Turquoise BVI bay with sailboats at anchor

Destinations

Anchorages & Destinations

Every stop worth making in the BVIs — approach notes, holding, snorkeling, and what to do ashore. Listed A–Z.

We've anchored in all of these. Some we return to every single charter; others are worth the detour once. The write-ups below cover what you actually need to know: how to get in, where to drop the hook or pick up a mooring, what's underwater, and what's ashore. We've tried to be honest — a few of these are crowded and touristy, and we'll tell you that too.

Anegada

Remote · Reef · Lobster

Approach

Anegada sits 14 miles north of Virgin Gorda and is surrounded by Horseshoe Reef — one of the largest barrier reefs in the Caribbean and the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. The entrance channel is well-marked but narrow; follow the range markers carefully and never attempt it in poor visibility or at night. Most charter companies require advance notice before you sail here.

Holding & Moorings

Good sand holding in the mooring field off Setting Point. Moorings are available through the Anegada Reef Hotel — call ahead on VHF 16 to reserve one. Anchoring is possible but the mooring field is preferred.

Snorkeling

Horseshoe Reef is extraordinary — miles of coral with exceptional visibility and abundant marine life. Loblolly Bay on the north shore has calm, shallow water ideal for beginners. The wreck diving here is world-class if you have a diver aboard.

Ashore

Anegada is flat, quiet, and unlike anywhere else in the BVIs. The lobster is the main event — reserve your dinner at the Anegada Reef Hotel or Big Bamboo as soon as you arrive; they catch to order. Rent a golf cart or bicycle to explore the island. Flash of Beauty beach on the north shore is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda

Iconic · Snorkeling · Mooring Only

Approach

The Baths mooring field lies on the southwest tip of Virgin Gorda. Approach from the south, keeping well clear of the rocks off the point. The mooring field fills fast — arrive before 9am if you can. No anchoring is permitted in the mooring zone.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls only — $30/night, paid to the mooring attendant who will come to your boat. The field is exposed to southerly swell; if conditions are uncomfortable, Spring Bay just to the north offers better protection.

Snorkeling

Excellent. The granite boulders create a series of swim-throughs, caves, and tidal pools teeming with fish. The trail from the beach through Devil's Bay is a must — part hike, part swim, entirely magical. Arrive early before the day-charter boats descend.

Ashore

The Baths National Park trail runs from the main beach through the boulder formations to Devil's Bay — allow an hour. The Top of the Baths restaurant above the mooring field has good food and a spectacular view. Spring Bay beach, a short walk north, is quieter and equally beautiful.

The Bight, Norman Island

Norman Island

Classic · Snorkeling · Lively

Approach

The Bight is a large, well-protected bay on the north side of Norman Island, easily identified by the mooring field and the distinctive floating bar. Enter from the north, keeping the mooring field to starboard. Plenty of room to maneuver.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls throughout the bay — pick one up rather than anchoring if possible, as the bottom is grassy in places. The field is managed by Pirates Bight; fees are typically waived with dinner. Good protection from all but northerly swells.

Snorkeling

The Caves at the western end of the bay are the highlight — four sea caves at water level with dramatic light effects and good fish life. Dinghy over rather than swimming from the mooring field. The Indians, just outside the bay entrance, are even better (see separate entry).

Ashore

Pirates Bight restaurant and bar is excellent — one of the best kitchens in the BVIs. The Willy T, a floating bar moored in the bay, is a BVI institution; go for a drink and a story. Norman Island is said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

Tortola

Beach Bar · Music · Rolly in Swell

Approach

Cane Garden Bay is on the north shore of Tortola, well-protected from the prevailing easterly trades but exposed to northerly swell. The bay is easy to enter — simply head for the beach. In settled conditions it's beautiful; in a northerly it can be uncomfortable.

Holding & Moorings

Good sand holding throughout the bay. Anchor in 10–20 feet. Mooring balls are also available. The bay can get crowded with charter boats in high season.

Snorkeling

Modest — the bay itself is sandy and not particularly rich. Better snorkeling can be found at the rocky headlands on either side of the bay.

Ashore

This is one of the liveliest beach scenes in the BVIs. Quito's Gazebo has live music most nights — Quito Rymer is a BVI legend. Stanley's Welcome Bar is a classic rum shack. The beach is long, palm-lined, and genuinely beautiful. Good provisioning at the small shops along the waterfront.

Cooper Island

Laid-back · Good Bar · Easy Approach

Approach

Cooper Island lies southeast of Tortola, easily approached from the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The mooring field is on the northwest side of the island. Straightforward entry with no hazards — just watch for the reef off the southern tip if you're coming from that direction.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls managed by the Cooper Island Beach Club — fees apply. No anchoring in the mooring zone. Good protection from the easterly trades; some exposure to westerly swells.

Snorkeling

Cistern Point at the north end of the island has good coral and fish life. The reef along the western shore is worth exploring by dinghy. Not as dramatic as The Indians or The Baths, but reliably good.

Ashore

The Cooper Island Beach Club is the main attraction — a relaxed, well-run beach bar and restaurant with an impressive rum selection and a surprisingly good menu. The island has a small eco-resort and a dive shop. It's quieter than many BVI stops, which is part of the appeal.

Deadman's Bay, Peter Island

Peter Island

Stunning Beach · Calm Water · Resort

Approach

Deadman's Bay is on the north shore of Peter Island, directly south of Road Town across the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Easy approach from the channel — head for the long white beach. The Peter Island Resort occupies the western end of the bay but the anchorage is open to all.

Holding & Moorings

Good sand holding in 10–20 feet. Mooring balls are also available. The bay is well-protected from the easterly trades and generally calm. One of the most beautiful overnight anchorages in the BVIs.

Snorkeling

Good snorkeling at the eastern end of the bay where the beach meets the rocky headland. Sprat Bay on the western side of the island has a small marina and additional snorkeling.

Ashore

The Peter Island Resort beach bar welcomes visiting sailors for drinks and lunch — worth the splurge. The beach itself is one of the finest in the BVIs: long, white, and usually uncrowded. A short hike over the hill to Sprat Bay is worth it for the views.

Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke

Jost Van Dyke

Foxy's · Beach Bars · Must-Visit

Approach

Great Harbour is on the south shore of Jost Van Dyke, easily approached from the Sir Francis Drake Channel or from the west. The bay is wide and well-marked. Customs and immigration are here — if you're clearing in or out of the BVIs, this is one of the official ports of entry.

Holding & Moorings

Good sand holding throughout the bay. Mooring balls are available but anchoring is also fine. The bay can get crowded, especially on weekends and holidays. Good protection from the easterly trades.

Snorkeling

Modest — the bay is primarily a social stop rather than a snorkeling destination. Better snorkeling can be found around the headlands outside the bay.

Ashore

Foxy's Tamarind Bar is one of the most famous beach bars in the Caribbean — Foxy Callwood has been holding court here for decades. Ali Baba's and Rudy's are also worth a visit. The New Year's Eve party here is legendary. Great Harbour has a relaxed, end-of-the-road feel that's hard to find elsewhere in the BVIs.

The Indians

Norman Island (nearby)

Best Snorkeling · Day Stop Only · Mooring Only

Approach

The Indians are four dramatic rock pinnacles rising from the sea just northwest of Norman Island. Approach from the east or west — the mooring field is on the north side of the rocks. Day use only; no overnight stays permitted. Arrive early to beat the day-charter crowd.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls only — no anchoring permitted. The field is managed and fees apply. Day use only; you must vacate by late afternoon.

Snorkeling

Among the best snorkeling in the BVIs. The pinnacles drop steeply underwater and are covered in coral, sponges, and sea fans. Fish life is exceptional — tarpon, barracuda, and large schools of reef fish are common. Visibility is usually excellent. Worth timing your itinerary around.

Ashore

There is no shore — The Indians are uninhabited rocks. Bring everything you need on the dinghy. The snorkeling is the entire point.

Marina Cay

Pusser's · Tiny Island · Easy Stop

Approach

Marina Cay is a small private island off the northeast tip of Beef Island, easily approached from Trellis Bay or from the north. The mooring field is on the western side of the island. Watch for the reef off the southern tip.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls managed by Pusser's — fees apply, often waived with a meal or drinks. Good protection from the easterly trades. The island is small enough that you can circumnavigate it by dinghy in 20 minutes.

Snorkeling

Good snorkeling around the rocky perimeter of the island, particularly on the eastern side. Not as dramatic as The Indians or The Baths, but reliably enjoyable with good coral and fish life.

Ashore

Pusser's bar and restaurant is the main attraction — the Painkiller cocktail was invented here (or so they claim). The island has a small beach, a gift shop, and a relaxed atmosphere. Robb White wrote a book about living here in the 1950s; there's a small museum. A good lunch stop on the way to or from Trellis Bay.

North Sound, Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda

Protected · Multiple Stops · Provisioning

Approach

The North Sound is a large, well-protected lagoon on the northeast end of Virgin Gorda, entered through a channel between Prickly Pear Island and Mosquito Island. The channel is well-marked; follow the markers carefully as the reef on either side is unforgiving. Once inside, the sound is calm and spacious.

Holding & Moorings

Multiple anchorages and mooring fields throughout the sound — Bitter End, Leverick Bay, Saba Rock, and Gun Creek all have options. Good protection in all conditions; the North Sound is one of the safest hurricane holes in the BVIs.

Snorkeling

Eustatia Reef on the eastern side of the sound is excellent — one of the better reef systems in the BVIs with good coral coverage and abundant fish. The reef off Prickly Pear Island is also worth exploring.

Ashore

Multiple options: Bitter End Yacht Club has a full marina, restaurant, and watersports. Saba Rock is a tiny island with a bar and restaurant — dinghy over for lunch. Leverick Bay has a marina, restaurant, and provisioning. Gun Creek is a local village with a different feel from the resort stops.

Saba Rock

Virgin Gorda (North Sound)

Tiny · Great Bar · Dinghy Stop

Approach

Saba Rock is a tiny island inside the North Sound, Virgin Gorda — accessible only by dinghy from the surrounding anchorages. Not a primary anchorage itself, but an essential stop when you're in the North Sound. Tie your dinghy to the dock and walk up.

Holding & Moorings

No anchoring at Saba Rock itself — anchor in the North Sound and dinghy over. The dock can accommodate several dinghies.

Snorkeling

The reef immediately around Saba Rock has good fish life and is easily accessible from the dock. Nothing dramatic, but worth a look with a mask.

Ashore

The Saba Rock Resort bar and restaurant is one of the best lunch stops in the BVIs — good food, cold drinks, and a spectacular view across the North Sound. The shark tank (a small pool with nurse sharks) is a curiosity. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. Don't miss it when you're in the North Sound.

Sandy Cay

Sandy Cay (near Jost Van Dyke)

Uninhabited · Perfect Beach · Day Stop

Approach

Sandy Cay is a tiny uninhabited island east of Jost Van Dyke, easily approached from the east or west. The mooring field is on the south side of the island. Day use only — no overnight stays. The island is a National Park.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls only — no anchoring permitted in the National Park. Day use only. The moorings are in good condition and the field is rarely crowded.

Snorkeling

Excellent snorkeling around the rocky perimeter of the island, particularly on the north and east sides. The coral is healthy and the fish life is diverse. One of the better snorkeling stops in the western BVIs.

Ashore

Sandy Cay has a perfect crescent beach and a short nature trail that circumnavigates the island through the bush — allow 30 minutes. No facilities whatsoever; bring water and snacks. The beach is often deserted. This is what the BVIs looked like before the charter boats arrived.

Trellis Bay, Beef Island

Beef Island

Lively · Art · Full Moon Party

Approach

Trellis Bay is on the northeast side of Beef Island, adjacent to the BVI's main airport. Easy approach from the north — the bay is wide and well-protected. The airport is close enough that you'll see planes landing overhead, which is oddly entertaining.

Holding & Moorings

Good sand holding throughout the bay. Mooring balls are also available. Good protection from the easterly trades. The bay can be noisy during the day with airport traffic but quiets down in the evening.

Snorkeling

Modest — the bay is primarily a social and provisioning stop. Better snorkeling at Marina Cay, a short dinghy ride away.

Ashore

Aragorn's Studio is the highlight — local artist Aragorn Dick-Read has built a remarkable creative community here, with a gallery, a market, and the famous Full Moon Party (held monthly, check the dates). The Last Resort restaurant on a small island in the bay is a BVI institution. De Loose Mongoose bar is a good spot for sundowners. Good provisioning at the small shops.

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke

Jost Van Dyke

Soggy Dollar · Painkiller · Beautiful Beach

Approach

White Bay is on the south shore of Jost Van Dyke, just west of Great Harbour. The bay is open to the south and can have significant swell rolling in — check conditions before committing. The mooring field is in the center of the bay. No anchoring in the mooring zone.

Holding & Moorings

Mooring balls only in the main bay — fees apply. The bay is exposed to southerly swell; in settled conditions it's beautiful, but it can be uncomfortable in a southerly. Some sailors anchor in the eastern corner of the bay for slightly better protection.

Snorkeling

Modest — the bay is primarily a beach bar destination. The rocky headlands on either side of the bay have some fish life worth exploring.

Ashore

The Soggy Dollar Bar is the reason everyone comes here — cash your traveler's checks in the sea (hence the name) and order a Painkiller, the cocktail they claim to have invented. Ivan's Stress Free Bar is equally beloved. The beach is genuinely beautiful: long, white, and backed by sea grape trees. One of the great beach bar experiences in the Caribbean.