Comprised of 60 islands and cays, dotted around 59 square miles, in the Caribbean, about 80 kilo meters 960 miles east of Puerto Rico, north of the Leeward Islands, and adjacent to the U.S. Virgin Islands; principal islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke. Among the most frequently visited of the BVI's handful of inhabited islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Beef Island, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Peter, Mosquito, and Guana Islands. All of these lilting place names reflect idyllic sites for unwinding, wriggling your toes in the sand, and absorbing the tranquil pleasures of sunshine and sapphire seas.
The British Virgin Islands are among the world's loveliest cruising grounds. There are around 40 islands. Of these 40 British islands, 16 are inhabited. The population of all the islands is around 17,000. Tortola is the largest island with an area of 21 square miles. The other larger islands are Anegada -15 square miles, Virgin Gorda - 8 square miles, Jost Van Dyke - 3 square miles. Smaller islands include Great Tobago, Peter, Cooper, Norman, Guana, Beef, Great Thatch and Marina Cay.
Scuba diving is popular around sunken reefs and wrecks. Among wreck dives, RMS Rhone is reckoned to be the best in the Western hemisphere. Once the pride of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the Rhone hit Salt Island in a storm in 1867 and sank. It is now an official marine park.
Snorkelers should visit the four caves at Norman Island, said to be the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Windsurfers benefit from steady winds and calm water.
Throughout the islands, beaches are splendid and the beach bars exceptional. Gourmet cuisine can be found, along with background music from steel pans and guitars. But don’t expect early-hours entertainment – except at summer festival time, when parades and parties rule Tortola. The beaches of The British Virgin Islands are peppered throughout the entire archipelago of 60 islands and cays. Some we have discovered and others are just waiting to be. Not only do they possess such natural beauty and character not seen elsewhere in the world, but also allow you to be a part of a captivating marriage of the Caribbean Sea and the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Tortola, the largest island and the primary center of Caribbean yachting...Virgin Gorda, an isle of natural wonders and home to The Baths...Picturesque Jost Van Dyke - The Caribbean as it used to be...Isolated Anegada, a coral atoll with miles of deserted Caribbean beaches.
Sampling some of our local dishes is a fantastic way to experience our culture, savour some "home food" and get a chance to mingle with the locals. Here's what the locals recommend - fish & fungi, conch or roti - try some!
BVI House
Don't Miss:
Roti: A flavourful East Indian flat bread filled with a meat or vegetables.
Paté: Not to be mistaken with liver pâté, this West Indian dish is a baked/grilled style pita bread filled with spiced meat, seafood or vegetables.
Fungi: No way related to the mushroom, this delight is made from cornmeal and okra and is usually served with seafood dishes. Very similar to Italian polenta.
Whelks: A seasonal seafood delicacy that is quite similar to escargot.
Conch: Another seasonal seafood delicacy - try it in fritters, paté, soup, salad, or as a main entrée.
Anegada Lobster: The ultimate in BVI seafood delicacy - reputed to be the best in the Caribbean.
Fresh local fruits: Most of which are seasonal like soursop, papaya, mango, pineapple, guava, sugar apple, passion fruit and tamarind.
From North America, dial 1 + 284 + the seven-digit local number. From elsewhere, dial your country's direct dialing prefix + 1 + 284 + the seven-digit local number.
Application must be made to the Attorney General's Chambers for a marriage licence. Processing the application and granting the licence takes three working days, and the licence is valid for three months. Documents required include:
- passports;
- if there has been a previous divorce, a certified copy of the divorce decree; and
- $110 in postage stamps, purchased at the Post Office, which is the licensing fee.
The Registrar General performs a civil marriage at the Registry office for a fee of $35, or at the locale of choice (within reason) for $100. For religious ceremonies contact the church of preference. There may well be additional requirements and fees in that case. A certified copy of the entry of marriage can be obtained from the Registry, on payment of a fee of $2.
Attorney General's Chambers,
Second floor, East Wing, Central Administration Complex,
Subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds.
January – June: 69.52 degrees F
July - December: 85.39 degrees F
Lying just over 1000 miles from the equator, the British Virgin Islands enjoy a balmy, sub-tropical climate, plied by variable trade winds. Temperatures rarely drop below 77ºF (25ºC) in the winter or rise above 90ºF (32ºC) in the summer, with the average temperature normalizing at around 83ºF (28ºC), with slight variations between seasons.
Tropical weather found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is different from other patterns on the globe; therefore, our seasons do not have the sharp changes in climatic conditions as weather found in other areas. Seasons in the BVI fall into a harmonious balance with nature that has always led, in the past, to an agrarian lifestyle.
There is a deviation of only two hours of daylight between the June, or summer half of the year, and December, the winter half. Sunrise from the autumn equinox through the spring equinox normally occurs at approximately 6:00 am, with sunset at approximately 5:50 pm.
During the spring to autumn equinox, the daylight hours lengthen a bit bringing summer sunrises at approximately 5:00 am, with sunsets at around 7:00 pm. Rainfall in the BVI averages at 40 inches per year with 60% - 70% falling during the months of April through October.
This licence is suitable for day sailers and recreational charter boats, where guests wish to use hand lines. Licence is valid for one year, and costs $25.
The Trade Winds in this part of the world push North Atlantic water westward, forming the North Equatorial Current. From the equator (0°) to 30°N, the winds are influenced by the spin of the earth and are bent from the north to the south. This is called the Coriolis Effect. These winds affect the currents, which run through the BVI and other West Indies islands and then turn northwards. Warm waters from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico join this water and these currents to form the Gulf Stream, which moves along the western side of the Atlantic. These two conditions, the Easterly Trades and the Coriolis effect, produce the excellent wind conditions that make the BVI the sailing capital of the Western Hemisphere.
Beef Island Airport; No airport in the BVI's is large enough for big jets so International flights must come through St.Thomas, San Juan, or St. Martin.
Taxis are best for infrequent trips. Rental cars are available but pricy in high-season. To rent a car you need a US$10 BVI license. Ferries to other islands, including the U.S.V.I.'s are frequent and plentiful, around $15 - $22 per person, one way.
The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
This permit is available for those visitors who intend to fish while in the B.V.I., whether on charter boats or otherwise. They are valid for 10 days after the date of issue, and cost $10.
A Temporary Fishing Permit can be obtained from the Department of Conservation and Fisheries, or H.M. Customs office.
Commercial, Pleasure and Sport Licences can be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources and Labour.
The 1980 Population census of the BVI recorded the population of the country as 10,985, of which 51.1% were males. Data from the 1991 population census shows that the population grew by 5,123 to 16,108. Such growth represented a natural increase (birth minus deaths) of 1,969 and a net migration inflow of 3,154 persons.
The large inflow of immigrants, consisting of mainly workers, accompanied in some cases by their dependents during the 1980-1991 period, was a consequence of an increase in the demand for labour which the local labour force could not supply, due to inadequate numbers and the lack of the range of skills demanded.
This accelerated increase in the demand of labour primarily stemmed from a sharp increase in economic activity in the tourism, construction, and financial services sectors from 1986.
During the last decade, the population increased some 61% with more than 80% of this increase being classified as migration. In fact, population changes attributable to migration moved from net outward migration in 1980 to three times that figure in new migration inflows in 1991. The age and sex structure of the population is distinctly different from that of many countries in the Caribbean sub-region in that a rapid depletion of persons after the age of 20 because of the absence of migration. The unusual age structure is explained by the rapid economic transformation of the country from agricultural production to a service economy mainly oriented around tourism and financial services.
Citizens of the US and Canada do not require a visa or passport, but should carry a birth certificate or naturalization certificate with a picture ID to prove citizenship. British citizens need a passport but not a visa. Citizens of all other countries need a passport, and, in some cases, a visa. Visitors are permitted to stay up to six months but must have an onward ticket.
Visitors who wish to drive in the B.V.I. must obtain a temporary driver's licence, either from the Vehicle Licensing Department or from a car hire firm, with production of a valid driver's licence from another country and payment of $10. This licence is valid for three months. If a person cannot produce a valid driver's licence he/she must apply to take the driving tests, practical and written, which may take some weeks to be scheduled. (Car hire firms will not rent out their vehicles to any one under the age of 23.)
The BVI Summer Fest is a two week riot of noise and color: calypso, fungi and steel bands shake it up, pageants crown festival queens and people flood the streets. The festival is the British Virgin Islands' own version of Carnival and celebrates the emancipation of the islands' African slaves. Most activity takes place in Road Town on Tortola.
The coastal zone consists of many different sub-systems e.g beaches, mangroves, cliffs, coral reefs, sea grass beds, these are all interconnected such that impacts on one sub-system affects the entire system. Total length of beaches in the BVI is 49 miles.
While North America and most of Europe are locked in the icy grip of winter, the BVI enjoys airy trade winds and plentiful sunshine. During the winter, temperatures in the BVI will range between 72°F (22°C) and 82°F (28°C). Located at a latitude of 18 degrees north and a longitude of 65 degrees west, our islands are subject to easterly trade winds named for the direction from which they begin. These winds are called “trades” because originally they brought clipper ships filled with goods from Europe and Africa to the BVI and other areas of the Caribbean and North America.
In the winter our stable weather pattern is broken when depressions move across the southern United States and exit on the Eastern Florida coast into the Northern Atlantic. These depressions do not normally enter the Caribbean directly, but have a trailing cold front that reaches as far east as the BVI and occasionally, well beyond. When strong high-pressure centres are located in the North Atlantic, they cause what sailors call the “Christmas Winds” and windy gusts can reach over 20 knots. Later, winter and spring winds will then ease back into trade winds with an ESE or SE direction and blow between 15 and 20 knots with seasonal gusts.
Spring Season – April through June
From the middle of April through the remainder of the year, the winter trade winds begin to moderate and we experience a slow increase in daytime temperatures. Daytime highs range from 90°F (32°C), with night time temperatures varying only ten degrees lower at approximately 80F (27°C) with a 20% chance of brief showers. At this time, the these islands take on a fresh green lushness that announces the arrival of a new season. Spring represents an excellent time for snorkelling and diving as the wave action is greatly reduced from the “Christmas Winds” occurring in winter.
During the summer, daytime temperatures usually range between 80°F (27°C) and 95°F (32°C). The nights are typically cooler with temperature ranging usually in the low 80s F (27°C). July to December is the wet season when the territory gets most of its average monthly rainfall of 4” (110 mm). Summer winds move in an ESE direction at approximately 10 -12 knots. It is from these gentle breezes during the non-winter seasons, that the Sir Francis Drake Channel gets its nickname of “The Bathtub” – meaning gentle winds for sailors.
Autumn Season – September through November
September is among the warmest of months when the day temperatures can average in the 90s F (32-38°C) dropping to 75 - 80°F (25-27°C) at night. As the warmest time of year, daytime highs can reach 95°F (35°C) and over but nights normally remain comfortable. Winds during this season will average 10 - 20 knots, from an easterly direction, providing excellent sailing conditions and cool night ventilation. Short localized rain showers may pass over but they rarely last for more than 30 minutes.
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
The currency of the British Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar. Travellers cheques and credit cards are accepted in most places of business. There are cash point machines located throughout the islands.
The British Virgin Islands are not a cheap getaway destination: food is pricey because most of it is imported, and accommodation is simply in short supply. The majority of visitors to the islands sleep on chartered yachts, and if that's the holiday you're looking for, expect to spend at least US$250 a day. Travelers willing to stay on land, yet enjoy fine dining and some nightlife, need about US$175 a day. Budget travelers can squeeze by on less than US$100 a day if they stay at cheaper guesthouses or camping grounds. Coming in the low season will reduce room prices and charter rental fees, sometimes by as much as half.
Purchase of a property in the B.V.I. does not, in itself, establish resident status; however, an identification card is available to a person who holds a Non-Belonger's Land Holding Licence, which will allow the holder to be granted leave to stay in the B.V.I. for a period of up to six months in any year . A certificate of residence, entitling the holder to remain in the Territory for an indefinite period, may be granted to a person who intends to reside permanently in the B.V.I. Information regarding residency can be obtained from the Immigration Department.
Government:top
The Government of the British Virgin Islands is legally a constitutional democracy with the Executive Authority vested in Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, because of our colonial relationship with the United Kingdom. This democracy operates through parliamentary and ministerial systems. The Parliament or Legislative Council has thirteen representatives elected for a maximum of four years via a mixed system of nine districts and four country-wide.
The government has three branches: the Executive Council, the Judiciary and the Legislative Council. The Governor, as the representative of Her Majesty, the Queen, has special responsibility for the Courts, the Public Service, the Police, and Foreign Affairs. The Civil Service is divided into six ministries and a quasi-ministry, consisting of the subject portfolios under the Governor. There are approximately forty-four departments spread across the full range of government services except electricity, banking, and port and marine services, which are now public enterprises, wholly owned by the Government of the British Virgin Islands.
The peak tourist season is December to May, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the reliably balmy Virgin Islands weather. It's therefore best to visit outside this period, when you can expect room rates to be about two-thirds of those charged during the busier months. An additional draw is that the calmer weather between April and August tends to keep the waters clearer for diving.
The BVI has two high tides and two low tides each day with a tidal range of 1 ft. (30cm) to 18” (45cm). The height of the tide partly depends on the atmospheric pressure. The higher the pressure - the lower the water level and conversely, the lower the pressure the higher the water level. It must be remembered that the British Virgin Islands are the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean, on the northern side, and the Caribbean Sea on the southern. This gives our islands an exciting and stable weather pattern that is most favourable for vacationing as well as for agriculture and fishing.
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British Virgin Islands Overview - Tortola
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British Virgin Islands Overview - Tortola
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