Yacht Charter Virgin Gorda

Yacht Charter in Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is the third-largest island in the British Virgin Islands and home to two of the most famous natural attractions in the Caribbean: The Baths, a remarkable collection of giant granite boulders forming sea grottos at the island's southern tip, and North Sound, one of the most sheltered and beautiful anchorages in the entire Caribbean basin. Named by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage, who thought the island's silhouette resembled a reclining woman (a fat virgin, in the somewhat indelicate language of 15th-century sailors), Virgin Gorda is a quieter and more exclusive destination than Tortola, with an atmosphere of comfortable luxury that attracts a discerning clientele.

The Baths

The Baths are one of the most extraordinary natural formations in the Caribbean — a beach and snorkelling area at the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda where enormous rounded granite boulders, some the size of houses, have tumbled from the surrounding hillsides and come to rest at the water's edge, creating a labyrinth of sea-filled grottos, tunnels, and pools. Swimming through these formations — ducking under granite arches, floating through naturally lit chambers, emerging onto a hidden beach sheltered by boulders on three sides — is an experience of genuine wonder. The snorkelling in the pools and grottos, particularly in the early morning before the day boats arrive from Tortola, is exceptional.

North Sound

North Sound on Virgin Gorda is considered by many experienced Caribbean sailors to be the finest anchorage in the region — a large, sheltered lagoon enclosed by the island of Virgin Gorda on the south, Prickly Pear Island to the north, and Mosquito Island and Eustatia Island to the west, creating a natural harbour of remarkable beauty and excellent holding ground. The sound is completely sheltered from ocean swell, making it ideal for families and inexperienced sailors, and the water within the lagoon is flat and turquoise, ideal for kitesurfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Bitter End Yacht Club, destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and rebuilt magnificently in 2020, is the most famous resort in the BVI and offers excellent dining and watersport facilities to visiting yachts.

Gorda Peak and Local Culture

Gorda Peak National Park preserves the largest remaining area of natural forest on Virgin Gorda — a canopy of white cedar, turpentine trees, and tropical hardwoods that is home to the endangered BVI gecko and a remarkable variety of bird species. The park has a short trail to a 417-metre summit with views over the entire BVI chain. The Valley, Virgin Gorda's main settlement, has a relaxed, village atmosphere with good local restaurants, a small supermarket, and the ferry dock connecting the island to Tortola and the other BVI islands.