BVI Sailing Guide: The Best Itinerary for 7 Days in the British Virgin Islands

Tortola → Norman Island

8 NM · ~1.5 hours sailing

Pick up your boat from the charter base (usually by noon), do your checkout briefing, and provision if you haven't arranged it in advance. Don't try to go far on day one — you need time to settle in and figure out how everything works on the boat.

Head south to Norman Island, the uninhabited island said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Pick up a mooring ball at The Bight (about 30 balls available, first-come-first-served).

Don't miss: Snorkel the Indians (four pinnacle rocks between Pelican Island and Norman Island) — one of the best reef sites in the BVI. The underwater caves at Treasure Point are also worth a dinghy trip.

Dinner: Pirates Bight Restaurant & Bar right on the beach at The Bight. Good Caribbean food, rum cocktails, and live music some nights. Alternatively, the floating bar Willy T is a famous (and rowdy) party barge — at least have one drink.

Norman Island → Peter Island → Cooper Island

6 NM · ~1 hour sailing

Morning snorkel at Norman Island if you didn't get enough yesterday. Then sail east, passing Peter Island — if you want a quick stop, the beach at Deadman's Bay is gorgeous (though limited access since the resort's been closed for renovation).

Continue to Cooper Island Beach Club and pick up a mooring ball in Manchioneel Bay. Cooper Island is a tiny, eco-friendly spot with a fantastic vibe — solar-powered, small-batch rum, craft beer, and some of the freshest food in the BVI.

Don't miss: Snorkel the reef right off the mooring field — sea turtles are common here. The reef runs along the entire western shore.

Dinner: Cooper Island Beach Club Restaurant. Try the lionfish tacos (they catch them to protect the reef, so you're eating sustainably). Their in-house Cooper Island Rum is excellent — grab a bottle.

Cooper Island → Virgin Gorda (The Baths)

5 NM · ~45 minutes sailing

Short hop to Virgin Gorda and the BVI's most iconic sight: The Baths. These massive granite boulders create cathedral-like grottos and pools along the beach. Arrive early (before 10am) to beat the tourist crowds from cruise ships.

Pick up a day mooring at The Baths (BVI National Parks mooring, $25). Dinghy to shore and follow the trail through the boulders to Devil's Bay — it's like swimming through a natural water park.

After The Baths, move your boat to Spanish Town (the main settlement) or around to Leverick Bay on the North Sound side for the afternoon.

Don't miss: Walk the full trail from The Baths through Spring Bay to Devil's Bay. Bring water shoes — the rocks are slippery.

Dinner: If at Spanish Town, grab dinner at Fischer's Cove Beach Bar. If you sailed to Leverick Bay, the Restaurant at Leverick Bay has great sunset views and a weekly beach BBQ buffet.

Virgin Gorda → Anegada

15 NM · ~2.5 hours sailing

This is your longest sail of the week and the most rewarding. Anegada is the only coral island in the BVI (the rest are volcanic) — completely flat, fringed by 18 miles of deserted white-sand beach and surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the Caribbean.

Important: Approach Anegada from the south, following the marked channel carefully. The reef is massive and shallow — this is not a place to wing it. Use waypoints and approach in good light (before 3pm). Most charters restrict Anegada visits, so confirm with your charter company.

Moor at Setting Point and take the dinghy ashore. Rent a Jeep or scooter and explore the island — Loblolly Bay on the north side has incredible snorkeling right off the beach.

Don't miss: Flamingo Pond — yes, there are wild flamingos on Anegada. The road along the salt ponds often has dozens.

Dinner: You absolutely must have lobster tonight. The Lobster Trap and Wonky Dog are the two best-known spots — both serve grilled Anegada lobster with all the fixings. Call ahead to reserve (VHF or phone), as they catch only what's ordered.

Anegada → Jost Van Dyke

14 NM · ~2.5 hours sailing

Leave Anegada in the morning (same careful channel navigation out). Today's sail takes you west across the top of the island chain to Jost Van Dyke — the BVI's party island and home to what's arguably the world's most famous beach bar.

Moor at White Bay — one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean. White sand, turquoise water, palm trees, and three beach bars within walking distance.

Don't miss: The Soggy Dollar Bar — birthplace of the Painkiller cocktail (dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, nutmeg). It's called the Soggy Dollar because there's no dock — you swim ashore, hence the soggy money. The Painkiller is dangerously good.

Also check out One Love Bar & Grill by Seddy (famous for his lobster and positive energy) and Hendo's Hideout for a mellower vibe.

Dinner: Stay at White Bay or dinghy to Great Harbour for Foxy's Tamarind Bar — a BVI institution since 1968. Foxy himself might serenade your table with a calypso song.

Jost Van Dyke → Sandy Cay → Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

8 NM · ~1.5 hours sailing

Your second-to-last day. Sail east from Jost Van Dyke and stop at Sandy Cay — a tiny, uninhabited island between Jost Van Dyke and Tortola. It's a perfect postcard: white sand ring, palm trees, crystal water. There's a short hiking trail (15 minutes) through the interior to the windward side.

Continue to Cane Garden Bay on Tortola's north shore. This is one of the best beaches on Tortola — a long crescent of sand backed by green hills with several beach bars and restaurants.

Don't miss: If the weather allows, the sail from Jost to Cane Garden Bay with the spinnaker up is beautiful. Also, snorkeling at Sandy Cay (the reef on the south side) is surprisingly good.

Dinner: Myett's Garden & Grille right on Cane Garden Bay beach — live music, great cocktails, excellent Caribbean food. Quito's Bar & Restaurant is another solid pick (Quito Rhymer is a local music legend).

Cane Garden Bay → Road Town (Return)

6 NM · ~1 hour sailing

Your last morning. Swim, soak it in, and have a slow breakfast. Most charters require return by 12pm–4pm (check your contract). The sail back to Road Town is short — around the western tip of Tortola and into the harbor.

If you have time, stop at Soper's Hole (West End, Tortola) for a quick walk around the colorful waterfront shops and a coffee at Pusser's West End.

Pro tip: Fill the fuel and water tanks before you return. Clean out the fridge. Put away the sails and covers. A clean handoff means no extra fees and good karma.