The British Virgin Islands, located in the northeast Caribbean, are a collection of gorgeous islands that used to be inhabited by pirates and sailors. Lying sixty miles east of Puerto Rico, they are exquisite tropical destinations, visited by tourists from all over the world. These islands are comprised of hidden caves and fascinating inlets, and for the most part they are incredibly small in size. Only Tortola and Virgin Gorda are of reasonable stature in geographic terms. The colony of Tortola itself is only twenty-four square miles, and its capital, Road Town, has emerged as a haven for yacht chartering. This came about after the development of Wickhams Cay, a seventy-acre marina and landfill. The southern coast of Tortola mainly consists of great mountains, and the northern coast a fabulous white-sand beach with beautiful bays and banana trees.

Virgin Gorda, only a twelve-mile ferry ride away, is equally glorious, with just as rich a history. Both Tortola and Virgin Gorda are controlled by the British, but they are controlled loosely, and they are basically free to do as they please. They are governed well, and you will find yourself safe and comfortable in both of these destinations. The locals are friendly and eager to assist you, and for being such tiny locations, there are a wonderful amount of activities to choose from, and plenty of tremendous sightseeing locations and fun to be had.

A wonderful array of water sports is available to the tourists of Tortola and Virgin Gorda, and the restaurants are quite pleasant as well. Taking a ferry or motorboat to any of the other forty islands in the vicinity is also a great way to spend an afternoon. There are plenty of relatively unexplored, uninhabited regions for you to jaunt around and see what you can find. Taking guided island tours are very enjoyable, as they are both informative and exciting.

The boulder-covered beach known as The Baths has made Virgin Gorda famous with travelers. Christopher Columbus actually named the island, translated to read "Fat Virgin." He thought that the mountain framing of Virgin Gorda looked similar to a protruding stomach. One of the most private and solitary tourist centers in all of the world, Virgin Gorda became slightly more bustling after Little Dix Bay Hotel opened there and started to thrive in the 1960s. One thing for sure, Tortola and Virgin Gorda remain tranquil, yet lovely and are wonderful locations to visit.