British Virgin Islands Things to Do Tips by Gypsygirl05

One of the most exciting features of Tortola is that it has a rain forest, a biome I've wanted to visit my entire life. Sage Mountain is not a true rainforest, since it only receives 100 inches of rain a year, but it's pretty darn close. There are a few birds and some spiders the size of your palm (watch out for those, they're nasty), but otherwise wildlife is relatively scarce (save for the lizards, of course). The plants there are incredible, and there are a few fig trees that have some extraordinary roots. It's easy to get lost in the jungle, and there are a lot of different paths, so if you can get a map by all means do it. If you like unique plants and a different experience, this rain forest is a great place to visit.

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Address: Highest peak on Tortola
Directions: It's located at the western end of Ridge Road-- it just kind of dead ends into it.

One of the best things to do while you're in the British Virgin Islands is take a day cruise on a catamaran (or traditional) sailboat. We used Patouche charters, and both of the crew members, Clive and Julie, were extremely friendly and helpful. The boat made three stops: Angel Reef, The Caves on Norman Island (which are literally caves that you can swim into), and another that I can't seem to remember the name of. They provided a homecooked meal halfway through the day, and a couple times came out snorkelling with us to show us certain animals. Clive dove down and picked up a sea cucumber for us, then passed it around. The reefs we visited were pristine, and we saw things such as a sea turtle, two squid, and swarms of great black sea urchins. For anyone who loves snorkelling, sailing, and the Caribbean Sea, this is a must.

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Website: http://www.patouche.com/default.asp

The Baths on Virgin Gorda are quite possibly the most beautiful thing these islands have to offer (and that's pretty good, considering that there are over sixty islands and gorgeous scenes everywhere you turn). The Baths are essentially huge boulders (some of them over two stories tall) that are scattered around the beach as though dropped there by an ancient giant. Coral reefs are scattered around these boulders, and there are some pretty intense wave pools that are created by the water and the boulders.

One thing that is highly recommended is a trip down the Devil's Bay path. The entire path winds in between boulders, almost to the point where you're in a cave. Big pools appear here and there in the path, and there are many nooks and crannies that you can climb into. At the end of this path is yet another gorgeous beach, this one more secluded and much less commercialized. BRING YOUR SNORKEL WITH YOU! More reefs await you here!

A warning: this path winds a lot, including up and down boulders where the only outside support is a crude rope, so I don't recommend that anyone with limited mobility try to walk the path.

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Address: Virgin Gorda
Directions: The easiest way to get there is via a boat from Road Town, if you're on Tortola. There are various ferries that run "on a schedule," but be aware: these boats are on what the locals call "island time" and are often late.