Some of the islands that you will visit as you cruise around this stunning Caribbean archipelago onboard Pacific Wave, are as follows:
Norman Island otherwise known as ‘Treasure Island’ is a totally uninhabited private island. There are great hikes on trails over the island where you can obtain beautiful panoramic photographs down the Sir Francis Drake Channel and over to the neighbouring island of St John. The Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about this island in his famous childrens book Treasure Island, where he wrote about buried gold and pirates. There is unique snorkeling in the Caves just outside of the anchorage called The Bight where treasure has been found, let over by pirates who used to frequent these waters many moons ago. Norman Island is also famous for it’s bars and restaurants. We’re now pleased to report that Pirates Bight located in the centre of the sandy beach in The Bight anchorage has now re-opened. It’s sister restaurant and bar located next door has received a name change and is now called The Pavilion, previously known as The Club. The Pavilion is open for business. The Willy T floating bar was lost during hurricane Irma, however a brand new Willy T is now located off Peter Island. Most of our guests prefer the quieter side of the island, and for this there is a beautiful secluded anchorage called Benures Bay where the snorkeling is outstanding in this quiet bay where you will be anchored with only a few boats and lots of pelicans fishing the abundant waters and nothing else.
Peter Island is another private island that is home to the Peter Island Resort and Spa. The anchorage of Great Harbour is one of the best anchorages in the BVI, the snorkeling is great in the beautiful crystal clear waters and you can walk through to the resort from the beach. Lunch on Deadmans Beach at the resort is a must. It has a fabulous crescent shaped beach lined with palm trees with string hammocks draped between them. The restaurant offers excellent food both local fair like Rotis and great Pizzas that they make in their wood-burning oven, as well as locally caught fish. The hiking is superb and very easy on this island, with Sunset Loop being a 5 mile return hike, but well worth it, offering outstanding panoramic views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. There is also another great anchorage off White Bay that again is blessed with a stunning white sandy beach, great snorkeling and lovely sunsets. Currently the Peter Island Resort and Spa is closed for renovation, we’ll keep you posted with regards to the proposed re-opening date. The infamous William Thornton or ‘Willy T’ as everyone calls it; the floating ship that everyone remembers going to, but no one remembers how they arrived back home has relocated to Peter Island. The brand new Willy T floating bar arrived this summer, however watch this space because it looks like the Willy T will be sailing to another island soon.
North Sound on Virgin Gorda otherwise referred to as Billionaires Playground due to the fact that Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Brand) now owns two islands Necker Island and Mosquito Island (recently renamed Moskito Island) and Larry Page (Google) purchased Eustatia Island a few years ago. Both Billionaires can regularly be seen kiteboarding in North Sound. The water here is bright turquoise in colour and it looks outstanding on photographs. There is a great hike from Biras Creek Resort over the top and back down to the Bitter End Yacht Club. There are stunning views over to Necker Island, Eustatia Island, Prickly Pear Island and the tiny Saba Rock Island with the stunning turquoise sea below. There are numerous places to dine ashore including the new Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) which offers the use of it’s fabulous infinity pool if you visit them for lunch. You can also take a taxi tour of Virgin Gorda and visit the famous Baths where you can climb between huge granite boulders and stop off at numerous viewing platforms to photograph both South and North Sound. For the energetic you can hike up to the top of Gorda Peak which takes about 20 minutes to reach the look out tower at the top, where again you are rewarded with stunning panoramic views. Currently the luxury resorts and marinas located in North Sound are closed. We’ll update you with the proposed opening dates for Biras Creek, YCCS, BEYC and Saba Rock. Leverick Bay Resort and Marina is open for business.
Great Camanoe Island has a beautiful quiet anchorage at Lee Bay, which offers excellent snorkeling. During late spring into summer the rocky cliffs are covered with nesting birds that have migrated to the Virgin Islands to breed.
Guana Island is a lovely spot to anchor for the evening when there is no northerly swell present. Pacific Wave would anchor off the beautiful white sandy beach to the west of the island and from here you get a fabulous sunset.
Jost van Dyke (JVD) is another island that we visit anchoring either behind the reef at Sandy Spit or in Little Harbour. You can walk around the tiny white spit of sand with its tiny palm tree, and snorkel in the crystal clear waters. Ashore you can visit the famous Bubbling Pools, which is a short walk from Foxy’s Taboo restaurant. At Little Harbour you have Sidney’s Peace and Love Bar with its very own honesty bar, so you become the bar man or bar maid for the evening. Further a long the coast you have Great Harbour home to the main Foxy’s Bar and then White Bar famous for the Soggy Dollar Bar; aptly named because the surge is always so strong on the beach that you have to leap into the sea from your dinghy to get ashore and your dollars are very soggy when you arrive at the bar. There is a lot more to JVD than just bars, and you can still enjoy the quiet side of the island, which is simply beautiful! Post Irma Sandy Spit has lost its palm tree, however new coconut palms have been planted with the hope that one will take root. Currently both Foxy’s Taboo and Sidney’s Peace and Love are closed for re-building. White Bay is open for business and it has a great newcomer in the form of Hendo’s Hideway. Hendo’s offers a great lunch on the stunning white sandy beach.
Take a look at our Island Blogs to find out more information and to view stunning photographs on some of the islands that you can visit during your BVI crewed yacht charter vacation onboard Pacific Wave. Also view our video SY Pacific Wave in the BVI on a crewed yacht charter to visually experience this unique holiday in paradise onboard the stunning sailing yacht Pacific Wave.
