Sign in with Facebook
Necker Island, Caribbean
of people enjoy staying here
10 Opinions
Sis and Hubby on the main deck
The Path through The Bath!
View at the top
Tons of those little fish
What is the best way to get to Virgin Gorda from St. Thomas?
I would fly if there are flights between the two. There used to be flights from St. Croix - also Puerto Rico, but I haven't been in the area for quite a few years. Here's a good page about the ferry system... takes two hours, more or less, probably depending on the seas and weather.
http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/#Red%20Hook%20to%20Virgin%20Gorda
Not that difficult to achieve. Ferries go from Red Hook Harbor to Cruz Bay. The trip is about an hour and a half, for $50 bucks roundtrip.
http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm#STVG
Scroll down for times and schedules......
The people are so nice and friendly here, you really can't go wrong. A common custom in the Caribbean is to say "good morning" in the morning as a greeting---before doing business with someone---and "Good Afternoon" is used between noon and 5pm. Again, the people in Virgin Gorda are probably among the friendliest in the BVI and USVI.
one of the best and most popular dived in the BVI. You can swim over the outline of the ship where she broke up. The HMS Rhone was a Royal Mail Steam Packet Ship which had both sail power and a steam driven propellor. In August of 1867 a storm blew up and the captain thought it was too late in the season for a hurricane, that it was just a nor'easter. She was sunk off the end of Salt Island as she was trying to stand out to sea. There were 146 people - crew and passengers - on board the Rhone, and out of that number 23 survived of which only one was a passenger! The islanders rescued the crew, and were given the island as a reward in perpetuity, to the residents and their heirs in return for one bag of salt a year rent (still paid today).
The wreck lies on a slope with the stern in water shallow enough for snorkelers, so while I was diving, Bob was snorkeling the shallow end. The propeller, which was only the second bronze propeller that was ever produced lies in about 20 feet of water.
The wreck is covered with coral and attracts many fish. The wreck is part of Rhone National Marine Park, which also encompasses Dead Chest Island. Both Salt and Dead Chest Islands are accessible only by chartered or private boat. There are moorings for dive boats.
This is another place where you should get up and get out early because otherwise you may not be able to get a mooring. We did our dive and snorkel before breakfast. We were on a sailboat which supplied the gear and had a certified instructor on board for diving. They supplied the tanks, BCDs, flippers, console and weights. I brought my own mask because I have diapters, and I also had my own snorkel and camera. We paid an additional $200 for the diving which was in addition to the charge for the week's charter. I did a one or two dives a day.
If you are land based, one possibility (which I have not used) is Sunchaser Scuba is at the Bitter End Resort
Prices range from $80 to $95 for a two-tank dive
Everything above 1,000 feet is considered national park in the BVI.
The 265 acre park at the forested peak near the island's center has hiking trails leading to an observation point.
This is called Virgin Gorda Peak Park.
From the observation tower you have a great view of many islands and cays.
The long winding steep road to North Sound at one point passes a trailhead tto Virgin Gorda Peak that's rather obscurely marked, but keep watching for it on your left as your little rental 4WD struggles & downshifts near the top. htere was no clear parking area by the trailhead, but you could pull over a little ways back to park.
For a great description of the trail sights & natural flora & fauna, see the website below. The peak elevation is 1359 ft.
What a wonderful bay this is, where Laurance Rockefeller created his second eco-resort! It's well protected even on windy days, the sands are silky soft and inviting for the tenderest of northern feet, and the snorkeling is excellent.
Although you must ddrive through the security gate for the resort at Little Dix Bay to get there, they must legally allow you access, so just tell then you are there to swim and they will direct you to the main parking area for day visitors & cabs. Then just walk through the gardens to the beach, and wade in.
In 2 subsequent days of snorkeling, I saw a green sea tortoise, great barracuda, school of cuttlefish (small squids), porcupine fish, southern stingray, spotted moray eel, trumpetfish, pipefish, queen conch, yellow snappers, blue tangs, tobaccofish, flying fish at rest on the bottom during the day, various lovely little wrasses, and all manner of colorful tropical reef fish to numerous to list. It was delightful.
Cheapest in Virgin Gorda
Great Hotels for Less
Q: ferry from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda "What is the best way to get to Virgin Gorda from St. Thomas?"
A: "I would fly if there are flights between the two. There used to be flights from St. Croix - also Puerto Rico, but I haven't been in the area for quite a few years. Here's..."
Latest Virgin Gorda hotel reviews
Sponsored Links
