Tortola Ferry Boats  

A great way to start your vacation is by arriving to the island by means of  Tortola ferry boats. The island of Tortola is undoubtedly a vacation delight – and a holidaymaker could easily spend the whole of the vacation exploring this fascinating Caribbean jewel.

However delightful that prospect is, though, if you were to do that you might miss out on one of the potential highlights of your magical time here. Tortola ferry boats play a huge role in making a total BVI vacation happen.

Tortola is, of course, just one of about 60 islands that make up the British Virgin Islands – some of them totally uninhabited, some of them more like large rocks than islands, some of them with attractions well worth visiting – but all of them with their own special BVI atmosphere.  

Island Hop by Ferry Boat

Many of these islands can be reached by the comprehensive, frequent and efficient ferry services which provide visitors with the perfect way of ‘island hopping’.

For example, the popular island of Virgin Gorda can be reached by ferry from Road Town and Beef Island.  The smaller but absolutely enchanting islands of Jost Van Dyke and Peter Island are easily accessible – again by ferry.  There are air flight restrictions around the BVI, so the ferry service is by far the easiest way to visit the other islands from your Tortola Base.

But, equally as importantly, the ferry journey itself can be an integral part of your adventure.  The ferry services on Tortola reinforce the island’s genuine, understated charm.  You will soon become aware that the reputation of Tortola’s inhabitants as being the friendliest and most hospitable in the Caribbean is one that is totally justified and jealously guarded, and a ferry boat trip between the islands will give you plenty of opportunity of mingling with the relaxed local population as the boat completes its journey.

And what a journey!  The aquamarine perfection of the Caribbean waters, the beautiful perspective of the islands as you travel along the coast, and the exhilaration of the sea breeze cooling you along the way.  The ferry journeys around the islands are experiences to delight in and savor.  Just stand on the open-air upper deck, and fully breathe in the entire experience.

There are a number of Tortola ferry boats and services operating in the British Virgin Islands – a full list of which can be found on http://www.bviitourism.com/GettingAround/Ferries/.  For example, the delightfully named Nubian Princess, Native Son and North Sound Express are just three of the companies managing routes to Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda, the original capital of the islands, where you can visit the old Cornish mine, the incomparable exotic pools and grottos of the Baths, or simply wander around the shops and moorings in the harbor.

Just as much fun would be to take a leisurely day long excursion out to one of the more secluded islets, where you will be able to find yourself some perfect, secluded beach to wile away an hour or two.  Or, alternatively, you could hop aboard the ferry from Road Town to Peter Island – a very quiet, up-market island which allows day visitors at Deadman’s Beach: perfect.

Tortola is a paradise island for holidaymakers – but try not to be so enchanted by it that you miss the opportunity of seeing some of the other BVI wonders waiting for you in their perfection.

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