Experience the beauty of Tortola

Powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and a sheltered yacht-filled harbour characterize the island of Tortola, where the past of the West Indies meets the present of the BVI. The largest island in the chain, Tortola offers a variety of exciting vacation possibilities.

The protected anchorages at Brandywine Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Hodge's Creek Marina Cay, Soper's Hole and Trellis Bay are ideal for boaters. Secluded palm-shaded beaches at Apple Bay, Brewer's Bay, Elizabeth Beach, Josiah's Bay Beach, Long Bay Beach and Smuggler's Cove make for excellent swimming and snorkelling. There are also many well-equipped facilities for fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and more.

The cuisine of Tortola reflects the island's rich cultural mix, whether it's a four-star dinner at a converted sugar mill or a delicious West Indian roti at a pastel-painted cottage. Local delicacies such as fresh lobster, conch, spicy goat, curries and Johnny Cakes make each meal memorable.

Escape to the cool slopes of Sage Mountain National Park, where traces of a primeval rain forest can still be seen at higher elevations. On the mountain ridge that runs through the island, observe local Caribbean life with its gentle rhythms, farms, settlements and churches. Outcroppings and vertical ghuts, or dry steam valleys, expose the deep, rich earth of this volcanic island. In Road Town, the J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens offers peaceful walks through pergolas and pathways covered with colourful vines, as well as a miniature rain forest and a fern house.

The people of Tortola are friendly and known for their warmth and hospitality. There are a wide variety of places to stay, ranging from campgrounds to luxury resorts and private villas. Tortola is also an ideal point from which to explore the other British Virgin Islands. Regular ferries, private and crewed yachts, and planes travel daily to the other islands of the BVI.

• BVI Tourism Website: www.BVItourism.com
• Capital: Road Town (BVI is a British Crown Colony)
• BVI Total Population: 18,740
• Island Size: Tortola is 12 miles long by 3 miles wide
• Electric Current: 110 volts
• Medical Emergencies: The Pebbles Hospital (494-3497) in Road Town
• Time Zone: Standard Time zone-UTC/GMT -4 hours
• Climate: Temperatures range from 75° to 85° F. Humidity is low even during the short showers of rainy season (May-November). Yearly rain average is 60 inches.
• Average Temperature; Summer 86° Winter: 80°
• Average Rainfall: 60” Rainiest Months: May - November
• Water Temperature: Summer 83° Winter: 78°
• Official Language, English
• Currency: U.S. dollar
• Dress Code: Very Casual.
• Telephone local area code is 284, and all numbers have a 49 prefix.