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British Virgin Islands / Ferries

The BVIs has an efficient network of ferries that buzz between the main islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda and some of the territory’s smaller outposts. They also serve the US Virgin Island of St Thomas, where travellers arriving by plane can jump aboard to complete the final leg of their journey to the BVIs.

Travellers flying into the main airport at Beef Island, Tortola, will need to take a ferry or water taxi if they’re staying at Virgin Gorda or one of the other islands.

For an interactive map of BVI ferry docks click on the map and select transport from the key.

Ferry services from Tortola to other BVIs

North Sound Express, Bitter End - It operates around six services a day from the airport via Spanish Town and Leverick Bay to Bitter End on North Sound in the north of Virgin Gorda. Reservations required.

New Horizon Ferry Service, M/V Paradise Express - This sails from West End in Tortola to Great Harbour and Little Harbour in Jost Van Dyke five times a day.

Peter Island Ferry - The island resort operates a ferry between Road Town on Tortola and Peter Island Dock. There are normally around 10 crossings a day.

North Sound, Virgin Gorda - Several resorts on North Sound have their own ferries that run regular services linking them with Tortola. The Bitter End ferry takes staff and guests to and from Bitter End from Gun Creek. Biras Creek does the same and Saba Rock has its own water taxi to collect people and take them to and from Saba Rock.

Ferry services between the BVIs and USVIs

Ferries sail between St Thomas, from downtown Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, at the east end of the island, to Road Town and West End on Tortola, or even to Spanish Town on Virgin Gorda.

Ferry schedules from St Thomas vary by day and season, but usually the last ferries leave the waterfront at Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas around 5pm, requiring a flight arrival time no later than 4pm. This ensures time for disembarking, luggage reclaim and the 15-minute taxi ride to the ferry terminal on the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie. Don’t be fooled by later ferry departure times from Red Hook, St Thomas. Red Hook is the easternmost point on St Thomas, and can take up to an hour to reach from the airport because of the traffic. If you were to make a run for Red Hook you may be catching a ferry that has previously left from downtown Charlotte Amalie anyway.

For the latest schedules, check the companies concerned. The schedule stays the same year-round, but when things are slow (in the summer) they may cut a sailing or two, so it is advisable to check the week before going.

St Thomas - Tortola
There are about six sailings each day except on Sundays when there are around four. A catamaran has recently started the route. Native Sun and Speedy’s sometimes share the schedule on some sailings.

Ferry companies include: Native Son, Smith’s Ferry Service and Caribbean Maritime Excursion

St Thomas - St John - Tortola
Nubian Princess - This company sometimes also makes a stop in Cruz Bay in St John on its three or four daily sailings.

St Thomas - Virgin Gorda (via Road Town)
Speedy's - Five sailings a week, currently Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Browse Ferries on other islands

Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | British Virgin Islands | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada & Carriacou | Nevis | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago

Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

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British Virgin Islands’s weather

British Virgin Islands weather chart

When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Charter a yacht and sail by day, bar hop at night
  2. Marvel at the massive boulders at The Baths, Virgin Gorda
  3. Chill out at the Fireball Full Moon Party, Trellis Bay
  4. Enjoy a beach villa holiday with the family
  5. Scuba Dive Sir Francis Drake Channel

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