Guide to Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is the perfect destination for those touring the British Virgin Islands on a crewed yacht charter, with full-service marinas at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour in Spanish Town and Leverick Bay Marina at North Sound, both of which can accommodate yachts of up to 50m, as well as the newly-rebuilt Bitter End Yacht Club.

The star of the show on Virgin Gorda is The Baths National Park, a dramatic landscape strewn with gigantic boulders, interspersed with shallow pools and grottoes. The park is surrounded by clear, shallow water ideal for snorkelling and swimming and criss-crossed with hiking trails leading into the island’s wild interior.

Spanish Town, the second-biggest settlement in the British Virgin Islands, has a laid-back atmosphere, with life centering around the well-equipped Yacht Harbour, where you will find a small shopping centre and a number of low-key bars and cafes.

Further north, Gorda Peak National Park encompasses one of the few remaining areas of pristine Caribbean dry forest and is easy to navigate along marked hiking trails that lead up to the 418m-high Gorda Peak.

The 260-acre park is an internationally important conservation site, providing a habitat for rare plant species as well as tropical birds and the endemic Virgin Gorda gecko. From the peak, the highest point on the island, there are spectacular views over North Sound, and, on clear days, as far as Anegada.

The crystal clear and shallow waters around Virgin Gorda are perfect for snorkelling, with several great sites worth visiting around the coast. Savannah Bay, halfway along the west coast, is a popular site, with a helpful ‘snorkelling trail’ featuring underwater signs providing information about the rich marine life here, including hard and soft corals and numerous fish species.

Not far offshore from Savannah Bay are The Dogs, a group of five tiny, uninhabited islands surrounded by coral reefs ideal for novice snorkelers, who will discover a variety of colourful fish, corals and sponges in relatively shallow water.

Beginners will also enjoy exploring Mahoe Bay, protected by two coral reefs that are easily accessible from the beach. It’s popular with families and the sandy beach is an attractive setting for a picnic ashore.

Another snorkelling hotspot is Prickly Pear Island, in North Sound, which is also surrounded by fine sandy beaches. Visitors can explore the island along a signed hiking trail, and discover the rich local wildlife and native plant life, including a unique variety of cacti species.

Begin your own discovery of this stunning island by viewing and comparing all private yachts available for crewed charter in the Virgin Islands.