Sample Itineraries
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Our base at Joma Marina is conveniently situated just at the edge of the main town of Tortola, Road Town. A nice, quiet, breezy location in walking distance from two of the largest supermarkets on Tortola and only a short dingy ride from some wonderful restaurants - Spaghetti Junction or Village Cay Hotel and Marina both offering a wide variety of steaks, seafood, pastas and salads served in a breezy waterfront location. We are also only a 2 minute taxi ride to the centre of town for a larger selection of shops, bars and restaurants! The marina is fully equipped with shower and washroom facilities on the dock.
Before your charter you will be given an individual chart briefing. This will give you the opportunity to discuss all the do’s and don’ts and also where you would like to go and what you would like to do on your charter and of course to ask our staff any questions you may have. We will then customize our chart briefing to suit you and your party’s requirements. At BVI Yacht Charters, we don't group you together like the big companies. You will have our undivided attention to ensure you get the most out of your trip to the BVI and have an unforgettable vacation in paradise!
Overnight mooring buoys are available throughout the BVI at many locations at a rate of $25 per night for those times that you don't feel like anchoring! If you fancy a break from cooking then simply radio one of the many local restaurants to make a booking and let them do all the hard work for you, while you sit back, watch the sun go down and enjoy the wide variety of fantastic cuisine the BVI has to offer.
To enable you to do some advance planning, ask us to send you the latest edition of the Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands which is $28 including shipping. This invaluable book shows aerial photos of all the anchorages, gives up to date details about the restaurants and shore-side facilities, and has many other useful tips and information. It also contains a foldout chart so that you can log your trip and keep it as a souvenir.
Sleepaboards
If you decide to book a ‘sleepaboard’ the night before your charter begins, you will be able to board any time from 5pm. This will allow you time to do some provisioning that afternoon, or pack away goods you have pre-ordered from our extensive provisioning service. You are then free to enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants close to our dock in Road Town. In the morning our staff will arrive at around 8.30am, to give you your chart and boat briefings and then you are ready to climb aboard and begin your sailing adventure in the BVI!
DAY 1
Just minutes after casting off you will find yourself cruising in an abundance of quiet and protected anchorages, white sands, palm fringed beaches and crystal clear waters alive with beautiful coral and colorful tropical fish.
Our diving and snorkeling is rated among the best in the world with over sixty dive sites charted, many of which are within a recently established underwater National Park System. Innumerable virgin reefs remain unexplored and you will find a wide variety of underwater landscapes from vertical walls, underwater pinnacles, coral reefs, caverns and wrecks - most notably the RMS Rhone which sank in 1867.
After a short reach across the Sir Francis Drake Channel you will arrive at 'THE INDIANS’, a National Park Area, and the perfect spot to enjoy your first snorkel or dive as you swim around its four magnificent pinnacles. It’s a nice, shallow dive or snorkel, so a great introduction to the underwater world if it’s your first time!
Afterwards it’s only a short motor across to 'THE BIGHT’, NORMAN ISLAND, rumoured to be the site of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel, ‘Treasure Island’. There, you can watch a spectacular Caribbean sunset while enjoying a sundowner! Visit either ‘The Pirate’s Bight’ ashore or the floating bar/restaurant, the ‘William Thornton’. Both serve great food and are fun party spots for celebrating your well-earned vacation! You can also follow the trail behind ‘Pirates’ and walk up to the top of the island for fantastic views.
If you are looking for a quieter more secluded spot to spend the night, BENURES BAY on Norman Island is a beautiful anchorage, with a lovely walk over the hill to the very private MONEY BAY, where you will find good snorkeling and a great dive site just outside the entrance to the bay. Also both PRIVATEERS BAY and SOLDIER BAY have moorings and offer another peaceful option.
DAY 2
After breakfast take your dinghy around the corner to ‘THE CAVES’. Pick up a National Park mooring buoy and enjoy the wonders of the coral reef and its colorful inhabitants. Sail to The Wreck of THE RHONE (sunk in 1867) for a stunning morning dive or snorkel.
Tack up to COOPER ISLAND early afternoon and pick up an overnight mooring. Take the dinghy to Cistern Point for more snorkeling or simply relax on the beach or by the bar at the Cooper Island Beach Club. There is a dive shop where you can refill tanks.
To protect the beauty and diversity of our coral reefs there is a “NO ANCHORING” policy at the National Park Sites, so always pick up a buoy. Please don't be tempted to fish or feed the fish in the parks as this will disturb their fragile ecosystem!
DAY 3
Get an early start and tack up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to ‘THE BATHS’ on the Southern end of VIRGIN GORDA. Pick up a National Parks mooring and snorkel into the beach. You can spend the whole day exploring the tunnels, caves and crystal clear pools through the maze of massive boulders, which have been resting here for literally millions of years. Some people call these the eighth wonder of the world! In the early afternoon you can sail round to the beautiful SAVANNAH BAY for a late afternoon snorkel and evening BBQ. For those who wish to do a little shopping, you can spend the night at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, a luxurious marina owned by the famous Little Dix Bay Resort (dive tank refills here).
DAY 4
Off to NORTH SOUND, Virgin Gorda where you will find a little something for everyone. For great snorkeling and diving, stop at MOUNTAIN POINT. For peace and tranquility choose DRAKE’S ANCHORAGE, from where you can go ashore in the evening and walk over the hill to watch the sunset from Honeymoon Beach. If you want entertainment, BITTER END YACHT CLUB and SABA ROCK offer music most evenings. Visit the shops, rent a Hobie Cat, learn to windsurf; you will be spoilt for choice! LEVERICK BAY has a Beauty and Massage Parlour, and also a great store (tank refills and provisions). BIRAS CREEK is a wonderful place for a cocktail and long walks, and look out for the iguanas! You can dinghy through past Saba Rock for some turtle spotting at the reef. If you have more time, spend a couple of days here; it is well worth it!
DAY 5
The experienced sailors among you may want to sail to ANEGADA. Surrounded by mile long white sandy beaches the island is famous for its fresh lobster, wonderful snorkeling and pink flamingos on the Salt Lake. Stay at least 2-3 nights to explore this magical island fully.
Otherwise, sail south to ‘THE DOGS’ for wonderful snorkeling and diving. There is a tunnel to swim through and even the wreck of a small plane to explore if you have SCUBA. Spend the night at MARINA CAY on a mooring or anchor, if you prefer. Snorkel off the beach there, have a drink at the Sunset Bar and refill on fuel and water if you're running low! TRELLIS BAY is also fun, with the Last Resort restaurant and bar offering live music with the ‘Singing Chef’ most nights, or good snorkeling and hammocks on the beach by De Loose Mongoose restaurant. If you wish to catch up on your emails or learn to windsurf then the Trellis Bay Cyber Café offers internet access and windsurf instruction, together with a delicious and very affordable menu.
DAY 6
Continue west (downwind), stopping for a morning snorkel at MONKEY POINT, GUANA ISLAND; anchor off any of the deserted white sand, palm fringed beaches on the North Coast of Tortola. WHITE BAY on Guana is also lovely for a lunch stop.
Visit the beautiful classic desert island, SANDY CAY. Walk through the protected park to the natural jacuzzi baths, looking out for wild orchids. In the afternoon motor over to GREAT HARBOUR, JOST VAN DYKE. Have a drink with Foxy at his famous bar on the beach and dinner of freshly caught lobster at Sidney's Peace and Love.
GREEN CAY is another classical desert island, with great snorkeling and a quiet spot to spend a romantic evening! Take a trip to Foxy’s Taboo at Diamond Cay to sample some of the island’s finest Caribbean cuisine!
WHITE BAY on Jost Van Dyke has a beautiful white sandy beach and the Soggy Dollar Bar is a blast (no dinghy dock, hence the name!). LITTLE HARBOUR has the best local fresh fish and lobster and the benefit of mooring balls.
DAY 7
Head over to CANE GARDEN BAY and spend the afternoon on the beach. Quito, a famous reggae musician plays in his bar on Thursday nights and there are numerous other bars along the beautiful long beach – one is guaranteed to have live music! BREWERS BAY is generally more peaceful, with lovely snorkeling, a great dive site and a beautiful beach as well.
DAY 8
Sail south through the cut at SOPER’S HOLE, stopping for more provisions and water at the marina, and sail up to DEADMAN’S BAY, PETER ISLAND. Lounge on the white sand for a while before climbing the trail up to view the islands from above. Don't be tempted to stay the night as the holding is not great and the swells can sometimes make it uncomfortable. Motor round to LITTLE HARBOUR or GREAT HARBOUR for a night under the stars. The resort has a small marina where you can stay the night and treat yourselves to a truly luxurious dinner, but there is a dress code (no shorts or training shoes/flip flops and collars for the men).
The South side of Peter Island is also fabulous, with great coves with amazing snorkeling, white sand beaches. Anchor at WHITE BAY and dinghy around all the smaller coves, have a private BBQ on the beach, collect shells and hang easy!
DAY 9
After breakfast you have time to squeeze in one more snorkel (no diving before flying), both Little Harbour and Great Harbour have beautiful reefs and colorful tropical fish. Sail across the channel to BVI Yacht Charters at Joma Marina, Road Town by noon. Give us a call before you arrive to check your slip number and we will have a taxi waiting after you have refueled at our fuel dock and checked the boat out with someone on the dock.