The largest of the four main British Virgin Islands at 12 miles long (19 kilometers), the Caribbean island of Tortola exudes tropical postcard perfection, thanks to its beautiful beaches and marine life. The top things to do in Tortola include Cane Garden Bay and Smuggler’s Cove, while the harbor of Road Town is dotted with boats that make it an international sailing hub. As the archipelago’s biggest island, Tortola serves as an ideal launchpad for exploring the rest of the islands and a popular stop for cruise ship passengers. Other Tortola highlights include Sage Mountain National Park, where you can climb to the island’s highest point, and the 200-year-old Callwood Rum Distillery.
Like the rest of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola experiences the biggest crowds from December to February, when there’s plenty of sun and little rain. New Year's Eve parties on neighboring Jost Van Dyke are some of the biggest in the Caribbean, making it a festive hot spot. Expect crowds of cruise passengers when ships are docked. Hurricane season runs from June through November, so you may want to consider buying travel insurance for trips then. More restaurants and bars close during hurricane season.
If you’re arriving by cruise ship, you’ll dock in Road Harbour. From there, you can walk to Road Town and explore on foot. If you’re staying for longer, you might want to rent a car to make exploring on your own easier. To travel between the islands, you’ll need to hop aboard a boat or a chartered plane—a more expensive option. Ferries and water taxis regularly run between the larger islands from two docks. You can also access Tortola by ferry from St. Thomas or St. John.
When booking your flight to the island, select Terrance B Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island, which is located east of Tortola and is one of the smaller islands of the BVI archipelago. There’s a small bridge that connects the two islands, as there are technically no airports on Tortola. A must-do from Tortola is a day trip to the Baths of Virgin Gorda—a series of huge granite boulders formed by centuries of erosion.
