Romantic Island location, the Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands.Since being "discovered" as a tourist destination in the early 1960's, Virgin Gorda is still not over-commercialized. It is reminiscent of Saint John (Virgin Islands) before the designer shoe and handbag stores arrived.
With only a few resorts and a sprinkling of villas, it has a pleasing intimacy. The passengers you meet on the nine-seat plane are likely to show up at the next table at dinner. The local people are well educated, friendly and caring, family oriented and remarkably aware of their place in the world. Virgin Gorda is a small island, about eight square miles, only a few miles from Tortola and its airport on Beef Island. In 2001, the population was 3100. The southwestern part of the island is known as the Valley.

For those staying at resorts, taxis are readily available for the occasional excursion. Most people staying in cottages or villas will want to rent a car for at least part of the stay. Driving is on the left. All major roads are paved except for the road to Mango Bay and Nail Bay; paving is underway there at this writing (Spring 2008). Some roads are narrow with steep drop-offs, dips and speed bumps.

All the usual tropic island activities are available—sailing, fishing, snorkeling and scuba.
Along the southwestern shore below Spanish Town, there is a string of beaches, with light surf, beautiful sand and blue water. Each beach is separated from the next by the huge granite boulders that make the scenery so memorable. All are public, but respect the privacy of the villas that face some of the beaches