Caribbean (Fodor's, 2011) - Fodor's Travel Publications [5]
JOST VAN DYKE
Sandy Cay is a gleaming scimitar of white sand, with marvelous snorkeling. White Bay has a long stretch of white sand that is especially popular with boaters who come ashore for a libation at one of the beach bars.
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TORTOLA
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Once a sleepy backwater, Tortola is definitely busy these days, particularly when several cruise ships tie up at the Road Town dock. Passengers crowd the streets and shops, and open-air jitneys filled with cruise-ship passengers create bottlenecks on the island’s byways. That said, most folks visit Tortola to relax on its deserted sands or linger over lunch at one of its many delightful restaurants. Beaches are never more than a few miles away, and the steep green hills that form Tortola’s spine are fanned by gentle trade winds. The neighboring islands glimmer like emeralds in a sea of sapphire. It can be a world far removed from the hustle of modern life, but it simply doesn’t compare to Virgin Gorda in terms of beautiful beaches—or even luxury resorts, for that matter.
Initially settled by Taíno Indians, Tortola saw a string of visitors over the years. Christopher Columbus sailed by in 1493 on his second voyage to the new world, and ships from Spain, Holland, and France made periodic visits about a century later. Sir Francis Drake arrived in 1595, leaving his name on the passage between Tortola and St. John. Pirates and buccaneers followed, with the British finally laying claim to the island in the late 1600s. In 1741 John Pickering became the first lieutenant governor of Tortola, and the seat of the British government moved from Virgin Gorda to Tortola. As the agrarian economy continued to grow, slaves were imported from Africa. The slave trade was abolished in 1807, but slaves in Tortola and the rest of the BVI did not gain their freedom until August 1, 1834, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read at Sunday Morning Well in Road Town. That date is celebrated every year with the island’s annual Carnival.
Visitors have a choice of accommodations, but most fall into the small and smaller-still categories. Only Long Bay Resort on Tortola’s North Shore qualifies as a resort, but even some of the smaller properties add an amenity or two. A couple of new hotel projects are in the works, so look for more growth in the island’s hotel industry over the next decade.
EXPLORING TORTOLA
Tortola doesn’t have many historic sights, but it does have lots of beautiful natural scenery. Although you could explore the island’s 10 square mi (26 square km) in a few hours, opting for such a whirlwind tour would be a mistake. There’s no need to live in the fast lane when you’re surrounded by some of the Caribbean’s most breathtaking panoramas. Also, the roads are extraordinarily steep and twisting, making driving demanding. The best strategy is to explore a bit of the island at a time. For example, you might try Road Town (the island’s tiny metropolis) one morning and a drive to Cane Garden Bay and West End (a little town on, of course, the island’s west end) the next afternoon. Or consider a visit to East End, a very tiny town exactly where its name suggests. The North Shore is where all the best beaches are found.
ROAD TOWN
The bustling capital of the BVI looks out over Road Harbour. It takes only an hour or so to stroll down Main Street and along the waterfront, checking out the traditional West Indian buildings painted in pastel colors and with corrugated-tin roofs, bright shutters, and delicate fretwork trim. For sightseeing brochures and the latest information on everything from taxi rates to ferry schedules, stop in at the BVI Tourist Board office. Or just choose a seat on one