We’d spent the better part of two days on Virgin Gorda in the past – both times on sail trips, and saw just bits and pieces of what this island has to offer. During our recent trip to the VI’s, we had a chance to stay “on island” which gave us a better opportunity to explore this British Virgin Island reportedly dubbed “Fat Virgin” by Christopher Columbus.
What did we experience on Virgin Gorda this time? It took several weeks to sift through our very full photo memory cards, but here are some of the highlights through pictures.
We arrived in Spanish Town on the ferry from Tortola, and rented a car through Mahogany Rentals (they met us at the ferry dock with our vehicle for the week – very convenient!) Our beautiful oceanside accommodations were graciously provided by Lorna at Rambutan Villa (more on that later) and we made our way up to Nail Bay to locate the villa before continuing up the hill to the highly recommended Hog Heaven.
Hog Heaven is a bar/grill overlooking North Sound with a spectacular view of Necker Island, Prickly Pear Island, Saba Rock and on a clear day you can even make out Anegada.
We lingered at Hog Heaven for quite a while enjoying the views, a Blondie Special (their specialty rum drink) and some tasty BBQ ribs.
From there we headed directly to The Baths, making a quick stop at Mad Dog for a beverage and Top Of The Baths to take in the view.
Mad Dog
We then headed down the path towards The Baths. Although we’d been to The Baths twice before, the beauty never ceases to amaze us and the vibrant colors change depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun.
We continued on the trail to Devils Bay
Devil’s Bay
During the rest of our time on VG, we took in as much as we could, including:
Spring Bay
Big Trunk Bay
Savannah Bay, Pond Bay, Mahoe Bay Overlook
Savannah Bay
Jumbies, Leverick Bay
Happy Arrr at Jumbies
On our last day, we rented a dinghy from the extremely accommodating General Manager of Leverick Bay Marina. We arrived later in the morning and by then they only had one dinghy left, but he graciously set us up, gave us directions to the places we wanted to see in North Sound that are accessible only by boat, told us to watch for seaplanes and set us on our way.
Our yacht for the day! From Leverick Bay, we headed over to Biras Creek to make a quick stop at the Fat Virgin Cafe to enjoy a rum punch and the view.
We hopped back in dinghy and headed straight to Saba Rock passing the Bitter End Yacht Club. BEYC was closed for the week for a private function so were only able to enjoy its beauty from the water – this time.
Bitter End Yacht Club
We’d briefly stopped at Saba Rock before during a sail, but there’s enough to do on “The Rock” that you could easily spend an afternoon lounging in the hammocks or in the bar enjoying the sunshine and tales from the many sailors that visit.
Before heading out to our last stop, we ordered one of their rum drink specialties – the Saba Rock Banana Daiquiri.
Just a short dinghy away, The Sandbox beckoned. The Sandbox is located on Prickly Pear Island and we docked to enjoy some time in the sun.
Prickly Pear Island and The Sandbox
Heading back to Leverick Bay we took a quick pass by Mosquito Island, a private island purchased by Sir Richard Branson that he hopes to develop into a premiere eco-tourism resort.
Mosquito Island
Sun kissed and satisfied with our afternoon of captaining our dinghy through the beautiful North Sound, we headed back to our tropical oasis at Rambutan Villa to enjoy the remnants of the days sun rays and listen to the waves gently lap the shore.
The owners of Rambutan Villa also own the stunning Villa LaVida next door. Both are available for weekly rental and the owners have offered a 20% discount to friends of Rum Therapy! If you are interested in finding out more about renting these oceanfront properties, email them at vacation@villalavida.com or
lornaklindsay@yahoo.com
To see more pictures of Rambutan Villa taken during our stay, click here:
Rambutan Villa Photo Album
Are you ready to pack your bags and head to Virgin Gorda?
I came across your blog thanks to someone who posted the link on the Fodors Caribbean forum. Your pictures of Spring Bay and Savanah Bay are beautiful. I’ve never been to any of the BVI’s but they have always been on my list. I had always considered doing the USVI first but the Virgin Gorda looks lovely. Is it hard to get to there?
Cassandra – glad you found us! Virgin Gorda is stunning and because it’s not the easiest to get to, relatively uncrowded – for now! They do have a small airstrip and regular ferry service from Road Town, Tortola and many people visit while on a sail trip. Although arrival in VG may take a little planning, it’s well worth it. We will also be posting an article about our recent time in Tortola in a few days and St. John and St. Thomas shortly after – maybe the articles will help you compare VI islands! Feel free to contact us if we can share any other info.
Wow, great photo’s and info about the BVI. We have sailed the BVI multiple times and love the experience in North Sound. The Bitter End and most recently Saba Rock are our favorites. Don’t miss the Saba Rock happy arr! The BVI is an incredible place to relax and unwind from the hectic pace of the world. All of the islands in the BVI have something special to offer. Relax and enjoy the experience. Sailing the BVI is the best way to see all of the islands.
Thanks Randy! We’ve sailed the BVI twice and agree it’s a great way to experience all the BVI has to offer!