Virgin Gorda Vacation Guide

Around two months before your trip date, you should check the flight details and decide on an option to get to the Caribbean airport hub near Virgin Gorda.

First, you check Google flights for the available, scheduled flights to San Juan (SJU), St. Martin (SXM), St. Thomas (STT), or Antigua (ANU) from your departure point. Usually, most flights into the Caribbean arrive in the afternoon, thus if you don’t want to stay overnight on your hub island, it’s better to plan for a flight or ferry from your landing airport.

There are currently few scheduled carriers that fly into Tortola or Virgin Gorda from SJU; these are Seaborne/Silver, Inter-Caribbean, and Cape Air. Even fewer flights depart from other islands.

Seaborne and Cape Air codeshare with American and/or Delta. Inter-Caribbean flies to Tortola from St. Maarten and several other islands. If you choose to go to Tortola, you’ll have to take a 20-minute ferry ride to Virgin Gorda. The ferry dock, known as Trellis Bay, is a short walk from the airport. It has some beach bars and restaurants where passengers can relax while waiting for a ferry. There are usually 4 ferries a day that departs with a 6 pm and 8 pm ferry, but it’s always better to reserve ahead of time. You can find the ferry schedules here. If you’re arriving in Tortola by air, you’ll want to choose the Beef Island to Spanish town route because the Beef Island Ferry dock is within walking distance from the Terrance B. Lettsome airport.

Input your flights into Google flights as one way, each way. This will make it easier to isolate your desired time and manage it. Don’t forget to check in on your flight one or two days in advance of your proposed stay just to make sure everything is on the right track. You can always refer to the generated listing to help you decide on the time, route, and price before going directly to an airline’s website to book or redeem points.

If you’re booking ahead more than 3 months in advance, you should beware of the changing flight times. Most often, flights to the Caribbean hubs are only really settled several months of advance. As such, try not to pick a very early flight on your departure back home because you might end up having to get up incredibly early to make ferry or plane connections.

While searching for a flight to book, if you cannot find any that lands you in the hub destination by mid-afternoon time, you have the chance to stay overnight in one of the hubs. Alternatively, you can order an air charter who will meet you at your island hub and fly directly to Virgin Gorda, provided it’s still dust at the time of arrival at VG. All four hubs have excellent accommodation and interesting sightseeing opportunities, and all charter flights are serviced by twin-engine turboprops run by experienced charter operators.

If you are flying to St. Thomas (STT), there is normally a Speedy’s ferry that goes directly to Virgin Gorda on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5 p.m. It is often cheaper than flying directly to Beef Island (EIS) and can potentially save you connection time. Always check the USVI to BVI Ferry times before you arrive!

Speedy’s Ferry:
Phone: +1-284-341-7145
Visit website

Native Son Ferry
Phone: +1-340-774-8685
book online

An alternative to the ferry service from St Thomas to Tortola or Virgin Gorda is a private water taxi. Private water taxis tend to have more flexibility and convenience than a ferry. Although they can be pricey when traveling in small groups, the value will be apparent when you reach BVI customs and immigration comfortably sitting on a comfy yacht with a frosty beverage versus the alternative of standing in line at immigration. Most reputable BVI Water Taxis, offer same-day quotes and availability and are well-advertised online. Some of them also offer one-way and round-trip pricing. In addition, they can bring you all the way to Virgin Gorda, non-stop.

Island Time Water Taxi:
Phone: +1 284-495-9993
reservations

Bradley Powerboats:
visit website

VIBVI Water Taxi
check prices

If you are a group of 5 members or more, your best choice would be the air charter option. It’ll get you directly to Virgin Gorda from the hub you’re at. Each charter company below has a choice of 5-seat or 9-seat planes that can land at Virgin Gorda. Most of the time, the cost of a charter for a group is less than the cost of a scheduled flight not to mention that the time savings can be well worth the expense. If you are interested in learning more about the flight costs, you can email:

Virgin Gorda Air Charters
Visit Website

Island Birds
Phone USA: +1-321-406-1971
Phone BVI: +1-284-495-2002
Visit website
(Note that Island Birds has an option to fly from another airport – the harbor – in San Juan which is even less expensive)

All car rental companies on Virgin Gorda are very reliable and they offer a reasonably priced selection of cars and SUVs for rent, in very good conditions. Driving on Virgin Gorda is much easier than on other islands. Be sure to call or email ahead of your trip to confirm availability.

L & S Jeep Rentals:
Phone: (284) 495-5297
visit website

Mahogany Car Rental:
Phone: (284) 495-5469
visit website

Speedy’s:
Phone: (284) 495-5235
visit website

About 5-10 days before your scheduled flight date, you should start thinking about an initial stocking of the villa with food and refreshments. Your ultimate choice would be arranging your initial food and beverage order with Buck’s Food Market in South Valley, Virgin Gorda.

Bucks Food Market
Phone: (284) 495 5423
visit website

Buck’s is open every day; Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am till 7:50 pm, and Sundays from 7:00 am till 6:50 pm. Bucks will deliver your order to the villa, unpack and place perishable items in the fridge, but don’t forget to mention in your email that you’re staying at Adagio Villa at Mahoe Bay. If you decide on ordering groceries and other stuff to the villa, make sure to inform the management company.

We want your BVI vacation to go smoothly, and can even assist you with packing. Two nights before your flight, pack your suitcases. There is a saying popular among frequent travelers to the Caribbean: “pack half as many clothes and take twice as much money.”

DessLocals and visitors at Virgin Gorda dress very casually, so when packing, casual shorts, T-shirts, and golf shirts are perfectly fine for your vacation. In case you needed any additional clothing or wanted to buy something special, there are two nice clothing stores at the northern end of the island in Leverick Bay called Pussers and Arawak. They sell quality clothing at very reasonable prices.

You can also find more clothing stores in Spanish town and at the Baths.

Our final recommendation for your BVI trip plan is one day before your flight, book a taxi or a limo to take you to the airport. Feel free to contact the Adagio team if you have any questions or feedback.

Have a safe flight & enjoy!