leads to the cay's interior and just to its north is the smaller, but also beautiful, Sandy Spit (noted below).


Totally remote but within reach by boat, this spectacular beach is definitely worth the trip! Enjoy marvellous snorkelling in a relaxed atmosphere.


With a long stretch of pure white sand, this palm-lined beach was voted one of the top ten beaches in the world by Caribbean Travel & Life. Protected by a great snorkelling reef, anchor close to shore and swim to the beach. Visit the award-winning beach bars.

Anegada

Anegadians offer many stories as to how this beach got its name. Found on the northwestern end of Anegada, Cow Wreck Bay Beach is a pristine beach that features a small beach bar and restaurant, and a few villas.


With coral sand and crystal clear water, Flash of Beauty Beach features a unique trail of conch shells leading from the beach bar to the shoreline. In addition to beachcombing and sunbathing, excellent snorkelling is also found here.


Comprised of miles of secluded pristine beach, Loblolly Bay Beach is ranked as one of the world's best beaches. With a 360 degree lookout and a 50 foot walkout into the ocean, Loblolly Bay Beach features two beach bars and restaurants, as well as sun shelters and hammocks within the seagrapes.

Other Islands

Cam Bay,on the island of Great Camanoe, is one of the BVI's newest national parks and is accessible by boat. The bay's white sandy beach features calm protected waters and good snorkelling along its protective reef.


Located on the north shore of Peter Island, Deadman's Bay is a palm-fringed crescent beach. Peter Island is a popular yacht anchorage, but can also be reached by a ferry from Road Harbour run by the Peter Island Resort.


Declared a National Park in 1991, Diamond Cay is located off Long Bay, Jost Van Dyke and is a bird sanctuary. The volcanic nature of the island is more pronounced on the windward side, with bare, rocky cliffs, while the leeward side is lined with sandy beaches. The area has several day anchorages close to vibrant reefs, for snorkelling, and a hiking trail on Sandy Cay. Boaters should be cautious and conscientious about anchoring in sand only to avoid damaging the reefs.


Secluded beaches border delightful snorkelling areas; North Lee Bay Beach being the best on the island. On the northwest shore, underwater tunnels and caves are a haven for nocturnal fish, while schools of Glassy Sweepers glisten like bits of shiny copper.


Little Jost Van Dyke features stretches of powder white sandy beaches for day anchoring and snorkelling and nearby dive sites include Twin Towers, two large rock formations rising from 90 feet with smaller rock formations. Eagle rays and tarpon are often found here. Occasional currents and heavy swells.


Manchioneel Bay, on Cooper Island, is a good overnight anchorage that features a palm-fringed beach. There is a beach bar and restaurant and several holiday homes on the bay.


This 243-acre island was declared a National Park in 1988. Located in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda, the cacti-covered hills of Prickly Pear slope down to several pristine beaches. The northern and eastern shores boast two of the territory's best beaches. The North Beach, in particular, offers great swimming and snorkelling. For hiking enthusiasts, the National Parks Trust and Visions International created a hiking trail which leads from the Sand Box Bar, over a gentle slope, down to the North Beach.


Located on Prickly Pear Island in North Sound, Vixen Point is a long stretch of white sand with a beach bar and a shop from which you can rent windsurfers and other water sports equipment. It is a favourite play spot for yachtsmen and guests from neighbouring resorts.