Tortola, British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands are beautiful, natural and authentic Islands that have yet to have the effects of mass tourism like many locations around the world. Tortola is the largest and capital of the British Virgin Islands but still has an unspoiled quality and is full of warm and friendly people. It’s an island with gorgeous beaches, mountains with stunning views and hiking trails, National Parks and interesting history. Tortola is also a great jumping point to some of the other 60 islands in the territory. We have been able to visit Tortola three times and look forward to visiting again in the future! This is what we have found in this beautiful destination in the Caribbean!
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Getting to Tortola and Transportation
There are multiple ways to get to the British Virgin Islands and plenty of transportation options while there.
If you are looking to fly into the BVI then most likely you will be flying into the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island. Beef Island is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II bridge to Tortola. American Airlines has direct service from Miami and a few Airlines have service from San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas in the US. There are also many flights available to other Caribbean nations such as Antigua and Barbuda and others. We have flown to the BVI from Antigua and Barbuda and have also flown to San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are two other airports with the Virgin Gorda Airport having service to San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola and the Auguste George Airport on Anegada has service to Tortola.
The BVIs also are known as the “Sailing Capital of the World”, so if you have a private boat, you can arrive that way. We have visited twice by cruise to Tortola. You can do day trips to Virgin Gorda from a cruise ship as well. There are also ferry services to and from the US Virgin Islands that will usually cost you below $100.
For getting around there are taxis and local bus/vans. You can also rent/hire a car. We like booking guided tours with a local to get more out of it. Getting between the islands is easy with public ferry services available and if you can afford Yacht rentals and tours.
Tortola Transportation Options
Country Information
The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory that have their own local government. They have a parliament with a single house of Government called the House of Assembly. They have a locally elected Premier and a Governor appointed by the King/Queen. The territory has a population of just under 40,000 people with around 23,000 who live on the main island of Tortola. Road Town on Tortola is the largest city with over 9,000 people and is the capital. There are over 60 islands in the territory with the largest being Tortola with the other largest being Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. The currency of the BVI is the US Dollar so no need to exchange if you are coming from the US. For US Citizens a visa is not needed for short trips, but you will need to fill out at Electronic Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) card up to 72 hours before arrival.
This is a Caribbean Tropical country so be prepared for high heat during the summer and watch for Hurricanes from June to November with the peak of the season being September. Low season coincides with Hurricane season but is still a nice time to go if you are looking for more affordable pricing. Purchase travel insurance regardless of the timing. Sunscreen is also must pack.
Tortola
Tortola is a beautiful island that is the heart of the BVI. It has beaches, National Parks with hiking trails, historic sites, rum distilleries and plenty of shopping and culture. We have yet to venture out to the other Islands but have been to many places in Tortola and have had many great experiences there!
Tortola Boat, Cruises and Snorkeling
Historic Road Town
There are many historic sites in the capital city of the British Virgin Islands, Road Town. It’s the largest town in the country at around 10,000 people. We took a great electric vehicle/large golf cart tour of Road Town to see the historic parts of the city. There are multiple historic buildings like the H. M. Prison that dates back to the 1700s and is the oldest building in the BVI. It’s currently a museum today that we have not had the chance to visit just yet. You can see a small memorial plaza to the Sunday Morning Well that is a water well that in 1834 it was announced that Britian had emancipated all enslaved people and they were now free. There is also the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works that is a historic warehouse and sugar processing facilities. It was a museum in the past but currently is closed until renovations are made in the future after damage from storms in the past. You can still see it from the outside. We passed by the large St. George’s Anglican Church that was built in 1819. The city also has the J.R. O’Neal Botanical Gardens where you can enjoy one of the largest greenspaces in Road Town. The city has many shops and restaurants we passed by and modern buildings like their government building. The Tortola Cruise Pier while modern is on land that has been important for decades around BVI Maritime life. There are also many statues and memorials around the city. Another historic site that is a museum in the hills around Road Town is the Old Government House that we discuss in the next section. It was a nice tour that was very interesting for us since we love history and culture!
The Old Government House Museum
Located in Road Town next door to the current Governor’s home is a great museum that showcases the BVIs history. The Old Government House or former Governor’s House was built in 1886 and was restored in 1924 after a hurricane damaged the home. It was built on the ground’s of 1700s military barracks, so the land has been used for the territory for many centuries. This is the home where their Governor appointed by the British Monarch would receive dignitaries and do work related to the BVI. Royalty like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret stayed at the house. Today it’s a wonderful museum that tells stories about the BVI and the operations of the home. You can see historic furniture and just outside are a beautiful garden that still has cannons from the 1700 and 1800s. As of 2026 admission is $5 for adults and they have a great gift shop there as well. Its only open during the week (M-F) as of 2026. It’s a great place to visit to learn more about the BVI!
Driving Tour of Tortola
Tortola is about 12 miles long and 3 miles wide and is a great place to take a drive to see beautiful viewpoints overlooking the British and US Virgin Islands and there are many stunning beaches. We have driven around the island by tour twice and seen many quaint villages, gorgeous scenery and many amazing beaches. There are around 12 named beaches you can choose from. On Tortola and a couple on nearby and connected Beef Island. We swam at Long Bay Beach on Beef Island that’s not far from the International Airport that is a quiet and very nice white sand beach with blue water. There are plenty of other great beaches in small coves that make swimming great and plenty of snorkeling or diving options. On the main road in Tortola there are some small local restaurants with great views that are up in the hills of Tortola. There are concrete barriers that protect the road in hilly areas that instead of leaving it blank they have painted beautiful murals depicting the history and culture of the BVI. It’s a beautiful and scenic island and only the tip, as there are 60 other Islands to explore in the BVI.
The island is very mountainous and that offers amazing views of many different British and US Virgin Islands. There are some hairpin turns as you make your way up from Road Town that might seem scary but are normal driving for the locals and completely safe. As you drive around the island you pass by quaint villages and some amazing viewpoints. Tortola also has some beautiful beaches and water you will also pass by.
In the distance you will see islands that have been the inspiration of famous songs and stories. There is an island off the coast of Tortola that’s part of the BVI called Dead Chest Island. It’s uninhabited but is said to be where Blackbeard dumped 15 pirates who had committed mutiny on the Island. Hence the song “15 men on a dead man’s chest…”. Also, the real Treasure Island from the book is nearby Norman Island in the BVI. You can see both Islands from Tortola!
You will also notice many beautiful murals around Tortola showcasing the colorful and vibrant history and heritage of the people of the BVI! Taking a full island drive or tour and stopping at a few sites is a great way to spend a day on Tortola!
Tortola Island Tours
The Brick Oven Experience BVI
In Carrot Bay on Tortola there is an amazing must-see experience that we took part of on our 3rd visit to the island. We love experiences that allow us to experience the culture and history of a country and people we are visiting. The Brick Oven Experience is one that showcases the history of BVI while trying wonderful local food. At a local home in Carrot Bay you meet Shyril who will teach you how to make a local coconut bread that is delicious. You walk through each step of the process and see all the local and fresh ingredients. You use sea salt from Salt Island in BVI, fresh shaved coconut, nutmeg and much more. You mix the bread in the old fashioned way and cook it in a real traditional brick oven. Throughout the process you learn about interesting tools made by the locals that are an ingenious way to get by when you don’t have access to things we take for granted. They are all historic tools as BVI is modern today but it’s amazing to see a strainer made from a coral sea fan for example. You also get to pick your own fresh passion fruit and make a fresh as you can get it passion fruit mimosa. Afterwards you get to try your bread that is absolutely delicious with butter and a local Christmas Drink. It’s an absolutely great experience and Shyril is a wonderful host that shares so much about her country, history, childhood, and the local plants and eats. The experience cost us $50 a person and we paid in cash that’s recommended. If you are spending time in Tortola or even just on a cruise this is a great way to spend the day and we would love to do this again!
The Brick Oven Experience Website
Callwood Distillery
Located in Cane Garden Bay is a hidden gem of the islands. Callwood Distillery is a small rum Distillery not far from the beach that has been in operation for 400 years. It’s the oldest Distillery in the Caribbean and the last one operating in the BVI. The Distillery was originally part of the Arundel Estate. While there you can get a tour of this historic small Distillery for $5 that shows you the antique equipment and historic building. At the end of the tour, you get the chance to taste several of the different rum varieties. It’s a great place to visit to taste local rum and see a piece of BVI history!
Tortola Food and Drink Tours
Crafts Alive Village and VR Experience
Located on Waterfront Street just a 5 to 10 minute walk from the cruise port in Road Town is a collection of colorful buildings that make up the Crafts Alive Village. It’s where locals sell different crafts and souvenirs from the BVI. It’s a great place to visit to get things made by hand and things like magnets and shirts. It’s another place as well where you can support the locals of the BVI and give a little back from your visit. We visited it each time we went to Tortola.
A new experience is in the Crafts Alive Village created by the British Virgin Islands Tourism. The Virtual Reality Museum is a great short experience that will show you what the BVI has to offer. For $5 you put on VR Goggles and have three different experiences that showcase different aspects of the country. You can see the culture and history such as experiencing art and the Emancipation festival in Virtual Reality. There is an experience about the land-based nature activities like The Baths on Virgin Gorda, a ocean front Bat Cave or hiking in the rainforest. The third experience allows you to see the underwater world around the BVI. It’s a great way to explore the destination while there on cruise or just passing through Tortola to learn more. We haven’t seen an experience like this in other destinations so it’s well worth it. Do note as they will tell you if you have motion sickness issues this might not be for you.
Adventure, Active and Wellness Tours
Conclusion
While we have only visited Tortola and Beef Island in the BVI there are 60 other Islands to visit with the other main islands like Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke are great options to visit. The BVI is a place to come and relax, swim, snorkel, enjoy festivals and culture. You won’t find large resorts or all-inclusives in the BVI so it’s a great place to visit a boutique hotel or condo. The people are very warm and friendly from our experiences, and we never encountered any safety issues but do take normal precautions and do your research. This is a tropical destination so be prepared for high heat during the summer and watch for hurricanes from June to November with August and September being the peak. You can easily island hop or hop on a yacht to sail the beautiful islands.
Tortola is a wonderful beginning to a BVI adventure, and we have had the chance to visit it several times already. We Love the green hills and the great experiences we have had there. We also love innovation like the VR experience that lets you explore other areas of the country. If you are looking for a relaxing place to visit where you will find friendly welcoming people and unique experiences, then the BVI is a great option for you and a place we see growing the right way around its tourism. We can’t wait to go back and explore more islands!
Day Trips from Tortola
If you are Interested in this trip:
Contact Donna or Jason Miller with ET Family Travel and we can help you book your dream trip today including customized trips, guided tours, cruises and much more. Our travel planning services are completely free if you book with us. Contact us at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com or jasonmiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today
Check out our Wander Wisely Podcast Episodes on the BVI!
