Earlier this week I published Part 1 of my mini travel guide to the Virgin Islands. This is Part 2, covering St John, Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, and Jost Van Dyke. Below are highlights, practical notes, and a few personal impressions to help plan your visit.
Places to visit in the British Virgin Islands
St John
Our visit to St John began with a short ferry ride from Red Hook in St Thomas. After arriving, we grabbed a quick bite at a small dive bar near the ferry terminal—complete with a playful hot dog “cheers”—then jumped back in the car to explore the island’s beaches.
St John is easy to navigate: beaches are well signposted so you won’t need a detailed map. We drove along scenic roads, stopping often for views and photos until we reached Trunk Bay. Along the way there are numerous pullouts and overlooks that make for excellent photo opportunities.
Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay is my favorite beach on St John. I stayed in the water most of the time; it remained pleasantly uncrowded until late afternoon. The beach offers practical amenities—a small outdoor shop with snorkel gear and sunscreen, plus a food stand serving lunch, drinks, and ice cream—so it’s an easy, comfortable day spot.
If you’re visiting multiple beaches in a single day, plan for parking challenges: we tried to visit additional nearby beaches but couldn’t find parking and headed back to the ferry before dark.
Norman Island and Jost Van Dyke
Norman Island is a classic stop for snorkeling and exploration. The island inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island and features caves and reefs to swim around. If snorkeling is your thing, this is a worthwhile spot; if you’re tentative in open water, you may prefer shorter swims, as I did.
Jost Van Dyke was one of our last stops. While many travelers praise Jost Van Dyke for beautiful beaches, our experience was different: the area we visited felt very crowded, with many boats and a lively, party-like atmosphere. It can be fantastic if you enjoy a bustling social scene, but it wasn’t our favorite—expect a party vibe in popular spots.
Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is known for The Baths, a unique geological formation of massive granite boulders creating grottos, tidal pools, and narrow walkways. We visited on a boat tour and spent time walking through the rock formations and taking photos before swimming back to the boat. The Baths are memorable even if your visit is brief.
Practical note: some boats anchor a bit offshore, so expect a swim from the boat to land. If you want photos, protect your camera in a water-resistant bag—swimming with one arm while holding a camera in a bag is awkward, but it can work if you’re careful. I managed a few good shots after a challenging swim.
Final thoughts
The British Virgin Islands offer a mix of peaceful, scenic beaches and livelier, social islands. Trunk Bay on St John stood out as my favorite for snorkeling and clear water. Norman Island is great for reef and cave exploration, the Baths on Virgin Gorda are a must-see geological wonder, and Jost Van Dyke delivers a high-energy, boat-and-party atmosphere that some travelers love and others may find too crowded.
If you enjoyed this guide, check out Part 1 for St Thomas for additional tips and island logistics. Whether you’re planning a relaxed beach day, snorkeling adventures, or a lively island party, the Virgin Islands present a wide range of beach experiences to match different travel styles.
More beach inspiration
- Trips to Turks and Caicos are beautiful for long stretches of white sand and clear water.
- Miami is a convenient beach getaway within the United States.
- Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic offers close, scenic island escapes.
- Consider all-inclusive resorts in Grenada for a full-service beach vacation experience.
- Palm Springs is a desert-meets-pool vacation option worth exploring for variety beyond traditional beaches.