Tour Tortola in the British Virgin Islands

<body> <p> </p> <p align="center">This web page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.</p>  <div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="580" height="447"> <tr> <td valign="top" height="16"><small><font face="Arial Black"><p align="center"><a href="Tortola/tour.html#Tour Tortola" target="_self">Tour Tortola by Land--Sights and Scenic Drives</a></font></small></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" height="258"><p align="center"><map name="FrontPageMap"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="390, 29, 369, 22, 372, 14, 361, 11, 365, 0, 410, 13, 406, 25, 396, 22" href="ocean.html#Elizabeth Beach" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="174, 150, 201, 106, 185, 96, 153, 143" href="Nature/MtSage.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="281, 41, 314, 40, 355, 51, 349, 67, 315, 57, 285, 58" href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/ridge.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="2, 121, 68, 139, 56, 158, 0, 143" href="NorthCoast/default.html#Smuggler's Cove" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="90, 88, 146, 103, 140, 121, 83, 105" href="NorthCoast/default.html#Apple Bay" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="306, 1, 372, 22, 367, 33, 301, 13" href="ocean.html#Josiah's Bay" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="146, 0, 216, 18, 208, 34, 137, 16" href="ocean.html#Brewer's Bay" target="Frame Body"><area shape="RECT" coords="0, 165, 67, 182" href="sopers.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="60, 116, 120, 132, 114, 145, 53, 128" href="NorthCoast/default.html#Long Bay" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="230, 146, 301, 166, 292, 183, 223, 166" href="NannyCay/default.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="RECT" coords="82, 146, 151, 173" href="NorthCoast/default.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="74, 42, 177, 68, 170, 85, 65, 59" href="cane.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="412, 99, 478, 120, 472, 135, 403, 113" href="MayaCove/default.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="RECT" coords="285, 98, 328, 131" href="roadtown.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="505, 43, 550, 24, 560, 43, 558, 49, 537, 57, 530, 51, 512, 58" href="trellis.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="POLYGON" coords="414, 71, 497, 95, 498, 98, 492, 110, 408, 86" href="FatHogsBay/default.html" target="Frame Body"><area shape="RECT" coords="476, 64, 558, 90" href="beef.html" target="Frame Body"></map><a href="_vti_bin/shtml.dll/Tortola/default.htm/map.html"><img src="tortolamapLF4Symbols.jpg" border="0" ismap width="559" height="205" usemap="#FrontPageMap"></a><font size="2"><br> </font><small><a target="_self" href="overmap.html"><font face="Arial Black">To BVI Map</font></a><font face="Arial Black">   </font><a href="Guide/tour.html" target="_self"><font face="Arial Black">To BVI Tour</font></a><font face="Arial Black">   </font><a target="_self" href="VirginGorda/tour.html"><font face="Arial Black">To Virgin Gorda Tour</font></a></small><br> <small><a href="Lodging/Ltortola.html" target="Frame Body"><font face="Arial Black">Lodging</font></a><font face="Arial Black">  </font><a href="Lodging/Tvillas.html" target="Frame Body"><font face="Arial Black">Villas</font></a><font face="Arial Black">  </font><a href="Nature/beaches.html#Tortola" target="Frame Body"><font face="Arial Black">Beaches</font></a><font face="Arial Black">  </font><font face="Arial Black"><a href="Culture/nitelife.html" target="Frame Body">Nightlife</a>  </font><font face="Arial Black"><a href="RoadTown/shops.html" target="Frame Body">Shops</a></small><br> </font><font size="2"><a href="Tortola/default.html" target="_top">Frames</a></font><font face="Arial Black"><small>   </small></font><a href="Tortola/tour.html" target="_top"><font size="2">No Frames</font></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" height="161"><p align="left"><strong><strong><font size="5">T</font><font size="4">ortola.</font></strong></strong> The main island of the BVI, Tortola (<a href="http://www.webcom.com/earleltd/bv/ttmap.html" target="Frame Body">see road map</a>) means <strong>"Turtle Dove,"</strong> so-named for its <strong>shape and beauty</strong>. Of volcanic origin, a <strong>central mountainous "spine"</strong> forms its core with a series of lesser ridges <strong>undulating and spilling to the sea</strong>. Spectacular views abound with <strong>vistas opening up to outlying islands</strong> across the <strong>azure blue sea and emerald colors above reefs</strong>. The scenery is enhanced by <strong>ascents like "airplace rides," sheer descents</strong> and <strong>hairpin turns</strong> that require mirrors to be posted in places. Yes, driving on Tortola is an <strong>experience in itself</strong>. Some feel safer in jeeps and four-wheel-drive vehicles. And yes, <strong>drive on the left!</strong></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="580"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="562" colspan="3"><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><img src="Touring/TourIcon-TortolaRoad.gif" alt="RoadTourIcon.gif (3490 bytes)" border="0" width="70" height="61"></td> <td><strong><a name="Tour Tortola" target="Frame Body"><font size="6">T</font><font size="5">our</font><font size="6"> T</font><font size="5">ortola</a> by </font><font size="6">L</font><font size="5">and</font><font size="6"><br> </font><font size="5">Sights And Scenic Drives</font></strong></td> </tr> </table> </center></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="187"><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><a name="Ridge Road" target="Frame Body"><strong><font size="5">R</font><font size="4">idge Road</font></strong></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="Touring/RidgeRoadItselfIcon.jpg" alt="RidgeRoadItselfIcon.jpg (7392 bytes)" width="190" height="128"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The <strong>central spine</strong> of Tortola is the route of a main road, called aptly enough, "<strong>Ridge Road</strong>."</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p>From the East End, look for the police station-a <strong>large white building</strong>, and turn inland from the coastal road at Little Dicks Road to begin.</p> <p>Climbing up onto the ridge, this section of Ridge Road has views to <strong><a href="ocean.html#Josiah's Bay" target="Frame Body">Josiah's Bay</a></strong> with its <strong>large salt pond</strong>, which is reached via Josiah's Bay Road.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFF2D7"> <tr> <td>An everchanging<strong> tableau of ridges, valleys and islands</strong> appear in succession as the road follows the ridge or contour line, <strong>dipping through "ghuts," or stream valleys and transversing slopes</strong> to navigate the next peak.</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p>The <strong>background views</strong> here show peaks from Tortola's ocean headlands and <strong>outlying islands</strong> of Great Camanoe and easternmost <a href="GuanaIsland/default.html" target="Frame Body">Guana Island</a>.</p> <p>This scenic drive appears to slowly wrap around the <strong>"amphitheater" created by the spacious <a href="roadtown.html" target="Frame Body">Road Town Harbour</a></strong>. The islands across the Sir Francis Drake Channel form a backdrop in the distance.<br> <br> Since the top of a mountain is often its most level part, Ridge Road is the location of a <strong>whole way of life</strong>, reflecting Tortola's historically <strong>rural and pastoral culture</strong>. </p> <p>See <strong><a href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/ridge.html" target="Frame Body">Life on Ridge Road</a></strong>, including <a name="Shadow Stables" href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/ridge.html#Shadow Stables" target="Frame Body">Shadow Stables</a> for horseback riding.</p> <p>Here are found island farm houses with the <strong>traditional red tin roofs</strong>.<br> <img src="Touring/RidgeRoadHouseIcon.jpg" alt="RidgeRoadHouseIcon.jpg (7767 bytes)" width="189" height="119"></p> <p>Just past the Cool Breeze Bar is the turn off to <strong><a href="ocean.html#Brewer's Bay" target="Frame Body">Brewer's Bay</a></strong> at Brewer's Bay Road <strong>East</strong>. <a href="ocean.html#Mount Healthy Windmill" target="Frame Body"><strong>Mt. Healthy National Park</strong></a>, the ruins of windmill powered sugar mill at an historic sugar plantation, is down this road.</p> <p>Further on is the turn-off to the right to <a href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/ridge.html" name="Skyworld" target="Frame Body"><strong>Skyworld</strong></a>, the restaurant <strong>in the clouds</strong> with the 360� panoramic views.<br> <img src="Touring/SkyworldViewIntoCloudsIcon2.jpg" alt="SkyworldViewIntoCloudsIcon2.jpg (4636 bytes)" width="190" height="111"></p> <p>Another turnoff, at an <a href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/lost.html#Skyworld" target="Frame Body">outdoor bar</a> sitting next to the road, goes down to<strong><font size="3"> </font><font size="3"><a href="cane.html" target="Frame Body">Cane Garden Bay</a></font></strong></p> <p>Still further on, a turnoff goes up to <a href="Nature/MtSage.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Mount Sage National Park</strong></a>, with free trails, a semi<strong> rain forest</strong>, mahogany trees, mountain doves and <strong>spectacular views</strong>.</p> <p>As Ridge Road finally dips to the <a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Carrot Bay" target="Frame Body"><strong><font size="3">North Beach Coast</font></strong></a>, half way down toWindy Hill are the <strong>overgrown stone walls</strong> and other ruins of the18th century St. Michael's Church, reputedly headed by a <strong>pirate</strong> priest who used this vantage to spy passing ships, now usually charter boats.</p> <p><strong><font face="Tahoma">Lost</font> on Ridge Road?</strong> <a href="Tortola/RidgeRoad/lost.html" target="Frame Body">Click here</a>.</td> <td valign="top" width="194" bgcolor="#FFF4EA"><p align="center"><strong><a name="North Beach Coast Road" target="Frame Body"><font size="5">N</font><font size="4">orth Beach</a><br> Coast Road</font></strong></p> <p>This <strong>dramatic drive</strong> enchants and weaves itself amongst some of the <strong>finest beaches and places</strong> in the islands.</p> <p>To begin, take Ridge Road's ocean-side turn-off to <strong>Cane Garden Bay Road</strong> past <strong>Skyworld</strong>. From Road Town, take Joe's Hill Road and continue over Ridge Road to <strong>Cane Garden Bay Road</strong>.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td>There are dramatic views of <a href="ocean.html#Brewer's Bay" target="Frame Body"><strong>Brewer's Bay</strong></a> seen here, reached by Brewer's Bay Road <strong>West</strong>.<p>Follow this <strong>Tour Tortola icon</strong> for more detailed descriptions for traveling by foot or vehicle.</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><a href="cane.html#Dinghy Dock" target="Frame Body"><img src="Touring/TourIcon-TortolaRoad.gif" alt="RoadTourIcon.gif (3490 bytes)" border="0" vspace="4" width="70" height="61"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Preferably in a <strong>valiant little jeep</strong> like the one <strong>perched here</strong> (with four-wheel drive) <strong>on a crest</strong> above Brewer's Bay.</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p>The road offers a <strong>panoramic view </strong>of its namesake,<strong><font size="3"> </font><font size="3"><a href="cane.html" target="Frame Body">Cane Garden Bay</a></font></strong>, before descending steeply and then <strong>slipping along this beautiful beach</strong>.</p> <p>The route ascends out of Cane Garden Bay through woods before reaching Ridge Road's terminus at Windy Hill. The road becomes the North Coast Road as the  <a href="NorthCoast/default.html" target="Frame Body"><strong><font size="3">North Beach Coast</font></strong></a> begins.</p> <p>This route drops once more, past  into <a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Carrot Bay" target="Frame Body"><strong>Great Carrot Bay</strong></a>, a coastal village.</p> <p>On the cliffside way down is Just Limin' and on the flatland is Mrs. Scatliffe's and Palm's Delight restaurants. Also, the <a href="NorthCoast/default.html#North Shore Shell Museum" target="Frame Body"><strong>North Shore Shell Museum</strong></a> is found at a restaurant by that name.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFE7B3"> <tr> <td>Keep a look out for fascinating <strong>cloud formations</strong> as the tradewinds lift over Tortola's mountainous spine, often dropping very localized rain and <strong>sprouting rainbows</strong>. The play of <strong>cloud shadows</strong> over these rolling ridges and ethereal<strong> </strong>peaks is a continual, and majestic, work of art.</td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p>Passing Little Carrot Bay, the road goes on by <a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Apple Bay" target="Frame Body"><strong>Apple Bay</strong></a>, home of the famous Sugar Mill Restaurant.</p> <p>It quickly passes <strong><a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Surfing" target="Frame Body">Cappoon's Bay</a></strong>, Tortola's best surfing spot and home of <strong><a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Bomba's Shack" target="Frame Body">Bomba's Beach Shack</a></strong>, a ramshackle structure right in the surf.</p> <p>Next door is <strong><a href="http://localhostfosailorsparadise/NorthCoast/default.htm#Little Apple Bay" target="Frame Body">Little Apple Bay</a></strong>, where <strong>Sebastian's On the Beach</strong> serves as a kind of <strong>crossroads</strong> at Zion Hill Road, the way to Soper's Hole.</p> <p>The coast road becomes Long Bay Road and surmounting the next ridge presents a view of <strong>spectacular <a href="http://localhostfosailorsparadise/NorthCoast/default.htm#Long Bay" target="Frame Body">Long Bay Beach</a></strong>. Drive right through this fine resort, perhaps stopping to sample the great local food at <a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Nathan's Snackette" target="Frame Body">Nathan's Snackette</a>, right before climbing some more.</p> <p>Further on, a <strong>"rustic" road</strong> leads past Belmont Point to cozy <strong><a href="NorthCoast/default.html#Smuggler's Cove" target="Frame Body">Smuggler's Cove</a></strong>. Here you will find a unique "living museum" in a decaying beach bar as well as a <strong>giant Arawak <em>zemi</em></strong>.</td> <td valign="top" width="181"><p align="center"><strong><font size="5">S</font><font size="4">ir Francis<br> Drake Channel<br> Coastal Road</font></strong></p> <p>Another coastal road (<strong>this island is all coasts</strong>) runs along Tortola's Sir Francis Drake Channel from the <a href="/" target="Frame Body"><font size="3"><strong>Beef Island Airport</strong></font></a> on the East End to <a href="sopers.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Soper's Hole</strong></a> on the West End.</p> <p>This route is split into two main sections by <a href="roadtown.html" target="Frame Body"><font size="3"><strong>Road Town</strong></font></a> in the middle.</p> <p>The section from the <a href="http://localhost&127;%20SilorsParadise/beef.htm" target="Frame Body"><font size="3"><strong>Beef Island Airport</strong></font></a> on the East End, called Blackburn's Highway, passes <a href="FatHogsBay/default.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Fat Hog's Bay</strong></a>, <a href="MayaCove/default.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Maya Cove</strong></a> and other bays, going over a <strong>series of ridges</strong> looking out to Virgin Gorda, like this one seen from the Virgin Gorda ferry.<br> <img src="Touring/ChannelRidgeIcon.jpg" width="174" height="87" alt="ChannelRidgeIcon.jpg (4321 bytes)"></p> <p>The route then comes into <a href="roadtown.html" target="Frame Body"><font size="3"><strong>Road Town</strong></font></a>, becoming <strong>Waterfront Drive</strong> and making a half-circle around the <strong>harbour Capital and main habitation</strong>. Here is a modern supermarket and the beginning of our <strong><a href="http://localhostfosailorsparadise/roadtown.htm#Moorings Complex at Wickman's Cay II" target="Frame Body">Road <em>Tour</em> of Road Town</a></strong> with great dock and dining spots on the harbour.</p> <p>Other intown sights include the <a href="roadtown.html#Wickman's Cay, Ferry Dock, and Main Street Stores" target="Frame Body"><strong>Virgin Island Folk Museum</strong> and <strong><font size="3">J.R.O'Neal Botanic Garden</font></strong></a> as well as a <a href="roadtown.html#Main Street Dining" target="Frame Body">Dining Tour</a> of the largest selection of restaurants in the islands.</p> <p>A <strong>delightful side tour</strong> can be taken of Road Town's <a href="RoadTown/shops.html#Tour of Main St. Shops" target="Frame Body"><strong>Main Street Shops</strong></a>.</p> <p>Before leaving Road Town, don't miss <strong><a href="roadtown.html#Road Reef, Ft. Burt, and Prospect Reef" target="Frame Body">Fort Burt</a></strong>, still guarding the harbour as Tortola's most intact historic ruin</p> <p>The section past Road Town, called <strong>Drake's Highway</strong>, quickly passes <strong>Sea Cow's Bay</strong>, a quaint village with the <strong>Struggling Man's Place</strong>, an local restaurant with great coastal views.</p> <p>Going on by <a href="http://localhostfosailorsparadise/NannyCay/default.htm" target="Frame Body"><strong>Nanny Cay</strong></a>, a nautical village, this is an especially easy, <strong>low-lying, route</strong>, the flattest stretch of road on Tortola.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><img src="Touring/ChannelCoastRoadIcon2.jpg" width="174" height="42" alt="ChannelCoastRoadIcon2.jpg (2864 bytes)"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FEF4C7"><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="167"> <tr> <td width="161"><strong>Picturesque views to the outlying islands</strong> across the Sir Francis Drake Channel characterize this route. A <strong>vision of serenity!</strong></td> </tr> </table> </center></div></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p><strong>Ft. Recovery</strong>, at the <a href="sopers.html#Sir Francis Drake Channel Beaches of West Side" target="Frame Body">Ft. Recovery Estate Villas</a> resort, has the unrestored remains of a 17th century Dutch fort facing the water.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td>There is an turn-off inland at <strong>Zion Hill Road</strong> to the North Beach Coast, marked by this gas station, and the hillock in back that is one of a shapely set called The Towers.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="Tortola/ZionHillRdBuilding.jpg" width="128" height="146" alt="ZionHillRdBuilding.jpg (7243 bytes)"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p>This route finally reaches beautiful <a href="sopers.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Soper's Hole</strong></a> on the West End of Tortola. <a href="http://localhost&127;%20SilorsParadise/sopers.htm#Soper's Hole Wharf" target="Frame Body">The Wharf</a>, with its <strong>West Indian style</strong> shopping village on Frenchman's Cay, is a delightful ending to this route.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="562" colspan="3"> <div align="center"><center> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="198"> <tr> <td align="center" width="194"> <div align="center"><center> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#DAF8F4"> <tr> <td><a href="menubar.html" target="Frame Body"><strong>Lower Menubar</strong></a></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="194"><a href="Dining/default.html" target="_top"><img src="images/MBI-Dining.jpg" alt="MBI-Dining.jpg (3690 bytes)" border="0" width="61" height="60"></a><a href="IslandCentral/default.html" target="_top"><img src="images/MBI-IslandCentral.jpg" border="0" width="47" height="60"></a><a href="Lodging/default.html" target="_top"><img src="images/MBI-Lodging2.jpg" border="0" width="84" height="60"></a></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> </td> </tr> </table> </center></div>  </body>