Virgin Gorda

This destination may not have the most enticing name (Virgin Gorda translates to “Fat Virgin”), but there’s plenty to explore on this enchanting isle, and the unique grottoes of its secluded Baths are unbelievably romantic. The unique name was given by Christopher Columbus in 1493 when he saw the silhouette of a portly or pregnant woman lying on her back in the topography of this eight and a half square mile island. (It’s the third largest of the British Virgin Islands.)

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

• Language: English
• Flight time: 4.75 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 7.5 hours from Chicago
• Getting around: Taxi, ferry, rental car (keep left!)

When To Go: Virgin Gorda at its best

• Best weather: The BVI receives little annual rainfall. The temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a steady trade wind keeps humidity low.
• Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

What To Do

• Hike national parks: Go for a hike at Little Fort National Park, the site of a wildlife sanctuary and the stone-wall skeleton of an old Spanish fort. Other good spots for wandering include Devil’s Bay National Park, one of several pristine parks given by the Rockefellers to the BVI government in the 1960s, and Gorda Peak National Park, the island’s highest point. You can also head to the island’s newest park, Copper Mine, for beautiful views of Tortola, the Dogs, and other islands.
• Try the Baths: This popular strip of beach features caves, grottoes, and pools formed by huge granite boulders — some as big as small houses! For more privacy, follow the shoreline north to quieter Spring, Crawl, Little Trunk, and Valley Trunk bays, or head south to Devil’s Bay.

For more informations and prices please email [email protected]