Lying sixty miles east of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands are exquisite tropical destinations, visited by tourists from all over the world. These islands are comprised of hidden caves and fascinating inlets, and for the most part they are incredibly small in size. The colony of Tortola itself is only twenty-four square miles, and its capital, Road Town, has emerged as a haven for yacht chartering. The southern coast of Tortola mainly consists of great mountains, and the northern coast a fabulous white-sand beach with beautiful bays and banana trees. One of the most private and solitary tourist centers in all of the world, Virgin Gorda became slightly more bustling after Little Dix Bay Hotel opened there and started to thrive in the 1960s. One thing for sure, Tortola and Virgin Gorda remain tranquil, yet lovely and are wonderful locations to visit.

The boulder-covered beach known as The Baths has made Virgin Gorda famous with travelers. Located on the shore of Virgin Gorda, this is one of the premier beaches in the entire world. Boulders line the beach, and are stacked all about, creating a fascinating contrast to the lush, glorious surrounding area. Geologists believe that these boulders were created by volcanic eruptions during the ice age. The pools here are ideal for swimming and snorkeling, and the area is perfect for exploring the cave-like atmosphere.

Mount Sage National Park is the main attraction on Tortola. It rises to 1,780 feet, which is the highest point in all of the British Virgin Islands. It covers ninety-two acres, and was officially established in 1962 as a measure to protect what remained of Tortilla's glorious natural state. A large portion of the area had been burned or cleared during plantation times, but thankfully this region was saved. It is now the best place for a picnic or exploring, and you can walk through and discover Smuggler's Cove, a picturesque white-sand beach with a calm air and tranquil, sparkling water.

Copper Mine Point in Virgin Gorda is an interesting historical site that captivates all who visit. You can see the ruins of a 19th-century copper mine, a destination rich in culture. Listen to the tour guide speak of conditions within the mine, and you will really become thankful that you are on this enjoyable exploration instead of toiling away inside the mine!

Many cruise ships travel to the British Virgin Islands with passengers that have a one-track mind, to see The Baths. Aside from this well-known beach, the Virgin Islands is also home to a multitude of other equally spectacular beaches. Devil's Bay is another fabulous beach near The Baths. It is usually much less crowded. Cane Garden Bay in Tortola is the finest beach on the island. The best beach for surfing is Apple Bay, but it may be for the adventurous only, as local sharks also frequent the waters. Smuggler's Cove, located on the west end of Tortola, deepens very slowly and is ideal for snorkeling and swimming. The sandy bottom makes it a perfect location for the family.

Near the western point of Salt Island is where you can find the remains of the 1867 HMS Rhone ship wreckage. This location has repeatedly been heralded as the world's best shipwreck dive, and you can be taken to it from either Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Baskin in the Sun, located on Tortola, is a great company that offers tours out to this eerie and remarkable site. This enormous vessel is still intact, and is now the home to a vast array of tropical fish and marine life. Another great scuba diving company, which offers both PADI and NUI certification, is Underwater Safaris. They can take you to all of the best diving sites in the area, so be sure to ask them what is their best feature of the day. Both of these companies offer snorkeling as well, which is a quite popular activity around Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Because of the diverse marine life and slow descent of their coral reef-free beaches, snorkeling on these islands is great fun.

The Virgin Islands is the most popular area for a sailing vacation in the Caribbean. This is a first-timers paradise, since the islands are close together and well protected from the Atlantic. You wake up to sunshine and a blue sky, choose the cruising target of the day by pointing on a nearby island and set sail in a comfortable trade wind.

The Virgin Islands were originally settled by the Ciboney, Carib, and Arawaks and were given their current names by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. The Spanish Empire acquired the islands in the early 16th century, mining copper on Virgin Gorda, and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for pirates. During the process of colonization the native Amerindian population was decimated. The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola in 1648. In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the British annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed. Meanwhile, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. In 1917, the United States purchased St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix from Denmark for US$17 million, renaming them the United States Virgin Islands. Subsequently, the British renamed the islands they controlled as the British Virgin Islands.

Official tourism site for the British Virgin Islands with comprehensive information for visitors.