In the British Virgin Islands, there’s a pristine beach for almost every day of the month, most that are swimmable, easily reachable and truly memorable. Like the distinctive attributes of the archipelago’s 60+ islands, not all beaches are created equal, proving sandcastles will always flaunt a different, tropical backdrop. In the highbrow Caribbean destination where island hopping is de rigueur, these are the 5 best beaches in British Virgin Islands, sun-kissed slices of heaven that beach crawlers live for.
1. Cane Garden Bay
This is "The Bay"…. Cane Garden Bay. ?
? : @VOYAGEcharters#bvi #britishvirginislands #natureslittlesecrets #canegardenbay #Tortola #thebay #bvibeaches #bviblues #bluesandgreens #thankfultuesday #paradise #bviparadise #vacationinthebvi #travel #explore #islandlife #OURBVI pic.twitter.com/9kzbUZ7bdr
— British Virgin Is (@BritishVirginIs) February 25, 2020
Thanks to the easy accessibility for cruise ships and yachts, sprawling Cane Garden Bay on Tortola is the BVI’s most visited beach, which only made sense for islanders to transform it into a micro oasis with beachfront bars and restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and watersports excursions.
Well known for the handful of authentic beach bars—some more than 20 years old—activity here goes as late as sundown when reggae music starts playing from the strip of popular watering holes like Quito’s Gazebo and Rhymers Beach Bar.
2. Smuggler’s Cove
We are starting our day at Smugglers’s Cove. ?#BVI #BritishVirginIslands #BVIsecrets #Tortola #Beach pic.twitter.com/zDqzMVrlwG
— British Virgin Is (@BritishVirginIs) April 25, 2018
On the west end of Tortola, Smuggler’s Cove is worth the journey from Long Bay on an unpaved road (or, for fitness enthusiasts, a scenic hike). It’s mostly secluded (there’s only one beach bar here) with turquoise waters, a white-sand, crescent-shaped beach and a whole lotta sky.
The beach is fringed with tall palms that offer shade throughout the day, and snorkelers rejoice in the wealth of marine life along the nearby reef, which—incidentally—acts as a buffer for charter companies docking boats here, meaning less tourists.
3. The Baths
Devil's Bay (The Baths National Park) is one of the most visited sites in #OURBVI. We promise, you'd never forget your visit here. ?☀️???
?: ck_palmera (IG) #bvi #britishvirginislands #virgingorda #thebaths #devilsbay #photooftheday #travel #travelthursdays #explore pic.twitter.com/R5oD7X9vf8
— British Virgin Is (@BritishVirginIs) April 9, 2020
Encompassing seven acres and anchored by massive, granite boulders, The Baths in Virgin Gorda is the most unique beach area in British Virgin Islands. Many of the boulders in this national park straddle the sandy beach and shallow waters, the geological formation forming sheltered sea pools. The way the sunlight strikes inside the cavernous depths, it feels something out of Indiana Jones.
Within the park is Devil’s Bay, touted as one of the most scenic beaches in all of BVI, reachable only by a short hike along the boulders or boat, and less crowded than the Baths.
4. Deadman’s Beach
Peek-a-blue…View of beautiful Deadman's Beach on Peter Island, BVI #britishvirginislands #bvi #peterisland #dead… https://t.co/1xwAj7A4T0 pic.twitter.com/3chXuVh82V
— Rum Therapy (@rumtherapy) May 25, 2017
The tony Peter Island Resort offers five secluded, breathtaking beaches that are exclusive to its overnight guests.
But in-the-know skippers and yachters alike dock their boats at Deadman’s Beach, where a self-contained sliver of the mile-long, unspoiled beach known as Little Deadman’s is reserved for non-guests, giving visitors a chance to explore its most prized beach where guests can sunbathe, kayak and swim openly with a family of sea turtles. It’s worth it being one of the 5 best beaches in British Virgin Islands.
Best of all, visitors have access to several resort facilities and restaurants, like Tradewinds Restaurant, famous in the islands for its coconut French Toast, which the maitre de has perfected over 20 years.
5. Sandy Spit
Take a trip to Sandy Spit, a secluded, uninhabited, piece of our paradise ❤️?? #BVI #BVISecrets #Bliss #BritishVirginIslands #Paradise #NaturesLittleSecrets #SandySpit
IG ? explore my world BVI pic.twitter.com/MqX3GWMwkx— BritishVirginIs.UK (@BVIslands_UK) October 2, 2019
The fantasy desert island of Sandy Spit is what screensavers are made of. It’s a dot of sand centered by dense vegetation (you can walk the entire length of the islet in less than five minutes) and surrounded by azure water. Frigate birds circle overhead while tropical fish swim between your legs in the shallow, crystal-clear sea.
Sandy Spit is perfect for snorkeling, picnics and private, amateur photo shoots considering you’ll likely be the only visitors on the beach (if you time it well). It’s one of the 5 best beaches in British Virgin Islands.
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.