British Virgin Islands

It would be easy to spend your British Virgin Islands holidays relaxing into island life. You can swimming, sailing, diving. Sip cocktails by the sea, or dance the night away at the stylish beach clubs. And cruise the rich tapestry of restaurants in the many resorts and towns.

But that’s not all this Caribbean paradise has to offer. With a rich colonial history – plus more than a few pirate legends – this place has plenty of heritage to discover. You can explore the coves and harbours of Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and more. Get back to nature with a treetop canopy tour in the hills over Road Town. Hike Gorda Peak to find orchids, tree frogs, bats, soldier crabs, and the tiny Virgin Gorda gecko, then enjoy incredible views from the observation tower at the top. And make sure you visit the boulder-scattered bay of Virgin Gorda Baths and its sand-bottom caves, which is one of the most photographed spots in BVI.

Explore the yacht-filled marina, waterfront shopping park, and quirky shell museum. Dine at the gourmet food market, or grab a table at the hilltop restaurant. Sip your favourite tipple in a family-run distillery or a Victorian pub. Whatever you’re into, the BVI’s main island of Tortola has plenty of attractions to tempt you away from its beautiful beaches.

Visit the capital city of Road Town, and you’ll find streets where boutiques and eateries are interspersed with 200-year-old forts and sugar mills. Wander the tropical acres of J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens. Climb the slopes of Sage Mountain, where you can hike among hanging vines and fragrant trees, while hummingbirds and kestrels glide around.

Discover the former pirates’ den of Soper’s Hole, and cross the bridge to explore the colourful West Indian streets of Frenchman’s Cay. Mingle with cruise passengers on Cane Garden Bay Beach. Or retreat to Smuggler's Cove, where the only things interrupting the sand are rustic beach shacks, serving local snacks and sweet rum cocktails.

Surrounded by clear Caribbean waters, the BVI are just as stunning beneath the surface as they are above. You can snorkel in the still, shallow waters or scuba dive in the depths among marine life and wrecks that line the coastal waters of more than 60 islands.

Float through the central channel of the barrier reef that protects Jost Van Dyke. Lose yourself among the maze of Horseshoe Reef off Anegada – a dangerous coral that has contributed to more than 300 wrecks, to create an eerie undersea marina. Swim alongside snapper, grunts, soldierfish, and parrotfish as you pass through the steel frame of the 150-year-old sunken Rhone off Salt Island.

For a different diving experience, head to the lesser-trodden shores of Norman Island, where you’ll find the underwater Treasure Caves said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson. Or, why not swim alongside nurse sharks and eagle rays at Santa Monica Rock?

December to February is peak season for British Virgin Islands holidays. You can look forward to bright sun, cool breezes, dry days, and the best diving visibility of the year. Temperatures in these winter months average around 25°C, then begin rising towards 30°C in the summer months of July and August.

Spring brings regatta season, and March through to the start of June still offers good weather most years. June to November is hurricane season, though, which means high winds, heavy rain, and poor visibility for divers. Great deals can be found during these months, but you should always bear the potential weather in mind when choosing to travel.

Flexible travellers could consider visiting the BVI between September and November. You’ll miss the summer winds, and beat the crowds who flock here for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

• Visas: British passport holders do not require a visa to visit BVI for less than a month
• Language: English
• Currency: USD ($)
• Time difference: GMT -4 hours
• Flight duration from London: Approximately 14 hours, depending on connections
• Capital city: Road Town