One Week by Yacht in the British Virgin Islands: A Sample Itinerary from Tortola

If you are dreaming of warm water this winter, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to spend a week on a crewed yacht. The islands sit close together, so passages are short and you can wake up somewhere new every morning. This sample seven-night itinerary starts and ends on Tortola. It mixes famous stops with quieter corners, and it works on a crewed catamaran, sailing yacht or motor yacht.

As with any itinerary, your captain will adjust the route for the weather, the swell and your group’s pace. For a wider view of the season, see our Caribbean yacht charter guide for 2026–27.

Why the BVI work so well for a week on board

The distances are small. One published seven-day route from Tortola covers about 94 nautical miles in total, and most legs take under two hours under power. That leaves long days for swimming, snorkelling and lunch ashore, rather than hours at sea. Many of the best-known sites are protected national parks with mooring buoys, which help protect the reefs you came to see.

Day 1: Tortola to Norman Island

After boarding on Tortola, head south to Norman Island. On the way, stop to snorkel at The Indians and at the Caves at Treasure Point. There are four flooded caves here. The northernmost runs back about 70 feet, so bring an underwater torch. Spend the night in The Bight, a large bay that is home to a well-known floating bar, the Willy T.

Day 2: The wreck of the RMS Rhone and Cooper Island

Cruise east towards Salt Island and the Rhone Marine Park. The Royal Mail steamer RMS Rhone was launched in 1865 and wrecked at Black Rock Point in October 1867, when a powerful hurricane drove her onto the rocks. The site became a national park in 1980. The stern lies in around 30 feet of water and the bow in about 80 feet, so both snorkellers and certified divers can enjoy it. Film fans may recognise it from the 1977 film The Deep.

Spend the afternoon at nearby Cooper Island. Snorkel off Cistern Point, a good spot for turtle watching, then pick up a mooring in Manchioneel Bay for the night.

Day 3: Virgin Gorda and The Baths

Arrive early at The Baths National Park on Virgin Gorda. The park was established in 1990. It is famous for huge granite boulders, some up to 40 feet across, which form pools and grottoes along the beach. Steps and rope handrails guide you through the rocks to sandy Devil’s Bay.

A few practical points from the BVI National Parks Trust: boats need a marine mooring permit, the park is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, and strong winter swells can sometimes close the moorings and beach access from the sea. If the swell is up, your crew will simply move the stop to another day.

Day 4: North Sound

Continue up to North Sound at the north-eastern end of Virgin Gorda. It is a natural base for water sports, with snorkelling at spots such as Monkey Point and Diamond Reef, and moorings near Saba Rock, Bitter End and Leverick Bay.

Day 5: Anegada

Anegada is unlike anywhere else in the BVI. It is the only inhabited island in the group made of coral and limestone rather than volcanic rock. Its highest point is only about 28 feet above sea level, and its name comes from the Spanish for “flooded land”. The island lies about 15 miles north of Virgin Gorda and is ringed by Horseshoe Reef, an 18-mile barrier reef that has claimed hundreds of ships over the centuries. That is why your captain will approach carefully, in good light.

Ashore, hire a vehicle to reach the beaches at Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck Beach, look for the flamingos that have been reintroduced to the salt ponds, and try the island’s famous lobster for dinner.

Day 6: Jost Van Dyke

Head west to Jost Van Dyke, the smallest of the four main British Virgin Islands. Anchor off White Bay, home of the Soggy Dollar Bar and its well-known Painkiller cocktail. Then move round to Great Harbour, where Foxy’s beach bar is known for live music. If the conditions are calm, take the tender to Sandy Spit or visit the Bubbly Pool.

Day 7: Back towards Tortola

Use the last full day for whatever the group enjoyed most: another snorkel, a lazy beach morning, or a final lunch at anchor. Then cruise back towards Tortola for the last night on board, ready to disembark the next morning.

When to go, and booking the festive weeks

The BVI are mainly a winter destination for crewed charters, which fits neatly with the end of the Mediterranean season. Christmas and New Year are the most sought-after weeks of the Caribbean winter, and the best crewed yachts for those dates are often reserved well ahead. If you are thinking of a festive week, it is worth asking now rather than in December.

Before you compare yachts, it helps to understand how a crewed charter is priced. Our guide to yacht charter costs, APA, VAT and tips explains the charter fee, running expenses and crew gratuity. It also covers why many Caribbean crewed catamarans are quoted on a more inclusive basis than larger motor yachts.

Plan your BVI charter with iBoat International

Tell us your dates, the size of your group, the type of yacht you prefer and what you want from the week. That might be diving the Rhone, beach bars on Jost Van Dyke, or simply quiet anchorages. We will come back with a shortlist of crewed yachts and a suggested route. You can explore more on our Caribbean charter page or contact us to start planning.