BVI Travel Information

The British Virgin Islands receive less than one third as many visitors as their companions at the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. Only slightly more people visit there by cruise than by stopover. That may explain the lack of golf courses.

The four main islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. More than 60 islands total make up BVI.

Because of the large total number of islands, BVI is unique among the eastern Caribbean islands in opportunities to ferry over to other islands for day trips.

Tortola is the largest island in the chain; it has the most accommodations and things to do. Virgin Gorda is 8.5 square miles, makes an easy day trip from Tortola and has quiet beaches and coves.

The easy-going Jost Van Dyke has less than 200 inhabitants, a small number of hotels and likewise is easy accessible via boat or ferry. Anegada requires a quick flight from Tortola to experience the white sand beaches, snorkeling, diving and shipwrecks.

The island ranks 14th in total tourism.


Unique attractions include Dolphin Discovery, a chance to interact in the waters with dolphins; the historic forts Burt and Recovery, both dating back centuries; and Trotola's Main Street, which is both a shopping and historic district.

Noteworthy regular attractions include scuba diving -- the islands have been called one of the top five dive spots in the world, and they are especially known for shipwrecks.

BVI also has an unusually high number of national parks, but it does not have any golf courses, which is rare among Caribbean destinations.


U.S. and Canadian stopover visitors require a passport or an original or notarized copy of their birth certificate and photo ID. Cruise visitors simply need to have their ship IDs available when leaving the ship and returning.

The most popular months to visit are March followed by April; the least popular are September and then October.


The average daily temperature year-round is in the low 80s. The season for occasional hurricanes and tropical storms is July to October. The climate is subtropical and humid with temperatures moderated by trade winds.


The U.S. Dollar is the standard currency. Service tipping is normal in the Caribbean at 10-15 percent. Most hotels add a service charge. Give porters and bellboys $1 per bag. Major credit cards are accepted at most places. There is no sales tax, but there is a 7 percent hotel accomodation tax.


English is the official language. The economy is one of the healthiest in the Caribbean with 45 percent of the Gross Domestic Product depending on tourism. The geography consists of coral islands that are relatively flat and volcanic islands that are steep and hilly.

• Caribbean Tourism Organization
  
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  
• U.S. State Department Travel
  
• CIA Factbook