Overview

The Baths sound like something out of an Indiana Jones movie: massive granite boulders, grottoes, secret passages, hidden saltwater pools illuminated by shafts of light. That helps explain why this stretch of beach at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda is the most memorable mooring in the Virgin Islands.

The British Virgin Islands, more laid-back than their U. S. Virgin Island neighbors, have long been the province of sailors, including Columbus, who was an early visitor. Today these are the most popular cruising waters in the Caribbean, thanks to steady winds, a perfect climate, and easy deep water navigation, with the day's destination in sight on the horizon.

Beach-blessed Virgin Gorda is, in many eyes, the jewel in the crown, a haven of quiet coves and safe anchorages for even novice bareboaters. The island's austere landscape may not fit your vision of a tropical hideaway, but after a day in the sun and sea, there is nothing quite like a snorkel among the boulders at The Baths, then a short climb up the bluff to a low-key bar for a piña colada, where you can watch the sails silhouetted against the sunset - and keep an eye out for the elusive green flash.

 Plan Your Trip

BEACHES

Some 20 sandy beaches line the island, but the stretch of shore at the southern end, including The Baths, is in a class of its own. One drawback is its popularity; go early or late to avoid the crowds, or make your way north through the bus-size boulders to Spring Bay and The Crawl, where the small sheltered pools are perfect for young snorkelers.

DIVING

Swim south along the shoreline from The Baths to Devil's Bay; the beach is more secluded there, and the snorkeling is top-drawer. If you're on a boat, watch for sea turtles at The Dogs, a tiny group of islets off Virgin Gorda's western "Beach Coast," where the snorkeling and diving are superb.

SAILING

Pick up your boat in neighboring Tortola, home to the Caribbean's largest charter fleet, and sail east for an easy windward crossing to Virgin Gorda. Head straight for North Sound, a protected bay at the northeast end of the island. (Just keep an eye out for the large reef on the right side of the sound.) Once moored there, you'll have your choice of two upscale resorts that cater to yachties.

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