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The
Caribbean Islands - Virgin
Gorda Virgin Gorda is the third largest and second-most-populated of the British Virgin Islands. Most of the island's visitors come in search of The Baths, a unique rock formation of huge granite boulders and hidden sea pools. Since granite is a stone not usually found south of the Carolinas, its presence on the island is quite intriguing. Virgin Gorda has several parks that nature lovers will enjoy.
Little Fort National Park is a 36-acre wildlife sanctuary, where the remains of a Spanish fort still stand. The Gorda Peak National Park boasts the island's highest peak, at 1,500 feet above sea level. The area has been reforested with mahogany trees. Another attraction on Virgin Gorda is the Coppermine, which was mined by Cornish workers from 1838 to 1867; located there are remains of a chimney, a boiler house, a cistern and mine shafts. At North Sound, on the island's northern tip, there is a gorgeous blue lagoon, protected coral reefs and stunning white beaches.
Beaches:
By water is the best way to reach many of Virgin Gorda's
finest beaches. After a brief but strenuous hike, those
determined to get there on foot will be rewarded with
crystalline waters, powder-soft sands and spectacular
scenery. The Baths, one of Virgin Gorda's most popular
attractions, offers beachgoers striking boulders, grottoes
and pools. Nearby are the less-crowded Spring Bay beach
and a beach at the Crawl.
Visitors looking for a bit of action on the quiet island can head to Leverick Bay, where a marina, resort restaurant and a pool provide lively diversions. Virgin Gorda's North Shore is home to many lovely beaches, including Bercher's Beach and Deep Bay beach. Across the North Sound is beautiful Hay Point Beach on Mosquito Island and Vixen Point Beach on Prickly Pear Island.
Surrounding islands such as Peter's Island, Jost Van Dyke Island and Anegada also feature spectacular beaches for visitors willing to take a quick boat ride. Since the British Virgin Islands are situated closely together, sailing from island to island is a most enjoyable way to spend time there. The compactness of the group of islands also represents an advantage for underwater explorers looking for diversity. The entire chain extends for about 35 miles along Sir Francis Drake Channel; even dive sites considered remote can be reached within 30 minutes.
At the Rhone National Maritime Park, divers can roam about a spectacular underwater panorama and numerous sunken ships. The RMS Rhone is by far the most famous sunken vessel in the area and centerpiece of the marine park. Once the pride of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, it hit Salt Island during a hurricane in 1867, broke in two and sunk to the depths. The ship's broken steel hull is filled with fantastic colorful coral formations and equally beautiful tropical fish, including the queen angelfish, not often seen in other Caribbean waters.
Nearby are two coral caves, 25 feet below the surface. The park also includes Dead Chest Island. Its cliffs, covered with cactus, sage and frangipani, are a favorite nesting site for terns, noddies and other sea birds. In the waters off Dead Chest Island is a coral reef where underwater enthusiasts will find alternating bands of coral and sand and ledges covered with sponges. The marine life there also includes everything from lobsters and crabs to starfish and shrimp.
The Japanese refrigeration ship, Chikusen, is another fascinating wreck. In 1981, the vessel went down about 10 miles off Virgin Gorda; it now lies on its side in a ghostlike scene, 75 feet under water. Octopus, giant rays and jewfish are only a few of the creatures who call the Chikusen home. Visitors with a penchant for snorkeling should definitely make a trip to the four caves at Norman Island, the place Robert Louis Stevenson had in mind when he wrote Treasure Island. Divers will also enjoy the locale, as one of the caves extends 80 feet under the island--providing the adventure of a night dive even while the sun is shining. The Baths on Virgin Gorda is also a popular place for snorkeling.
Steady
winds and warm waters around the British Virgin Islands
make for great windsurfing, which is quickly becoming
a favored sport. Round-trips between Virgin Gorda and
Anegada or Tortola and Peter Island can be easily arranged.
On land, visitors can enjoy tennis and hiking.
Side
Trips
Jost Van Dyke is known
for its rustic isolation and slow pace. Visitors and
residents alike enjoy good conversation and music at
beach cafés, where lingering easily becomes a habit.
The friendly atmosphere and pristine environment of
Jost Van Dyke makes the island attractive to nature
aficionados and offers a taste of the British Virgin
Islands "the way they were." Anegada, the
archipelago's most remote and second-largest island,
rises only 27 feet above sea level; it is a flat 15-square-mile
mass of coral and limestone. Surrounded by treacherous
coral reefs, its shores have witnessed more than 200
shipwrecks.
Anegada
is a favorite among divers and fishing enthusiasts.
It is also a haven for the endangered rock iguana, which
can grow to five feet in length and is indigenous to
Anegada. A colony of flamingos, along with ospreys,
herons and terns, finds refuge in the island's 1,100-acre
bird sanctuary. For those in search of their own personal
Eden, Peter Island is the place. It is a privately owned
island resort accessible only by water. Peter Island
features five miles of secluded beaches and sports options
that include tennis, sailing and diving.
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