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Largest of the British Virgin Islands
Photo: User: (WT-shared) OldPine at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Tortola is the capital island of the British Virgin Islands and Road Town is the capital city. There's not a lot to see, although the original architecture of little wooden houses housing some interesting shops, cafes and an art gallery or two and Cockroach Hall built on a huge rock on Main Street is not be missed. There are many spectacular white-sand beaches along the north shore
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Offering daily scuba diving trips, snorkeling and eco-tours, scuba equipment rentals and dive gear sales. They offer free delivery within the BVI and have access to over 40 unmarked dive sites as well as famous dive sites such as the wreck of the Rhone, the Indians and Norman Island.
It offers lots of hiking and the tallest mountain in the US and British Virgin Islands. There are remnants of primary rain forest near the peak.
Casual waterfront dining with dingy eccess. Fresh seafood, certified Angus beef, homemade pizza, vegetarian dishes, daily specials. Expats, tourists and a few locals blend to hear the latest island gossip and share stories of adventures past & present.
A wild party scene, and when it's not wild, it's a sports bar. The clientele are mainly young expats settled in the BVI and a few locals. Owned and run by the same people as the Bat Cave and Spaghetti Junction.
Provides villa rentals on the beaches of Tortola.
Plantation-style villa with fifteen rooms, including five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a dining room, and 360-degree unobstructed views.
Road Town. A self-contained resort on a 1,800-acre private island with 5 beaches in the British Virgin Islands.
Has many options, from budget to plush. The lowest price search range on their site is $0-$2,000, with most search results just below and above US$1,000.
Smugglers Cove. Casa Luna overlooks Smugglers Cove, offering breezy outdoor living with beautiful views and total privacy. Minutes from the beach and near the West End ferry dock. 4WD recommended.
By boat
Tortola is also visited by cruise ships. Virtually all dock at a large pier near the entrance to the inner harbor at Road Town, with fairly easy walking into town.
By car
There are many small independent car hire companies, all with relatively comparable rates. Prices start from US$50, as demand is usually high.
By bus
"Buses" in Tortola refers to full-sized passenger vans, or large modified open-air pickup trucks with bench seating and a canvas top: these are known locally as "safaris".
By thumb
Hitch-hiking is still fairly common in Tortola during the daytime, as crime is fairly uncommon.
Day sails
To those who do not have their own yachts, there are day sails to some of the more popular BVI locations.
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Beef Island · International · EIS
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Articles and travel topics about Tortola and British Virgin Islands.
Nature & adventureWreck diving is a specific type of scuba diving. Most wreck diving is done on shipwrecks, but wrecks of aircraft are also commonly explored by scuba divers.
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Nature & adventureScuba diving is an activity in which you swim underwater for extended periods using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, hence the acronym scuba.
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Culture & historyThe British Empire was, at its peak, the largest empire in history; it controlled just short of a quarter of the world's land area and a quarter of the population.
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Travel tipsRetiring abroad can let you live cheaply in an interesting place; you are not all that likely to actually find paradise-on-earth or the fountain of youth, but you might get close enough to enjoy yourself immensely.
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