Beaches, Sailing, Island Hopping: Travelers Are Flocking Back to the British Virgin Islands
Pusser’s. Loblolly. Cooper. Callwood. Soggy. There are quite a lot of one-word terms that immediately evoke strong feelings about the British Virgin Islands.
Now there’s another word: rebirth. The BVI is in the midst of a full-fledged travel renaissance, and the beloved archipelago just saw a visitor total it hadn’t welcomed since before Hurricane Irma back in 2017.
The British Virgin Islands is off to a strong start in 2025, with a 6.4 percent year-over-year increase in overnight arrivals in the first quarter.
But the biggest story was March, when the BVI reported 40,569 overnight guests, the highest monthly total since 2017 and the first time in eight years that overnight arrivals have topped 40,000 in a single month.
That’s quite an indicator for a territory that has seen its share of challenges since Irma and Maria, which were followed less than three years later by the pandemic.
But that’s all now in the rear-view mirror, as the multi-island destination is repositioning itself as a Caribbean tourism heavyweight.
It wasn’t just overnight tourism that saw gains — day-tripper arrivals also surged, increasing by 60 percent to 5,799 visitors in the first quarter.
The growth reflects the continued momentum for the BVI, which remains one of the Caribbean’s most intimately-loved destinations for both short stays and longer vacations.
The destination just saw the reopening of one of its landmark hotels, Peter Island, with a growing pipeline already active and more hotels (including the revived Biras Creek also in development).
And it’s never been easier to reach, thanks to continued nonstop service from American Airlines and new service from carriers like luxury airline Tradewind Aviation out of San Juan. You can find American Airlines flights out of Miami right now for about $626 roundtrip, according to Google Flights.
It’s a strong sign of “momentum” for the destination, BVI Tourism Director Clive McCoy told Caribbean Journal in a statement.
What about where to stay? That depends on the island. In Tortola, your best bet is a charming, boutique hotel like one of our BVI favorites, the Sugar Mill (prices at $516).
In Anegada, you should go for cottage-style vacation rentals like Ann’s Guest House or the Loblolly Beach Cottages.
If you’re heading to Virgin Gorda, we really recommend a villa with a company like Virgin Gorda Villa Rentals: it’s a great way to experience the laid-back vibes of the island. Another solid option is the villa-style boutique hotel called Cornucopia, which is also adults-only.
On Jost, there are two great options: the Hideout on White Bay, where every room has its own plunge pool in a direct-beachfront setting (rooms at $897) or the on-site hotel at the legendary Soggy Dollar Bar called the Sandcastle, which has toes-in-the-sand bungalows and has the shortest commute for a world-famous painkiller.
Of course, if you want to really savor the joy of island hopping, you need to jump on a charter boat for a sailing trip with a company like The Moorings, either with a crew or, if you have the experience, all on your own. It’s one of the most unforgettable vacations you can take in the Caribbean.
