Virgin Gorda Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second-most populous island in the British Virgin Islands, covering an area of approximately 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) at roughly 18 degrees North and 64 degrees West. The island received its name from Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493, as its outline on the horizon was thought to resemble a reclining figure. The principal commercial and residential center on the island is Spanish Town, located in the southwestern portion.

On the southern coastline lies The Baths, a distinctive geological formation featuring giant granite boulders stacked along the beach to form coastal grottoes open to the sea. Although much of the surrounding terrain is volcanic in origin, these granite structures developed from deep underground magma and were exposed over long periods of erosion and weathering. Directly north of this site is the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, while the ruins of an old copper mine represent another notable landmark on the island.

The human history of the island began with the Taíno people, who settled near Spanish Town between 100 and 300 CE before being displaced by Caribs in the fifteenth century. Following Columbus's arrival, Spain claimed the territory but did not establish permanent settlements. In the sixteenth century, the British Navy used the region's protected waters as a strategic anchorage, with historical naval commanders Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake visiting the island multiple times. Later, in 1631, a copper-mining settlement was established under the direction of Joost van Dyk and funded by the Dutch West India Company.

At the northeastern end of the island, North Sound encompasses over 3,000 acres of protected aquatic space. Enclosed by four islands and surrounding reef systems that block rough ocean swells, this calm expanse serves as a major destination for water sports and sailing. The eastern side of the sound includes an anchorage in the lee of Biras Hill, as well as the Bitter End Yacht Club, which extends along a mile of coastline. Visitors reach Virgin Gorda using local commuter air services at the island's airport or by taking passenger ferries from nearby islands such as Tortola, St. Thomas, and St. John.