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Where pirates once hid gold and jewels, today vacationers from all over the world snorkel and marvel at the fascinating colorfulness of the underwater world. Tortola, the main island of the British Virgin Islands, is the Caribbean pirate island par excellence: dreamlike bays, dense jungle and hidden rum distilleries. Disembark in the lively capital Road Town and let Tortola enchant you.
Tortola is the business and tourism center of the British Virgin Islands. The island offers everything you would expect from a perfect place in the Caribbean: dozens of fine sandy beaches, clear water and hidden bays as well as a well-developed tourist infrastructure that leaves nothing to be desired, from rental cars and scooters to motor boats and sailing yachts. The history of the islands is inextricably linked with cash – this was already the case when looting privateers still frequently visited the islands, and has not changed to this day, since many international financial institutions have important branches here.
The British sugarcane plantation, where African slaves were used, was the impetus for the earliest permanent settlement. In the 18th century, loyalists fleeing the American Revolution brought their wealth and slaves. After England abolished slavery in the 19th century. In the nineteenth century, the economy collapsed. The Kingstown neighborhood of Tortola was a place where freed slaves settled, and St. Phillip’s Church is among the first black churches in America. Despite the British flag, the currency used on Tortola is the US dollar. In addition to beautiful beaches such as Smuggler’s Cove, Apple Bay and Cane Garden Bay, there are numerous historical attractions on Tortola, including the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, Mount Healthy Windmill and Fort Burt. Many visitors also make their way to visit attractions on the nearby islands – for example, The Baths or the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, or such famous and relaxed bars as Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke.
