Frommer's Favorite Experiences

Diving to the wreck of the HMS Rhone: The one site in the British Virgin Islands that lures divers over from St. Thomas is the wreck of the HMS Rhone, which sank in 1867 near the western point of Salt Island. Skin Diver magazine called it "the world's most fantastic shipwreck dive." It teems with marine life and coral formations and was featured in the 1977 movie The Deep.

Soaking up the Sun at Cane Garden Bay Beach: One of the Caribbean's most spectacular stretches, Cane Garden Bay has 2km (1 1/4 miles) of white sand and is a jogger's favorite. It's a much better choice than more obvious (and more crowded) Magens Bay beach on neighboring St. Thomas.

Sailing: Perhaps because of its well-developed marina facilities (and those of the nearby United States), the Virgin Islands receive the lion's share of devoted yachties. The reigning capital for sailing is Tortola, the largest island of the British Virgins. On-site are about 300 well-maintained sailing craft available for bareboat rentals and perhaps 100 charter yachts.

Greeting Alice in Wonderland: South of Ginger Island, Alice in Wonderland is a deep-dive site with a wall that begins at around 3.6m (12 ft.) and slopes gently to 30m (98 ft.). It abounds with marine life such as lobsters, crabs, rainbow-hued fan coral and mammoth mushroom-shaped coral.

Shopping in Tortola: Most of Tortola's shops are on Road Town's Main Street. Unfortunately, the British Virgins have no duty-free shopping. British goods are imported without duty, and you can find some good buys among these imported items, especially in English china. You might start your shopping expedition at Crafts Alive, an open-air market lying in the center of Road Town and impossible to miss. It consists of a series of old-fashioned West Indian-style buildings that are stocked with local crafts and locally made goods, ranging from Caribbean dolls to straw hats, from crocheted doilies to pottery, plus, of course, the inevitable B.V.I. T-shirts.

Getting Away from It All: The only access to the Biras Creek Estate resort is by private launch. The sea air and the views over islets, cays, and deep blue waters will relax you in your charming guest room. The nautical atmosphere will quickly remove all thoughts of the 9-to-5 job you left behind. Guana Island Club is one of the most secluded hideaways in the entire Caribbean. This resort occupies a privately owned 340-hectare (840-acre) bird sanctuary with nature trails. Head here for views of rare plant and animal life and for several excellent uncrowded beaches.

Hiking to Virgin Gorda Peak National Park: Consider a trek up the stairs and hiking paths that crisscross Virgin Gorda's largest stretch of undeveloped land, Virgin Gorda Peak National Park. Depending on your climbing speed, it takes between 25 and 40 minutes to reach the summit of Gorda Peak, the highest point on the island. You'll be rewarded with sweeping views of the many scattered islets of the Virgin archipelago. There's a tower at the summit, which you can climb for enhanced views. Admire the flora and the fauna (birds, lizards, nonpoisonous snakes) that you're likely to run across en route.

Smelling the Spices of the West Indies: Sunny Caribbee Herb and Spice Company, in an old West Indian building, was the first hotel on Tortola. It's now a shop specializing in Caribbean spices, seasonings, teas, condiments, and handicrafts. With an aroma of spices permeating the air, this factory is an attraction in itself. You can buy two famous specialties here: the West Indian hangover cure and the Arawak love potion. A Caribbean cosmetics collection, Sunsations, includes herbal bath gels, island perfume, and sunscreens. There's a daily sampling of island products -- perhaps tea, coffee, sauces, or dips.

Drinking Cocktails on the Beach: Bomba's Surfside Shack is the oldest, most memorable, and most uninhibited hangout on the island, sitting on the beach near the West End. It's covered with Day-Glo graffiti and odds and ends of plywood, driftwood, and abandoned rubber tires. Despite its makeshift appearance, the shack has the sound system to create a really great party.

Exploring Deserted "Treasure Island": Legend has it that tiny Norman Isle, south of Tortola and east of St. John, was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. The sea caves on this island are some of the best snorkeling spots in the British Virgin Islands. To cut costs, ask three or four other people to rent a sailboat with you to go over for a day's adventure.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Virgin Islands, 9th Edition Author: Darwin Porter Pub Date: August 27, 2007 Price: $17.99				Related Titles: Bahamas For Dummies, 4th Edition Caribbean For Dummies, 4th Edition Frommer's Bahamas 2009