Featured Island: British Virgin Islands
Country: British Overseas Territory
Island Capitals: Road Town
Population: 22,016
Major Airports:Cyril E King Airport International Airport (US Virgin Islands)
Major Airlines: LiatAmericanAirwaysUS AirwaysUnited AirlinesContinental Airlines
Description: The British Virgin Islands are situated in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They are directly east of the US Virgin Islands and about 150 kilometers east of Puerto Rico. The territory consists of 4 main islands and over 50 smaller islands making up a total area of approximately 153 square kilometers. The British Virgin Islands receives an arid climate moderated by trade winds. The temperatures vary very little throughout the year. Summers are hot and relatively dry, while winters are hot with increased precipitation. The wettest months are September through November. The complex nature of the political separation of Borneo coupled with the bio-diversity and natural wonders of this Island makes it a totally unique Island. On one hand you have some of the oldest lush rainforest in the world home to many thousands of plants and animals, and on the other the home of the Sultan of Brunei the Istana Nurul Iman, the largest residential palace in the world. The Virgin Islands were named by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. During the following 3 centuries these islands were held by several European powers, including France, Spain, Netherlands, England and Denmark. The British Virgin Islands were first settled upon by the Dutch in 1648 before being annexed in 1672 by the British. Cruise ships often call at Road Town's harbour on Tortola. One or two ships typically arrive each day during winter, and their passengers quickly overwhelm the small settlement. Many passengers flock via taxis to Cane Garden Bay beach.
Highlights Virgin Island National Park Road TownSnorkeling and scubaBeachesSail the islands
Landmarks / To Dos: Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands and home to the oldest and unique buildings in the Virgin Islands, mush of the town was destroyed in 1853 but the oldest remaining building is still the HM Prison on Main Street, dates from the 1840s. In the 1950 Laurence Rockefeller discovered St John, which was nearly abandoned at the time. He purchased large amounts of the land build the Caneel Bay Resort then donated about 5000 acres to the US government to be made in to a national park in 1956. Today Virgin Islands National Park covers two-thirds of the island, plus 5650 acres underwater. There are lots of small uninhabited islands within the British Virgin Islands which makes sailing round this area breathtaking. You will feel like the first people to pass through some of these areas in hundreds of years. It natural unspoiled landscape is its best attraction.