The British Virgin Islands is made up of 60 islands and (small) islets, but nearly all of the life and tourism is restricted to two – Tortola and Virgin Gorda. It remains a British Overseas Territory so it’s no surprise that English is the main language as well as the dominant culture here.
Both main tourist islands are mountainous and lined with many exceptional sandy beaches, making this one of the more desirable and exclusive destinations in the Caribbean. There isn’t an abundance of tourist infrastructure beyond the daytime activities for the many cruise passengers who appear most weeks in season.
As an island group that is only accessible indirectly from North America or Europe, this is not a place for a quick holiday, or a cheap one for that matter.
| Population | 25,000 |
| Area | 25,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-4 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) |
| Local Breakfast | Cafes are a great choice for both light and heavy breakfasts with choices ranging from coffee to paninis. | $4.00 - $8.00 |
| Local Lunch | Burgers, chicken and more are found throughout restaurants alongside lobster and other seafood. | $6.00 - $13.00 |
| Local Dinner | Dinner isn't complete without dessert and a little live music. Both can be found throughout, both on and off the beach. | $15.00 - $30.00 |
| Beer | Beers and other drinks can be purchase pretty much everywhere with lots of restaurants by the beach serving both draft and bottle varieties. | $4.00 - $6.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 83 | 72 | 1.4 |
| February | 83 | 72 | 1.4 |
| March | 83 | 72 | 3.0 |
| April | 85 | 74 | 2.1 |
| May | 86 | 75 | 3.0 |
| June | 88 | 77 | 2.7 |
| July | 88 | 78 | 2.6 |
| August | 89 | 78 | 2.2 |
| September | 88 | 77 | 3.7 |
| October | 87 | 75 | 3.0 |
| November | 85 | 74 | 3.0 |
| December | 84 | 73 | 2.4 |
With pretty steady temps and sunny days, Tortola offers a great island destination for international travelers. Temperatures tend to range in the high 70s to mid 80s with a jump into the low 90s every now and then. During the night, the temperatures rest in the 70s which help to allow for a restful sleep.
From June to November, visitors will find that the hurricane season is in full swing with the risk of a tropical storm or hurricane passing through. If visiting during this time of year, it’s recommended that you keep a close eye on the weather and have a good exit plan in place or know of a good shelter in town.
During winter, the winds pick up and help to cool the area down just a bit. Because of the winds, the local waters tend to become a bit choppy and on the murky side so it’s best to visit right before or after winter if you plan to snorkel or dive.
| 21 Mar | 6:22am | 6:29pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:42am | 6:57pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:07am | 6:15pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:45am | 5:47pm |
There are fewer than 30 proper resorts and hotels in the British Virgin Islands, with most of those spread fairly evenly over the island of Tortola and nearby Virgin Gorda, which is a short ferry ride away. There are no cheap hotels or resorts at all so prepare to spend quite a lot to enjoy the peaceful nature of this island group
The winter months see an increase in visitors, both short term and long term, as they venture south to escape a cold winter. Along with an increase in the winter population, travelers will find that there is a noticeable hotel rate increase as well. During the summer, the prices do the exact opposite and decrease.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| - |
| 160.00 - 279.00 |
| 258.00 - 501.00 |
| 449.00 - 449.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
Tortola is a popular stop on some cruise ships, but those staying overnight will arrive at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, which is located on Beef Island, just across the bridge from Tortola itself. It’s a relatively small airport that can only be reached directly from elsewhere in the Caribbean. Most anyone starting from North America or Europe will change planes in nearby San Juan, Puerto Rico before changing to a smaller plane for the short flight to this airport.
Nonstop flights from:
San Juan, Antigua, Sint Maarten