Clear, turquoise waters; fine, white sand; private, secluded beaches—the British Virgin Islands, also known as the BVI, is an embodiment of all of these traits. Despite it being lesser-known than its US Virgin Islands counterpart, it is arguably the best vacation spot for those who seek peace and seclusion in the Caribbean. In this blog post, we’ll be covering the second largest island in the British Virgin Islands: Virgin Gorda.
Want to find the best beaches, resorts, restaurants, and snorkeling spots in Virgin Gorda? We’ve got you covered.
Virgin Gorda Beaches
Most Iconic: The Baths
With light turquoise waters and towering boulders that scatter around the beach, the Baths is one of the most famous beaches in Virgin Gorda.
The view within one of the cave-like grottos is perhaps the most extraordinary sight I’ve ever seen on any beach.
In the Baths, giant boulders form many grottos like this one, many of which are worth seeing.
However, since the Baths is quite popular, the beach can get busy mid-day, so I recommend staying at the beach in the late afternoon just before it closes for a more private stay. There are also quite a few places to snorkel on this beach where you can see a number of small fish and coral reefs swimming by.
The Baths is located on the south end of the beach, near Devil’s Bay National Park. Among the beaches that are on your must-see list, the Baths has to be number one.
Most Private: Savannah Bay
As one of the most private beaches on the island, Savannah Bay is one of the best places to sit down and have a quiet meal.
When we went to Savannah Bay in the late afternoon, there was almost no one there.
The only downside to this beach is that there are a few rocky areas as you go further towards the deeper end in the water; however, the sand and the view are absolutely breathtaking if you’re looking for a nice, secluded beach spot.
Best Overall: Spring Bay
Like the Baths, Spring Bay also has large, towering boulders and fine, white sand, just minus the crowd!
Towards late afternoon, it becomes just you and the beach. In terms of being both private and beautiful, Spring Bay is the one for you. The snorkeling places here are definitely on par with the Baths and perhaps even better!
Restaurants
Before we get into some restaurants, I’d like to note that almost everything in the Virgin Islands is quite pricey compared to what you may be used to if you’re coming from the U.S. mainland. So for this section of the blog post, I’ll be recommending high-quality restaurants of all different price points to fit your needs!
Hog Heaven
The service, the food, the drinks, and yes, the view in Hog Heaven are all of the best in Virgin Gorda. From the restaurant, the view includes not only the ocean but also the neighboring Mosquito Island, Pear Island, and Necker island.
The food is moderately priced like every other restaurant in the BVI but definitely worth it. The BBQ rib and the pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries (which was what I had) were absolutely delicious. The pulled pork was so easy to chew and the flavors came together well, so all in all, I highly recommend coming to this restaurant, especially for the food and the view. The food in Hog Heaven is also altogether not expensive, making it a perfect choice in terms of cost.
Chez Bamboo
Chez Bamboo serves tasty Asian food more towards the less expensive side. The menu is pretty typical in comparison to other Asian restaurants, but the service is high-quality, and the employees are friendly. The tables are set in a tranquill Asian-inspired garden.
The atmosphere here is amazing, especially at night.
Dixie’s
Dixie’s serves homemade, delicious food with generous portions at a lower price (compared to other restaurants on the island). The food is served quickly and conveniently if you’re looking for a quick take-out. However, it isn’t where you would go eating if you were looking for a fancy and expensive dinner. It’s located in Spanish Town, adjacent to Chez Bamboo.
Nova Restaurant at Oil Nut Bay
Oil Nut Bay’s restaurant is high-end, and compared to other restaurants on the list, can be considered as expensive. If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant, this is it.
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In order to get to this restaurant, you will need to make a reservation in advance (if you’re not staying at the Oil Nut Bay resort). The only way to get to the restaurant is by boat or by helicopter. A boat can pick you up at Gun Creek Ferry Terminal, and take you to the Nova Restaurant and back.
The restaurant serves mostly seafood and sushi, in addition to other Asian-influenced cuisines.
Where To Stay
Bitter End Yacht Club
Bitter End is the absolute epitome of luxurious resorts. With rooms that are smack on the beach–called marina lofts–and yachts, and other types of rooms, Bitter End ranks above many other resorts in Virgin Gorda in terms of quality. Along with a comfortable stay, Bitter End brings to you the chance to dine at its three restaurants, swim in its pool, and lie down on the beach. The resort’s prices vary from room to room from $500/night.
Leverick Bay Resort
Leverick Bay Resort’s pricing is $160 a night, one of the least expensive. This resort is right on the beach, making the views spectacular. The hotel is pretty much like any other hotel, but it comes with a restaurant, wi-fi, and great service.
Virgin Gorda Villa Rentals
On the hill above Leverick Bay Resort, there are private villas that you can rent, all of which include amazing North Sound views.
The price ranges from villa to villa but the general pricing range is from $400 to $2,000 a night. We stayed at one of these villas for a week, which was the highlight of our trip.
Snorkeling
There are a few places to rent snorkeling gear in Virgin Gorda, but the one we used on our trip was from Dive BVI, which was located in Spanish Town. I’d give it a solid five stars because there weren’t any problems with the gear as there often are. For basic snorkel gear, it costs $15 per person a day.
Extra Information and Tips:
- There are no direct flights from the U.S. mainland to Virgin Gorda. Travelers often fly to the nearest air hub such as St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands or Tortola in the BVI, then take a ferry to Virgin Gorda.
- Renting a car is often necessary to travel on the island, but the roads in Virgin Gorda can be dangerous because they can twist and turn at high heights, so drive carefully!
- There aren’t any bridges or whatnot connecting each of the BVI islands, so if you’d like to venture in and out of Virgin Gorda, the only way to get there is by boat.
- There are plenty of boat chartering opportunities in BVI, which are definitely worthwhile and unforgettable in my opinion.
So, that’s it for this blog post. I hope you enjoy an unforgettable stay in Virgin Gorda as it is truly the best vacation spot in the British Virgin Islands. If you have any questions, please voice them in the comments below. Don’t forget to like and share this post, so we can reach more people! Make sure to check out our travel guides on Banff and Jasper. Last but not least, subscribe to our blog for more posts like these! 🙂
