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Virgin Gorda by ferry or Tour
Virgin Gorda by ferry or Tour
I am wanting to spend some R&R time at The Bath's and wanted to get some opinions. I could go on one of the BVI full day excursions, but I think these skip through VG fairly quickly. I'm not a huge drinker and most of the excursions seem to focus on time at Foxy's and The Soggy Dollar. Love those places, but want a more adventuresome day I guess.
Has anyone taken the VG Ferry? I cant really afford the private charters. I'm wodering if we should venture out there on our own or take a Limnos or New Horizons Day Sail. I've read they really rush you through The Bath's. Anyone have any insight?
What to do???
Has anyone taken the VG Ferry? I cant really afford the private charters. I'm wodering if we should venture out there on our own or take a Limnos or New Horizons Day Sail. I've read they really rush you through The Bath's. Anyone have any insight?
What to do???
Limnos and New Horizon have their fans here.
The "direct" ferry that stops in STJ runs on Thurs and Sunday, leaves STT at 8am (gets to VG 10-10:30 then go thru customs) and returns from VG at 3pm per the schedule info here: http://www.bestofbvi.com/info/bviferry_ ... peedys.htm
That leaves 3-3.5 hrs to do the Baths on your own, have lunch, do some snorkeling etc. There are other ferries on other days that go thru Tortola, more convoluted, but maybe run later.
The "direct" ferry that stops in STJ runs on Thurs and Sunday, leaves STT at 8am (gets to VG 10-10:30 then go thru customs) and returns from VG at 3pm per the schedule info here: http://www.bestofbvi.com/info/bviferry_ ... peedys.htm
That leaves 3-3.5 hrs to do the Baths on your own, have lunch, do some snorkeling etc. There are other ferries on other days that go thru Tortola, more convoluted, but maybe run later.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Nannerz,
We just did a day trip to VG from STJ on Sunday, July 6th. We really enjoyed it! The Baths and Devil's Bay were beautiful!
We got in line for the INTER-ISLAND BOAT SERVICES ferry a little before 8:00 AM - which was a good thing. The ferry wasn't scheduled to leave until 8:30, but for some reason that day only cash was being accepted for the trip and there was a long line. (Something about Inter-Island not having enough boats and having to charter one.) It was $70 per person for round trip which included the departure tax. Our ferry briefly stopped in Tortola and made good time to VG. Just about everyone on the ferry was heading to the Baths, so it was real easy once we got to VG. You have to stand in line to clear customs and then once through there are taxis lined up and you just say you're going to the Baths. They'll wait to fill the taxi and then you're off. The taxi ride to the Baths was $6.00 per person round trip. At the Baths there is a $3.00 per person entrance fee (Children were free but don’t remember the cut-off age). You just pay the fee and hike down. There are restrooms and changing facilities (including fee showers) at the bottom of the trail. This is also where the lockers are located ($2.50 for one time use).
Make sure when you go through the baths that you go all the way to Devil's Bay! It is so beautiful! We didn't want to leave.
We had a great time taking the ferry and will do so again. We felt the time on VG was adequate for just visiting the Baths. Now, if you want time to explore the rest of the island or do some shopping, the time probably is not enough.
Hope this helps.
We just did a day trip to VG from STJ on Sunday, July 6th. We really enjoyed it! The Baths and Devil's Bay were beautiful!
We got in line for the INTER-ISLAND BOAT SERVICES ferry a little before 8:00 AM - which was a good thing. The ferry wasn't scheduled to leave until 8:30, but for some reason that day only cash was being accepted for the trip and there was a long line. (Something about Inter-Island not having enough boats and having to charter one.) It was $70 per person for round trip which included the departure tax. Our ferry briefly stopped in Tortola and made good time to VG. Just about everyone on the ferry was heading to the Baths, so it was real easy once we got to VG. You have to stand in line to clear customs and then once through there are taxis lined up and you just say you're going to the Baths. They'll wait to fill the taxi and then you're off. The taxi ride to the Baths was $6.00 per person round trip. At the Baths there is a $3.00 per person entrance fee (Children were free but don’t remember the cut-off age). You just pay the fee and hike down. There are restrooms and changing facilities (including fee showers) at the bottom of the trail. This is also where the lockers are located ($2.50 for one time use).
Make sure when you go through the baths that you go all the way to Devil's Bay! It is so beautiful! We didn't want to leave.
We had a great time taking the ferry and will do so again. We felt the time on VG was adequate for just visiting the Baths. Now, if you want time to explore the rest of the island or do some shopping, the time probably is not enough.
Hope this helps.
LMarie
My answer to your question would be to take the ferry, but be aware of it's limitations. The "see the BVI" trips cover too much ground unless you want a general overview with a stop at a few of the tourist highlights.
It reminds me of my wife and I's introduction to St. John in the early 90s. We first took a day trip offered by a cruise ship to Trunk Bay. Enjoyed it--the next year we took the ferry from sTT and enjoyed it more with freedom and time. Looking at people at the beach bar as we left though, made us think of the time restraints we had that they did not. We began land based visits to St. John for many years, usually twice a year, once with friends and once alone.
We took all the BVI trips at one time or the other and began renting a boat from Ocean runner for a daytrip to the BVIs. It was always the highlight of our trips.
We looked into the possibility and purchased a powerboat we placed in charter with TMM. We greatly enjoyed learning about and visiting the destinations we had scratched the surface of on our daytrips and added Anegada. In doing so we fell in love with Virgin Gorda. Last year we purchased a condo on Virgin Gorda and are happier today about doing so than we were when signing the papers.
To look at Virgin Gorda as a trip to the baths and the beach there; is to look at St. John as a daytrip from a cruise ship to the beach at Honeymoon or Trunk. It doesn't scratch the surface. I always feel sorry for the lines of people on cruise ship tours around the yacht harbor being qued up to go to the baths or return to their launch. They think that is "Virgin Gorda" While enjoying several weeks on the boat or at the condo; we seldom go to the Baths unless we have company who have not seen it or want to go again. The island is so much more than hollow boulders going to the sea.
Virgin Gorda, like St. John is a place that can only truly be appreciated as a destination rather than a daytrip. It is much like St. John was 15 years ago and I hope it stays that way but alas it will not remain "nature's little secret" forever. Enjoy your trip and realize that the Southern tip of Virgin Gorda you visit--is just the tip of the iceberg.
It reminds me of my wife and I's introduction to St. John in the early 90s. We first took a day trip offered by a cruise ship to Trunk Bay. Enjoyed it--the next year we took the ferry from sTT and enjoyed it more with freedom and time. Looking at people at the beach bar as we left though, made us think of the time restraints we had that they did not. We began land based visits to St. John for many years, usually twice a year, once with friends and once alone.
We took all the BVI trips at one time or the other and began renting a boat from Ocean runner for a daytrip to the BVIs. It was always the highlight of our trips.
We looked into the possibility and purchased a powerboat we placed in charter with TMM. We greatly enjoyed learning about and visiting the destinations we had scratched the surface of on our daytrips and added Anegada. In doing so we fell in love with Virgin Gorda. Last year we purchased a condo on Virgin Gorda and are happier today about doing so than we were when signing the papers.
To look at Virgin Gorda as a trip to the baths and the beach there; is to look at St. John as a daytrip from a cruise ship to the beach at Honeymoon or Trunk. It doesn't scratch the surface. I always feel sorry for the lines of people on cruise ship tours around the yacht harbor being qued up to go to the baths or return to their launch. They think that is "Virgin Gorda" While enjoying several weeks on the boat or at the condo; we seldom go to the Baths unless we have company who have not seen it or want to go again. The island is so much more than hollow boulders going to the sea.
Virgin Gorda, like St. John is a place that can only truly be appreciated as a destination rather than a daytrip. It is much like St. John was 15 years ago and I hope it stays that way but alas it will not remain "nature's little secret" forever. Enjoy your trip and realize that the Southern tip of Virgin Gorda you visit--is just the tip of the iceberg.
Virgin Gorda-the gem of "Nature's Little Secrets"