Other Islands, 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. 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.
Anegada has a small airport (airport code NGD). The flight from Beef Island takes 15 minutes. 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).
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 To Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and Marina Cay Regular ferry services operate from Tortola to Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and Marina Cay. See the section on Getting around: By ferry, below.
To Peter Island: Visitors staying on Peter Island receive complimentary transfers to/from the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island via the Peter Island Resort's private ferry. See the section on Getting around: By ferry, below.
For guests arriving in St Thomas, the Peter Island Resort private ferry departs Charlotte Amalie at 3:30pm on Tue and Sat for the 1.5hr trip direct to Peter Island Resort. It departs Peter Island at 9am. The fare is $40 per person one way and $75 round trip, including taxi service between the airport and ferry dock.
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 ports of entry, which are located in Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke, Road Harbour and West End Harbour on Tortola and St Thomas Bay on Virgin Gorda. 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 (494-7739, Tortola; 495-5707, Virgin Gorda). 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) Anegada: ABC Car Rentals, 495-9466 or VHF channel 16; Anegada Reef Hotel, 495-8002; D W Jeep Rentals, 495-9677; J&L Jeep Rental, 495-3138 or 495-8047
Jost Van Dyke: Abe's & Eunicy Car Rentals, 495-9329; Paradise Jeep Rental, 495-9477
SCOOTER AND BICYCLE RENTALS Anegada: T&A'S Bike Rental, 495-8047
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.
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.
Between Anegada and Tortola: Smith's Ferry Services (tel 494-4454, Road Town; 495-4495, West End) offers service between Road Town, Tortola and Anegada. 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.
Between Jost Van Dyke and Tortola: The Paradise Express/New Horizon Ferry Service (tel 495-9278 or 495-9477) departs Tortola for Jost Van Dyke 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.
Between Marina Cay and Tortola/Beef Island: 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.
Between Peter Island and Tortola: 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.
Between Virgin Gorda and Tortola: 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 Tortola for Spanish Town/The Valley at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. It departs Spanish Town daily at 8:30am, 11:30am and 4:30pm. 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 Tortola for Leverick Bay daily at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. It departs Leverick Bay at 6:45am, 8:45am, 11:45am, 3:15pm and 4:45pm. The fare is $30 one way and $55 round trip.
For the Bitter End Yacht Club the ferry departs Tortola daily at 8:15am, 11:15am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 6pm and 8pm. It departs Bitter End at 6:45am, 9am, 12 noon, 3:15pm and 5pm. 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. From Tortola to Virgin Gorda the ferry departs daily 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. From Virgin Gorda to Tortola it 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. 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.
Speedy's & Virgin Gorda Transport (tel 495-5240 or 495-5235) provides daily service between Tortola and The Valley, Virgin Gorda. 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. From Virgin Gorda 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. 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.
Schedules and rates are subject to change.
BY AIR Daytrips and sightseeing trips around the British Virgin Islands are available.
Anegada: Clair Aero (tel 495-2271) is the only airline with regularly scheduled flights to/from 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).
Virgin Gorda: 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).
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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