Sample 7-day British Virgin Islands Charter Itinerary

Day 1 :
Your adventure begins at the well-appointed Crown Bay Marina, which is only 5 minutes from the airport. Stepping on board your charter yacht, feel the worries and stress start to dissipate immediately. Enjoy a frosty island beverage as you glide out of the Marina and along the coast of St. Thomas, crossing the channel to St. John. Anchoring for the evening in large beautiful Francis Bay. Perhaps you will even be inclined to go for a quick swim in the warm Caribbean waters right away!

Day 2 :
Leaving the USVI behind, you will make a short passage around the end of St. John, to clear customs at Sopers Hole. Take a short stroll around the wharf and enjoy the local shops. If the urge strikes you, a taxi ride from here is a great way to see the island. When you return, you will be whisked the short distance to Great Harbor on Jost Van Dike to anchor for the night. A visit to Foxy’s is a must-do, as you will sure to be asked by anyone who has visited the British Virgin Islands (BVI) “did you go to Foxy’s?”, and you surely want to be able to answer “Yes!”.

Day 3 :
After a lazy breakfast on board, you will board the tender for a trip to Sandy Cay. Owned by Laurance Rockefeller, it is a botanical garden with an encircling path. The white sand beach is a perfect spot for your beach picnic. In season, you might see humpback whales migrating, or the tell-tale tracks in the sand left by sea turtles as they make a nest to bury their eggs, and return to sea. Returning to the yacht, you will proceed across to Norman Island and anchor in the Bight. The Caves are magical to snorkel, with their schools of tiny fish. Back to the yacht to clean up and take a short ride in the tender over to the Willy T, a 93′ replica of a Nova Scotian trading schooner that serves as a floating pub for cocktails. Finally, back to the boat for a leisurely dinner to discuss the day’s adventures.

Day 4 :Begin your day with a splash as you snorkel or dive the Indians, just a short tender ride from the yacht. Back on board, you will leave the delights of Norman Island for Road Town, Tortola. The boat will dock here overnight, so you can have plenty of time to explore the many shops and pubs of the area.

Day 5 :Perhaps you might want to begin your day with a quiet breakfast, especially if you spent rather too much time at Pusser’s Road Town Pub the evening before! But more fun beckons you to leave Road Town and head for Virgin Gorda, where your captain will anchor off the famous Baths. The granite boulders that are as large as houses are proof positive to the volcanic origins of the Virgin Islands. After exploring the grottos and swimming in the crystal pools, it’s on to the Bitter End to anchor for the evening.

Day 6 :Saying goodbye to the BVI, you will have a beautiful cruise back up between the islands, to cross over to the USVI and anchor at Caneel Bay. This beautiful area is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, now leased to Caneel Bay resort. The resort grounds were once the site of a 17th Century sugar factory. A short trip on the tender will bring you to the sugary sand of Honey Moon Beach, where you will enjoy the delights hidden in the picnic hamper that your chef packed for you.

Day 7 : Thoroughly rested, your captain will safely return you to Crown Bay Marina. Make sure you have plenty of time to take the quick taxi ride over to Charlotte Amallie for duty free shopping before you fly out!

(Thanks to Distinctive Charter Yachts publication for the above U.S. & British Virgin Islands itinerary).