Josiah’s Bay – a greatTortola Beach

Josiah’s Bay is a fun surfing beach in Tortola – probably one of the 'coolest' in the entire British Virgin Islands. A strong claim, perhaps; but one that stands up to close scrutiny. It's one of my favorite places on the island. If I were stranded here for days  at a time, I would be happy!

Josiah’s Bay is easily reached by road from Road Town, although it is not a suitable anchorage for charter yachts.

If you’re driving, simply follow the ridge road out of Road Town in the direction of East End.  Keep going until you start the descent into East End, when you will meet a very sharp left hand bend.  There are two roads leading off to the left here.  Take the first of them and follow it all the way down to Josiah’s Bay.  It’s just about a 15 minute drive from Road Town.

You’ll notice that you’re in a very sparsely populated part of Tortola and the beach itself backs onto a farming area.  Indeed, don’t worry that you’ve had too much rum if you suddenly see a cow wandering past you on the beach – it won’t be an illusion.

The beach itself is fabulous – usually with foaming, crashing waves, which make it superb fun.  There is usually a strong undertow at the corners of the beach, which need to be carefully watched.  If you do get caught in the undertow, swim parallel to the beach and you’ll get clear of it.

Suffice it to say, there are days when swimming here is only for the very experienced. 

The beach does extend out very gradually, though, and if you stay away from the corners of the beach and at a safe depth, then you can often enjoy the water even if you’re not a surfer.

The snorkeling can be good in Josiah’s Bay, too, if the waters are not too turbulent. 

		This is a great beach to spend the day hanging out with friends, having lunch, playing in the water or just walking the beach. It's even quiet enough to catch a beach nap if you're drained from playing in the surf. When I have to think about my last day of vacation on Tortola, I usually think about spending it here.
Me doing a surf check at a favorite spot

The beach does have a couple of bar/restaurants, though – both of which serve excellent food at very reasonable prices.  At Naomi’s Little Secret, my favorite place, they prepare good conch fritters, rice and beans and splendid drinks – so what more would you want? 

The owner of Naomi’s also has the Josiah’s Bay Inn, a secluded little hotel 10 minutes walk away from the beach, and there is also the Tamarind Club, with 9 individually designed rooms and a highly-praised restaurant, snuggled among the overlooking hills.

It’s a wonderful way to spend some of your time in Tortola at picturesque Josiah’s Bay, surfer or not, with its lack of people but with its stunning views of Guana Island and White Bay – try to stay until sunset to really have your breath taken away.

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