USVI-On-Line

Hubby and I are planning a trip to St John the first of May. Our second trip. Have never been to the BVI's and it seems like we should visit because we are so close. But, . . . I have several questions. We do not drink, therefore don't really care to go there to bar hop to the different drink establishments that are frequented on day trips. More interested in nature. Considering the baths. But. . . it looks like it would take most of the day to get there and back, also have heard that they get quite crowded with tortola cruise ships. Anyone able to clarify this for us? Also, I have some physical limitations, how far is the walk from taxi to the baths and back? Is it in the hot sun? (I realize we are in the tropics). Is the hill steep? Comparison to the walk to Salt Pond Bay? (and back. It's the and back part that killed me) If we don't do the baths, are there any other suggestions what we should see or do, or would we be better off just staying on STJ and exploring another beach & snorkle area. I'm sure we haven't seen it all. Wouldn't be adverse to taking either a ferry, or a private boat tour, but not an expensive private charter. Any further info or suggestions?

We took a private boat (Born to Rhumb) last year. As it was a motorized boat, we got to the Baths in about a little over an hour. We had to jump out of the boat and swim to shore, with the help of a noodle. We climbed over, under, and around all the boulders to get to the other end, Devil's Bay, I think that's what it was called...a beautiful beach. Traversing all of those boulders was a bit challenging. We saw some folks who were really struggling to get through in some areas, my guess is they had no idea what was required to get through. It was very crowded, with some serious traffic jams at certain areas. We loved seeing it, but once was enough. I do understand, though, that you can taxi to a different area and check it out from a different perspective, perhaps without physically walking through the boulders.

We also snorkeled the Caves at Norman Island, ate lunch at the Willy T, and made a stop at Sandy Cay, which was totally beautiful. I think we left at 8:30 a.m. and were back by 4:00 p.m. We had all our kids with us, so the bar thing wasn't happening for us on that trip. We had a wonderful day visiting all of those places, and were glad we had done it.

We went to the Baths on the Limnos, a motorized catamaran. We got off the boat at a marina in Virgin Gorda & took an open air taxi truck to the Baths. The taxi was included in the fare. I think the walk down to the Baths & over & around the boulders could be a bit challenging for someone with mobility limitations, but there are guides to help along the way. Once back on the boat, we were served lunch & went snorkeling at the Normans.
Another trip we did was on a sailboat, Survivan, which we enjoyed much more than the Limnos. We didn't go to the Baths, but to Jost Van Dyke & the Soggy Dollar at White Bay for lunch & a swim, along with a snorkel stop. We had to get in a dingy to get to shore, but it was not difficult to get from the the sailboat to the dingy or vice versa. You may enjoy this trip more than the Baths.
Hope this helps.

Check here as you get closer to May to pick a day with few or no cruise ships in Tortola.

http://travelcal.traveltalkonline.com/bvi.cgi

Looks like it slows down a lot from current peak levels.

As others may have indicated, the land based approach down to and back up from the Baths is not that bad, but if you were challenged by the Salt Pond walk, then the walk down and up COMBINED with climbing/negotiating thru and around the passages of the Baths could be a bit much for you. Hope others with similar physical issues who have attempted this will chime in.

Let me amend the above.
Even without going thru the Baths, a daytrip to the area could still be pretty fine.
You could take your time with a walk down to and back up from Devils Bay (not as hard as Salt Pond) on the other side of the Baths to enjoy a beautiful beach like this


combined with a good lunch with views like this at the The Top of the Baths.

Thank you so much for your advice and info. I don't require an wheel chair or anything. I would not appear to have any problems if you saw me. I do have heart problems and chronic joint pain and the heat really makes things worse. I think it was about 100 and windless the day we went to salt pond. Down seemed easy but back up was a killer. It really made me cautious about other jaunts that require a hard up on the way back. But I'm sure temperature and amount of breeze could vary things alot. My husband is very active and fit, and helps enormously by carrying everything etc. My adventuresome spirit is still very much more intact than my body.

Devil's Bay and Top of the baths...2 places you can take me any day of the year. Just leave me there to die.

We did Limnos in 2006. While it was, by my description, regimented fun, it was a good time for the price. We went in August, so there were maybe 25 people on the trip...plenty of room on the boat.

The snorkeling at Norman Island more than made up for any rushed-ness of the day.

deejayjay, I found the walk to Salt Pond & Drunk Bay very hot, humid, & tiring. The walk around the Baths was much more pleasant, even though it may have been a bit more challenging landscape.

We went to baths with New Horizons. I am over fifty, small & work out. Not a problem. Several people in our group had to turn back due to weight & climbing issues. You need to be nimble at the least to climb in and around.

We just spent 4 days on Virgin Gorda last month. We loved it. My recommendation would be to take the ferry over in the morning and back in the evening if the times work out (and I haven't checked that). You could then just grab a taxi to the top of the baths (about 10 minute ride). You could then choose to walk down - or not. Sitting at that restaurant up there is fantastic.

The walk down is pretty much completely shaded, so the heat really isn't much of an issue. Maybe a little longer walk than to Salt Pond, but I got alot more tired on the Salt Pond walk mainly due to the heat.

It will kill an entire day, though, so I guess it is really up to you to decide if it is worth it.







Ken

We stayed on VG last fall and loved it. I agree with the suggestions to take the ferry. Get a taxi to the Baths and since you won't be part of a group, you can proceed at your own comfortable pace. We did see a few excursions parading through the Caves, but we could just hang out on the beach and wait for them to leave, then have the Caves to ourselves. Some of the day trips really don't see any of VG other than the Caves. And some do ask "What island is this?"

You can take your time heading back up and hang out an one of the restaurants for a while. Then get back to Spanish Town in time to have a look around there before catching the ferry. That'd be a real good day.

Many of us come back with many of the same photos:

The Baths beach


Then through the Caves


And out to Devils Bay


Then up to the Top of the Baths

Just wanted to add a reminder that if you do go, be sure to bring the necessary documentation to enter the BVI.

I've been thinking about this. Tortola has a very varied geogrphy with Sage Mountain, beaches and the big road network. I would take the Tortola ferry to West End, rent a car from Hertz right there (reserve) and tour the island. I've done this a few time with the non-party/non-beach folks and they had a blast. I like it too.

Cheers, RickG

I have a knee problem, so I am limited with how much up hill walkign/hiking I can do. I found the walk back up to the Top of The Baths challenging from a pain perspective and I always have some knee pain walking back up from Salt Pond. That has not stopped me from doing both Multiple times, but I can see how someone that has more severe limitations may not want to attempt it.
I guess it depends on what your limitations are. The last time we were walking up from the Baths, Chip laughed at me when there was a couple that looked to be in the 70's walking past me like I was standing still.

Aside from that, I love the Baths. On a day with no ships in town, I love exploring the caves and just chilling out in some of small "baths" and will do it again.

Deejayjay,

Are you a gardener or photographer?? If you choose Tortola, you may want to check out the J.R. O'Neil Botanical Gardens in Road Town. I'm usually at a watering hole in the BVI's, but I've heard nice things about this 4 acre tropical garden.

Budman