Virgin Gorda

Once again we used a ferry service to get from Beef Island to Virgin Gorda. Once we got to the ferry dock on Beef Island, it was hard to find parking, and even harder to figure out where to go. We finally found our spot. We paid for a combined service that offered the ferry service as well as a transport to and from the Baths. Once we arrived and paid for entry into the National Park, we ended up following a guided tour along the path as we entered the park. Probably something like this, as they were staying on St. John. If you stay on St. Thomas, you could use this tour. Once we got to the sign for Devil’s Bay, they were released to “play” on their own. So we also went to the beach area to take pictures and explore on our own.

As an aside, it is necessary to have proper footwear. I wore my hiking sandals, and Bill regretted not having his. We were constantly crawling over rocks, and if barefooted you will most likely stub your toe. We also brought our dry bag, as we knew at some point we would probably be all the way in the water. We also both wore sun shirts, as the sun is unrelenting unless you are in the cave areas.

This place is like no other I’ve ever seen. There are big boulders everywhere. The waves crash around them. The water was a little rough. However, I could not find the spots that I kept seeing pictures of all over social media. In Devil’s Bay we took a few secluded trails that offered amazing views and even more boulders, but still wasn’t what I expected.

We spent a little time in Devil’s Bay, in the water, and ate our picnic lunch on the beach. We then went over to the Baths Beach and walked around a bit. There we found the exit for the trail. There were signs that said “exit only, do not enter”. However, we could not find the entrance! We retraced our steps several times, and finally entered the exit. It was amazing! We were in what seemed to be a cave, rocks were all around and there were pools of water. This was better than the beach because the waves weren’t crashing in and the water was a little more calm, and wasn’t as deep. I could touch most of the way into the biggest pool area. We took a few pictures and decided we had to find the entrance to the trail. We headed back to the Devil’s Bay sign, but instead of going left to the beach, if you go to the right, it’ll lead you directly to the trail. The trail is not for the faint. Although it is very short, you are climbing ladders, and walking sideways along boulders, and swimming in pools at certain parts. It is very narrow and can be scary if you are a bit frightened by water or closed in spaces. I would encourage you to try to overcome your fears because the outcome is so worth it.

There is a small snack shack near The Baths beach, we grabbed a drink there and rested for a bit, then headed back to the waiting area to wait for our taxi to take us back to the ferry port. It arrived shortly, and we were on our way. Virgin Gorda is not a full day experience in my opinion, unless you take a guided tour. A guide would be able to tell the history of how the baths were formed. It took a bit of time for us because of the drive to Beef Island and the ferry is a long ride. We arrived back on Tortola by dinnertime.

That’s all for our trip to the British Virgin Islands. We’ve got a summer full of adventures planned, so stick around. You never know where we’ll end up next!

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