Virgin Islands

While there are not 11,000  the British and US Virgin Islands number at least one hundred, fifty or so of which are sizable and others rocky outcrops. St Croix is the largest and the best for diving and snorkeling.  They all gather around Drake’s Channel, at the eastern end of the Caribbean arc, in the middle of the lees. Originally inhabited by ferocious natives who quickly sent Colombus packing, they were later colonized at the beginning of the 17th century by the French and English, who developed sugar cane plantations. By the end of the century the Danes had also arrived, but the wealth of the islands naturally tempted the pirates who made them their base for their raids. Here Sir Francis Drake became known for chasing the Spanish galleons full of treasures, and prepared his famous attack on the highly fortified Puerto Rico. Thus the channel between the islands took his name as a permanent reminder of his exploits.

Not to be overlooked are the infamous Bluebeard, Blackbeard and the fiercest Captain Kidd, which is why Robert Louis Stevenson describes the Bight and the caves of Norman Island, in his book Treasure Island. These are destinations that cannot be missed.

More recently the archipelago became divided, with the English part true to the British crown and the American part sold to the Danes in 1917, but you would not notice any difference in their natural habitat.

The islands are of volcanic origin, born from an eruption twenty-five million years ago, with only Anegada  differing , owing to its coral origin. They have a perfect climate with temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees, and no rainy season to speak of, just rapid and short downpours. With their crystal clear, warm water and constant trade winds it is a true paradise for sailors who visit from all over the world, although mostly from the nearby United States.

The beauty of the islands and the hospitable welcome, make these islands preferable to other Caribbean destinations, and for Americans it is like ‘home from home’.  With multiple carnivals across different periods on the various islands there is plenty to marvel at besides the clear sea and sandy beaches. Saint Thomas’ carnival takes place after Easter and used to reflect its African traditions from the deportees who worked on the plantations, with their bamboula dances paying homage to the gods of Dahomey. The more modern carnival now reflects the transformation to Christianity with its parades of bands and floats along the streets. In Saint Croix, the carnival is an extended party that begins before Christmas and ends on January 6, a kind of festival of dances along the streets, all led by Mocko Jumbi, the “high spirit” of the carnival.  He walks on five metre high stilts, dressed in bright colours and is covered with mirrors – a sight not to be missed. For nature lovers, one of the strongest attractions is the presence around the islands of many humpback whales which, throughout the winter season approach the coast to mate and give birth to their young,  While they can be observed in the months of February, March and April, they may also be found a little earlier.

Of course the most widespread activity is sport, with a definite focus on sailing and scuba diving. There is no shortage of boats for charter and with the opportunity to sail for a week or more without ever losing sight of land and a new safe anchorage every night – it’s hard to match elsewhere. There are so many attractive destinations to choose from if diving is your passion.  We suggest the National Park of Saint John, which offers spectacular diving with the opportunity to fish for lobsters. But be aware of the limit of two lobsters per day; they must have a tail of at least 14 cm, no eggs and be taken exclusively by hand, with a noose or with a pot. You can also dive the wreck of the “Rhone”, a ship of the Royal Post sunk in 1867 and lying on a seabed ranging from eight to twenty-six metres below the surface.

Without a doubt, a holiday in the Virgin Islands will be totally restful as there are no long voyages to undertake. The busiest stretch encompasses an area of ​​about thirty miles between Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, where the sea is without obstacles like rocky outcrops and the visibility of the seabed is very clear even beyond fifteen metres.  This allows safe navigation right up to the coast and the opportunity to discover the wonders of the seabed, even with just a snorkel. Starting with the British islands we can see some of the islands main characteristics. Tortola is the island of doves and turtles, more numerous than its inhabitants, although it is the largest of the British islands with an area of 54 square kilometres. Almost attached to Tortola is the small Beef Island on which the airport is based, so called owing to the cattle grazing there. Here you will find the headquarters of the major charter agencies, and almost all charters depart from here. The pirates habitually raided it, but eventually the elderly lady owner of the herd tired of the abuse, so she invited the predators for tea, laced with arsenic. Thankfully this is not a custom that remains!

Virgin Gorda is perhaps the most beautiful of the British islands. With its stunning beaches and mountains, it doesn’t need a major town of its own. The mountains are to the North and the beaches to the South. Be sure to visit the Baths, a special granite formation among which there are caves and natural pools. Once again, you will find plenty of opportunities to charter and anchorages all around. Anegada with its coral reef was inhabited by buccaneers who plundered the ships that fell foul of the reef. It is therefore a real boon for divers who can visit many different wrecks, with more than two hundred to choose from. Jost Van Dyke named after the Dutch pirate is mountainous and offers excellent anchorages and beautiful beaches. The most interesting smaller islands are without doubt, Peter Island with its excellent hotel and Salt Island, with the salt pan on the north side and the wreck of the “Rhone” along the south coast. Necker Island is famous for the ultra-modern recording studio built by Richard Branson, the billionaire owner of Virgin,  and finally Norman Island and Dead Chest, the treasure islands referenced in the fictional sea-song “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest”.

Those islands under the US protectorate and which they call paradise, apart from the various little islets, number only three. Saint Croix is ​​the largest, with rainforests and fertile plains with an interior styled like New England villages, and beautiful coral beaches all around the reef.  The islet of Buck, in the north-eastern part, acts as a national park.  There are just a few equipped landing places; Sugar Bay, where Colombo landed and Green Cay, the protected islet inhabited by pelicans. Saint Thomas was the lair of pirates, where Blackbeard and Captain Kidd took refuge. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the US Virgin Islands and with its narrow streets and Danish colonial architecture, still includes Blackbeard’s Castle, a 1600s watchtower. The 99 Steps ascend to the tower, near which you can admire the panorama from Drakès Point, the point from which the pirates came to sight the vessels.  The 17th-century Fort Christian is now a museum with art and artifacts. East of the town, the Skyride aerial tram climbs to Paradise Point. There are many equipped landing places in the various bays around the island which has a very jagged profile. Saint John is an island entirely dedicated to the national park, with lush forests and beautiful beaches, all on an area of ​​76 square kilometres. There are many beaches but only one equipped landing place in Cinnamon Bay, on the north-western coast. Once again the island boasts splendid, serene and naturally wild beauty, a heritage common to all the islands of the archipelago.