BVI06 TOURIST DIRECTORY - Experience The British Virgin Islands

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Hiking There are several good hikes in the BVI, with the most rewarding being the meandering Sage Mountain National Park trail in Tortola. At 1,760 feet above sea level, hikers enjoy not only abundant nature, but also breathtaking views of nearby and far-off islands. There are also wonderful trails through and around The Baths on Virgin Gorda, where there are lots of beaches to stop at for a cooling swim. On Jost Van Dyke, an easy, short but intriguing walk culminates at the “bubbly pool,” a crevice in the rocks with a natural Jacuzzi. Whenever and wherever you choose to hike, though, remember to wear proper shoes, take a bottle of water and bring along the sun block. Horseback Riding If you think you’d enjoy being in tune with nature while on horseback, then maybe an equestrian tour is right for you. Horseback riding along wooded trails up mountain passes and then down to a stretch of sandy beach for a good gallop can make for an enjoyable experience in Tortola. Shadow, a horse lover, has stables above Brewers Bay where he welcomes visitors to look around and sign up for an island tour. 36 TOURISM DIRECTORY 2007 The Sporting Life BY JULIAN PUTLEY In the British Virgin Islands, nearly everybody spends their leisure time outdoors. And with sunshine 90 percent of the time and temperatures between 70 and 95 degrees year-round, it’s a perfect place for active travellers. The following are just a few of the many sports and activities to enjoy in the BVI.
Tennis Tennis is a wonderful game to play year-round in the tropics, especially if you avoid the midday sun. Most resorts offer tennis, but courts can usually be rented by non-guests. Working Out For those wanting to stay fit while on holiday and not pack on the weight from all those sumptuous Caribbean meals and tropical cocktails, there are numerous gyms where you can work out. Most will gladly accommodate temporary members or one-time visitors. Biking If biking is your thing, you’ll be glad to know an array of bicycles can be rented in Road Town’s Port Purcell. Anegada, which is a flat island, may seem like a biker’s paradise — that is, until you try biking on a sand road. Most visitors opt for a leisurely gentle ride along the island’s coast road. A good source for cyclists is the BVI’s Cycling Federation, a progressive body with a growing list of events. Visitors can join in on anything from time trial races on the flat land, to gruelling mountain bike races up impossible hills and exhausting triathlons. Surfing In the winter months, north swells from Atlantic storms bring large breaking waves to the island’s northern shore, and in some locations the break provides nearly perfect surfing conditions. Josiah’s Bay, Capoon’s Bay and Cane Garden Bay are three favourites with local surfing aficionados. Recent competitions have been staged at one or more of these venues. Sailing Located in the middle of the trade wind belt with almost continuous easterly breezes, the British Virgin Islands is a mecca for sailors. Besides that, the archipelago of some 50 islands, islets and cays provides many beautiful and sheltered anchorages. The islands are all in close proximity, so an anchorage is always nearby — if one spot looks too busy it’s usually no trouble to quickly look at the chart and sail to a different location. The anchorages are many and diverse in nature; some have sandy beaches lined with palm trees, while others are rocky with pebble beaches and good for shelling, and still others offer good snorkelling. Many BVI anchorages have moorings that make anchoring a breeze. There is no shortage of outfits offering yacht charters, either with a full crew or bareboat, where you rent the boat, provision it yourself and sail it with your own crew. For beginners, there are several sailing schools that can offer an introduction to sailing and qualify those that complete it to cruise up to a 50-foot yacht — all in just two weeks. Snorkelling The BVI is recognized as one of the top destinations in the world for snorkelling due to the many sparsely populated islands and cays in the territory and its relatively undisturbed coral reefs. Snorkelling can be enjoyed by almost everyone — the only prerequisite is to know how to swim. If you don’t bring your own gear, most dive shops will rent a set of mask, fins and snorkel. There is fine snorkelling off The Baths in Virgin Gorda, where corals attach themselves to underwater boulders and small caves make for unusual fish homes. Other favourite spots are the Indians, the Treasure Caves, the south shore of the Bight, Diamond Reef off Great Camano, Cistern Rock off Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda’s Mountain Point, Anegada’s north shore and Sandy Spit, next to Jost Van Dyke’s Green Cay. Scuba Diving Most dive centres offer a basic half-day “resort course” which entails practicing in the pool or shallow seawater for about half an hour, some basic theory and a shallow dive in about 25 feet of water. The whole process can be completed in half a day. If you wish to become fully certified, you’ll need about five days and a dive centre that’s offering the course. Feel free to explore the BVI’s many wrecks and dive sites, the most famous of which is the wreck of the Rhone, a Royal Mail ship that sank during a hurricane in 1867. Other popular sites include Alice in Wonderland, with giant mushroom corals; the wreck of the Chikuzen, a Korean refrigerator ship that sank in open water west of Virgin Gorda and teems with pelagic fish; and Wreck Alley, where several hulks were purposely sunk to make interesting dive sites. Windsurfing With winds blowing steadily from 15 to 30 knots, sea temperatures in the 80s, and clean, clear water, the BVI is a perfect environment for windsurfing. Nanny Cay is a windsurfing centre with the Sir Francis Drake Channel stretching five miles to windward. Others include Trellis Bay and Eustatia Sound, Virgin Gorda. If your dream is to someday “jump a wave” or “carve a gybe,” you can rent equipment and/or take lessons at The Bitter End Yacht Club, Nanny Cay or Trellis Bay. Kayaking This is a pastime for the entire family and a great way to explore hard-to-reach areas in bays, inlets and rivers. The BVI is one of the top destinations in the world for sea kayakers who are drawn by its easy access to so many different islands. Daily kayak rentals are widely available, especially on Anegada and along Virgin Gorda’s North Sound. Fishing The BVI is an ideal destination to partake of a day of sport fishing. There are several well-equipped boats available for charter, and excellent fishing grounds are always nearby. Probably the most famous is the North Drop where the continental shelf drops off to more than 200 fathoms. Tortola and Anegada both offer fly fishing tours with guides and flat boats. Kiteboarding Some believe kiteboarding is unquestionably the most exhilarating new water sport to come to the islands in years. In the BVI, you can find instruction in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound. Check at the Bitter End’s water sports desk. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 37
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Page 8 and 9: Welcome to the British Virgin Islan
Page 10 and 11: Fun in the Sun Sightseeing in the B
Page 12 and 13: Beauty and the Beaches One of the m
Page 14 and 15: BVI Tourist Board Offices GEORGIA 1
Page 16 and 17: Car Rentals 16 TOURISM DIRECTORY 20
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Page 32 and 33: Tantalizing Treats BY JULIAN PUTLEY
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Page 38: Offshore Finance: Sun, Sand and Sen

BVI06 TOURIST DIRECTORY - Experience The British Virgin Islands

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