The British Virgin Islands Is Hosting the Caribbean’s Best Lobster Festival

By Alexander Britell

The perfect Caribbean vacation often includes at least one lobster meal featuring some of the freshest, tastiest lobster in the world.

But what if you could travel somewhere where lobster is on every menu, at every restaurant, all day long?

This is Anegada, the beach-filled outpost in the British Virgin Islands that’s making a quick rebound from Hurricane Irma — and playing host to its annual Anegada Lobster Festival that’s become a magnet for foodies and lobster lovers from all over the world.

While Anegada did not escape damage from the storm, its recovery has begun in earnest, and officials thought it important to hold the annual festival as planned this year.

That means that if you head to this year’s festival, you aren’t just coming for an unforgettable culinary experience — you’re also helping contribute to the island’s recovery. Who can argue with that?

The Anegada Lobster Festival will go ahead on Nov. 25 and 26.

“We felt it was important to hold the Anegada Lobster Fest, one of the BVI Food Fete’s signature events, to announce to repeat guests and prospective guests throughout the region and internationally, that the BVI is open for tourism business even as we recover from Hurricane Irma, one of the most destructive hurricanes in recorded history” said British Virgin Islands Director of Tourism Sharon Flax-Brutus.  “Additionally, since Anegada was not as impacted as the other main islands, we felt it would be a good idea for Anegada to ring in the tourism high season as we begin to welcome visitors.”

There are seven restaurants participating in this year’s Anegada Lobster Festival, “putting their unique spins on our most popular crustacean for all guests to sample,” the tourist board said in a statement.

There will be live entertainment and several opportunities to explore the island, home to sparkling turquoise water and some magnificent beaches like the white-sand Loblolly Bay.

So where to stay? Right now, accommodations are admittedly limited — but local charter yacht companies like Marine Max and Sunsail can provide accommodations and options for the event.

Indeed, the BVI yachting sector began welcoming visitors on Nov. 1.

There will also be daily ferry transportation to and from Tortola.

As in past years, visitors to the festival will be able to win special prices from the BVI Tourist Board if they visit all of the participating restaurants and visit the island’s main historic attractions.

In other words, the more lobster you eat, the better.

That’s a wonderful thing.

Fore more information, visit the Anegada Lobster Festival.