4 days in the British Virgin Islands

Location:
British Virgin Islands

informational, meditative, colourful

By Justine Thurman

If the idea of escaping your daily routine just for a few days sounds enticing and Miami or the West Coast doesn’t do it for you, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) might just be the perfect destination. Only four hours away by plane and one hour by ferry for a total cost of $350 -if bought a good month and a half in advance- it is the kind of journey that would be most enjoyed between friends, family or couples.

The archipelago is discreetly located in the north east of the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. From afar, it looks quite similar to the US Virgin Islands; both of their landscapes include high and peaceful mountains, a clear indigo-blue sea, and small pastel houses resting on cliffs.

In the downtown area of St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands), you will enjoy the exotic concoctions of flavored rum, which is probably the cheapest local product you will find. These deliciously fruity cocktails as well as the refreshing breeze will make you forget about the cold New York Winter right off the bat. But after a while, you can’t help but notice how touristy St. Thomas is; Luxury boutiques are here to remind you of the important role that you are playing as a consumer. Similar to a mini-Disneyland, the downtown area is a place which will bring comfort to the tourists who are afraid to see things that are too different from what they are used to back home. In reality, St. Thomas, just as many islands of the Caribbean, has two extreme facets: luxurious condos and lifestyle for the tourists; poverty and prostitution for the locals. Happily enough, Tortola doesn’t follow the same rules.

So arm yourself with a passport and take the fairly cheap ferry boat ($28 for a round trip) which in one hour will take you to Road Town, Tortola. There, you will go through customs and appreciate not needing to convert your dollars into Pounds Sterling. Strangely enough, even though the Islands are still dependent on the British government, their currency doesn’t reflect that relationship.

As you will ride on the sinuous, hilly and steep roads of the island, you will enjoy the fact that you’re driving a jeep which, whether old or new, seems to be the necessary tool to get around. Most importantly, you will be impressed by the lack of house constructions or hotel condos. It is actually very hard for tourists to buy land or build hotels as the government encourages the locals to own their own lands.

It is very easy to find a two bedroom residence for $50 a night, with a mind-blowing view over the water and the mountains and that particularly pleasant weather which day and night will be at a perfect temperature: never too cold and never too warm.

From there, it only gets better. Venture onto the other surrounding islands, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke or go to other small islands on a snorkeling day trip which can be taken from Road Town. This can cost you between $70 to $90 and it covers the whole day and includes free rum-based drinks (or “painkillers” as they call them), snacks, and lunch. You will snorkel the whole day and explore the beauty of the fish and the corals under water, an underworld that is so easily forgettable in the fast-paced New York urban environment.

One thing to be warned about: you will not be thrilled by either the gastronomy, nightlife or the sense of culture of the island which are unfortunately close to non-existent. You will be amazed to find out that on this island even the fish are imported. If you seek to buy fresh fish, it might be so fresh that you will have to buy it frozen! Fruits, vegetables, meats; almost everything is imported on this island. The main explanation to this strange phenomenon is the economy. The island is too rich to be in the need of exploiting its natural resources.

And the truth is, as you will be walking and driving around, you will quickly get the sense that even if it’s a small population of approximately 20.000, the people have a roof and enough money to feed themselves. The landscapes take care of the rest.

Three to four days will be sufficient to make you feel very far away from the urban lifestyle and refresh your thoughts. You will feel like a child again with those vivid images of driving a red jeep, snorkeling in the crystal clear waters and feeling like a secret agent, and watching the warm sunset and the bright constellation of stars at night. They will remind you how grand and mysterious life is.

Further Information

Travel tips: Make sure you do a lot of research because if you don't pay enough attention the island can end up being painful for your wallet!

Must see/do at this place: The other islands : Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda but also all the small ones.