Virgin Gorda, BVI | Travel Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
CUSTOMS Visitors are allowed to bring in items for personal use in reasonable quantities for the duration of their stay. Generally throughout the Caribbean the standard is around 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, and one to two litres of alcohol.
For more information call the Customs Department at 284/494-3475 or 494-8209 (24-hr hotline).
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS To bring pets into the country you must obtain an import permit and present the appropriate vaccination and veterinary health certificates. Animals must be clinically healthy on arrival and must be kept in confinement until granted entry into the country, otherwise they may be denied entry. For animals arriving by sea you must give the Department of Agriculture 24 hours advance notice so they can make inspection arrangements.
For more information contact the Department of Agriculture at tel 284/495-2532.
GETTING THERE BY AIR International flights arrive at Terrance B Lettsome International Airport (airport code EIS) on Beef Island, which is at the eastern end of Tortola. From Beef Island you can take a five-minute flight or a ferry to Virgin Gorda. Inter-Caribbean flights land directly at the small airport on Virgin Gorda (airport code VIJ). You cannot fly direct from Europe or North and South America, but when you transfer in the Caribbean your connecting flight can be as short as a half hour from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Airlines that service Virgin Gorda include Air Sunshine (tel 495-8900), Caribbean Wings/BVI Airlines charters (tel 495-6000), Clair Aero (tel 495-2271), Fly BVI charters (tel 495-1747) and Island Birds charters (tel 495-2002).
Airlines that service Tortola include Air Sunshine (tel 495-8900), American Airlines/American Eagle (tel 495-2559), Cape Air (tel 495-2100), Caribbean Star/Caribbean Sun (tel 495-1711), Caribbean Wings/BVI Airlines charters (tel 495-6000), Island Birds charters (tel 495-2002), Island Helicopters charters (tel 499-2663), LIAT (tel 888/844-5428), Seaborne Airlines (tel 340/773 6442) and Winair (tel 599/545-4237).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE Cruise ships arrive at the cruise pier on Tortola. Jetties at St Thomas Bay, Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda and at Great Harbour on Jost van Dyke also accommodate cruise ships.
Cruise lines that call on the British Virgin Islands include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Clipper Cruise Lines, Costa Cruise Line, Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Sea Dream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
BY FERRY There is regularly scheduled ferry service between St Thomas, USVI, and Virgin Gorda, BVI. In St Thomas the Edward Blyden Marine ferry terminal is located on Veterans Dr in Charlotte Amalie, and another ferry terminal is located at Red Hook. On Virgin Gorda the ferry terminal is located at St Thomas Bay, Spanish Town.
Speedy's & Virgin Gorda Transport (tel 495-5240 or 495-5235) provides service three days weekly. The ferry leaves St Thomas at 8:45am and 5pm Tue and Thurs and 3:30pm on Sat. After making a stop in Tortola it continues on to Virgin Gorda. From Virgin Gorda it leaves at 6:30am and 2:45pm on Tue and Thurs and 8:30am on Sat. It stops in Tortola at 7:15am and 3:25pm on Tue and Thurs and 9:15am on Sat before continuing on to St Thomas.
The one-way fare to/from Virgin Gorda is $35 for adults, $25 for kids age 5-11 and $10 for kids under five years. The round-trip fare to/from Virgin Gorda is $60 for adults, $40 for kids age 5-11 and $20 for kids under five years. There is an additional $5 departure tax.
Schedules and rates are subject to change.
BY PRIVATE YACHT All vessels must clear with BVI Customs and Immigration immediately upon arrival into the territory. Customs and Immigration offices are located at the port of entry, which is located in St Thomas Bay. Hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri and 8:30am-12:30pm Sat. After-hours clearing is available for an additional fee, if you arrange it in advance.
A valid passport for each person on board and boat registration papers are required for entry. You must also purchase a cruising permit.
For more information or to arrange after-hours clearing call Customs at 284/494-3475 and Immigration at 284/494-3701 ext 2538.
GETTING AROUND BY CAR To rent a car you will need to purchase a temporary BVI driver's license, which you can purchase for US$10 at the car rental agency or from the Vehicle Licensing Department (495-5707). Ensure you bring your valid driver's license from home. Some rental agencies will not rent to anyone under 23 years; at others the minimum age is 25 years. There is also a 5% self-drive motor vehicle rental tax. You can also rent scooters and bicycles.
Driving is on the left.
Traffic circles/roundabouts are used for traffic control. If you've never used a roundabout, remember: vehicles already in the roundabout have right of way; yield to traffic on your right, signal, then slowly move in and keep left at all times.
CAR RENTALS (country code 284) South Valley: Island Style Jeep & Car Rental, 495-6300; L&S Car Rentals, 495-5297; Mahogany Rentals, 495-5469
The Valley: Andy's Jeep Rental, 495-5555; Flying Iguana, 495-5277; Hertz Rent-A-Car, 495-5803; Penn's Car Rental, 495-5298 or 495-5803; Speedy's Car Rentals, 495-5240 or 495-5235
Elsewhere on Virgin Gorda: Speedy's Car Rentals, 495-7532 (Leverick Bay)
SCOOTER AND BICYCLE RENTALS - 3P Scooter Rental, 495-6870 or 499-2344
BY TAXI There are no taxi meters. The government regulates fares for taxi services and drivers are required to display a copy of the fare schedule in plain view in their vehicles. Ensure you verify the fare with the driver prior to departure. Island taxi tours and beach trips are available in addition to standard taxi service.
TAXI SERVICES - Mahogony Taxi Service, 495-5469 - Potter Gafford Taxi Service, 495-5329 or 495-5960 - United BVI Taxi Federation, 495-5539
BY FERRY A number of ferries operate between the islands. On Tortola the main ferry terminal is located at Soper's Hole, West End. Another terminal is located in Road Town. On Virgin Gorda the ferry terminal is in St Thomas Bay, Spanish Town, The Valley and on Jost van Dyke at Great Harbour.
To Tortola and Anegada: North Sound Express (tel 495-2138) operates between Trellis Bay (adjacent to the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island) and Spanish Town/The Valley, Leverick Bay and Bitter End on Virgin Gorda.
The ferry departs Spanish Town for Tortola daily at 8:30am, 11:30am and 4:30pm. It departs Tortola at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. The fare for the 15-minute trip is $19 one way and $34 round trip. Late airport pick-ups are available upon request.
The ferry departs Leverick Bay for Tortola daily at 6:45am, 8:45am, 11:45am, 3:15pm and 4:45pm. It departs Tortola at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. The fare is $30 one way and $55 round trip.
It departs Bitter End Yacht Club for Tortola daily at 6:45am, 9am, 12 noon, 3:15pm and 5pm. It departs Tortola at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. The fare is $30 one way and $55 round trip.
Smith's Ferry Services (tel 494-4454, Road Town; 495-4495, West End) offers service between Road Town, Tortola, and The Valley, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada. From Virgin Gorda to Tortola the ferry departs daily at 7:50am, 10:15am, 1pm (check for availability), 2:15pm and 4pm with an additional 6pm departure Mon-Fri and an additional 5pm departure on Sat and Sun. From Tortola it departs at 7am (except Sun), 8:50am, 10am (call for availability), 12:30pm and 3:15pm with an additional 5:15pm departure Mon-Fri and an additional 4:15pm departure on Sat and Sun. The one-way fare is $16 for adults and $10 for kids age 5-11. The round-trip fare is $27 for adults and $15 for kids age 5-11. Children under five years ride free.
From Tortola to Anegada the ferry departs at 7am and 3:30pm Mon, Wed and Fri, and returns from Anegada at 8:30am and 5pm. The fare is $35 one way and $55 round trip.
Speedy's & Virgin Gorda Transport (tel 495-5240 or 495-5235) provides daily service between The Valley, Virgin Gorda and Tortola. From Virgin Gorda for Tortola it departs at 8am, 10am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm Mon-Sat. Additional departures include 5pm on Mon, Wed and Fri; 6pm and 10:30pm on Wed; and 8am, 1pm and 4:30pm on Sun. From Tortola it departs at 9am, 10:30am, 12 noon, 1:30pm and 4:30pm Mon-Sat with an additional 5pm departure on Sat only. Additional departures include 6pm on Mon and Fri; 10am and 6:15pm on Tue and Thurs; 6pm, 6:45pm and 11pm on Wed; and 9am, 1:30pm and 5:15pm on Sun. The one-way fare is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and kids age 5-11. The round-trip fare is $25 for adults and $15 for seniors and kids age 5-11.
To Marina Cay: Pusser's Marina Cay ferry (tel 494-2174) provides complimentary service between Trellis Bay (adjacent to the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island) and Marina Cay. The 15-minute trip departs Trellis Bay at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm. From Marina Cay it departs at 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm, 2:45pm, 3:45pm, 4:45pm, 5:45pm, 6:45pm and 8:45pm.
To Jost Van Dyke: The Paradise Express/New Horizon Ferry Service (tel 495-9278 or 495-9477) departs Tortola at 8am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm Mon-Fri and 9am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm Sat-Sun. From Jost Van Dyke it departs 7am, 9am, 12 noon, 2pm and 5pm Mon-Fri and 8am, 9:30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 5pm Sat-Sun. The one-way is $12 for adults and $6 for kids 5-11 years. The round-trip fare is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 5-11 years. Kids under five years ride free.
To Peter Island: The Peter Island Ferry (tel 495-2000) operates between Baugher's Bay, Road Town and Peter Island. Trips depart numerous times daily between 7am and 11:30pm and cost about $15 round trip.
Schedules and rates are subject to change.
BY AIR Daytrips and sightseeing trips around the British Virgin Islands are available.
To Anegada: Clair Aero (tel 495-2271) is the only airline with regularly scheduled flights to Anegada. Charters are available through Caribbean Wings/BVI Airlines (tel 495-6000), Fly BVI (tel 495-1747), Island Birds (tel 495-2002) and Island Helicopters (tel 499-2663).
To Tortola: Airlines that fly between Virgin Gorda and Tortola include Air Sunshine (tel 495-8900), Caribbean Wings/BVI Airlines charters (tel 495-6000), Clair Aero (tel 495-2271), Fly BVI charters (tel 495-1747) and Island Birds charters (tel 495-2002).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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