If you''re looking for a quiet Caribbean getaway, with plenty of sand and surf, Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, is the place for you. With a population of 60,000, this island is just 10 miles long and 3 miles wide. With a name meaning the Turtle Dove of the Caribbean, Tortola is considered to be a laid-back, easygoing destination for those who want to get away from it all for a while.
Tortola boasts the highest elevation in all of the British Virgin Islands. Mount Sage, at 1716 feet high, provides a vantage point for panoramic views of the sea and the islands. It was from this point that Columbus viewed the islands and named them the Virgin Islands after after St Ursula''s martyred 10,000 virgins.
Tortola offers the vacationer many water sports and activities from which to choose. These include sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, boat charter trips, and much more. One of the most unique offerings is Dolphin Discovery ( 866-393-5158) , in which tourists go out on a boat with a trained professional and search for gentle, graceful dolphins in the sea.
Other sights that are not to be missed on this small island include the Botanic Gardens, which encompass four acres; and the Fort Recovery Tower, built around an original 17th century British fort, one of the last standing, oldest, completely intact forts in the Caribbean. Of course, there is always shopping as well. Tortola''s shops offer the normal clothing, jewelry, and sundries, but one can also find unique spice shops, art galleries, and stores sellling herbs and natural medicinal alternatives.
Accommodations on Tortola range from private and secluded to larger, busier hotels. Villas are quite popular, as they are small homes that can be rented by the week or sometimes per night with a minimum stay. The Sugar Plum villas http://www.purplepineapple.com/ offer a two bedroom house on the sea, and sleeps four. It boasts panoramic sea views, and is just three minutes from the beach. These villas rent for $1950 to $3500 per week. The family-friendly Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas http://www.fortrecovery.com/ are a bit more reasonable, from $150 to $200 per night.
The Sugar Mill Hotel http://www.sugarmillhotel.com/ offers 23 rooms, ranging from suites to villas. It sits on a small beach with a natural reef, rand rooms rent from $250 to $700 per night. A restaurant serving breakfast and lunch also exists at the Sugar Mill.
Tourists in Tortola also have many restaurants from which to choose. One popular dining spot is Sebastians On The Beach, located on Little Apple Bay http://www.sebastiansbvi.com/ . Sebastians serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is also famous for its own Sebastians Rum. Sebastians also has a 26 room hotel ranging from $105 to $300 per night.
One of the island''s fine dining choices, The Last Resort, on Trellis Bay (284-495-2520) is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two. The Last Resort offers dinner only, and is a bit more expensive, but worth it for a special evening.
