BVI 7 Day Bareboat Catamaran Itinerary
7 Day British Virgin Islands Catamaran Sailing Itinerary
Our 7 day BVI sailing itinerary is suitable for both bareboat and crewed catamarans. The British Virgin Islands are the finest cruising grounds in the Caribbean for both bareboat monohull / catamaran charters and crewed catamaran / motoryacht charters. This itinerary will help you experience the best of the BVI: fantastic snorkelling at the Caves and Indians, secluded beaches and anchorages, some of the prettiest beaches in the world, the iconic Baths, and beach bars and clubs such as Soggy Dollar, Foxy's and Pirates.
This itinerary contains advice from the knowledgeable Boatbookings Brokers, who have delivered the finest sailing experiences for friends and family for over 14 years. The Boatbookings team visits the yacht shows in the BVI annually to find the best boats available for every season. We look forward to helping you find the right charter and plan your bespoke itinerary in the BVI!
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Map
Day 1: Tortola to the Bight, Norman Island
Day 1 of your charter is an easy sail through the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island, passing some of the best snorkelling spots in the BVI. You can snorkel on the Indians, a dramatic series of rocks jutting out of the sparkling cerulean waters approaching Norman Island, or the legendary Caves on which are just around the corner from the Bight anchorage.
With a kaleidoscope of marine life to be discovered, it is no wonder that these caves inspired the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is the perfect way to settle into the island rhythm, finding the perfect anchorage in the Bight to watch your first sunset, cook a great meal, or head ashore to Pirates for island fare such as conch fritters.
Day 2: Norman Island to Peter Island
Day 3: Peter Island to Salt & Cooper Island
Day 4: Cooper Island to Ginger Island to the Baths, Virgin Gorda
Day 4 will begin shortly after breakfast on board, passing by the privately-owned Ginger Island which rises gracefully from the sea, surrounded by luscious mangroves. Beyond the hilly landscapes of Ginger Island and you will spy the Baths on Virgin Gorda; these natural jacuzzis that fill with seawater will certainly be a hit with both kids and adults. After a fairly complex trail, you will find colourful groves and dramatic granite boulders reaching from the sea up to the clear sky - a reward for the work you put in!
Devils Bay Beach at the south end of the Baths is absolutely stunning, worth an hour swimming or just enjoying this quintessential Caribbean beach. Spend the night in Long Bay Virgin Gorda for a short sail tomorrow to the North Sound Virgin Gorda. If you're planning on sailing to Anegada, head to the North Sound and skip Long Bay.
Day 5: North Sound Virgin Gorda, Oil Nut Bay, Prickly Pear and Eustatia Islands
If you're into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, world-famous Necker Island is owned by Richard Branson and Eustatia Island is owned by Larry Page, Google Co-Founder, both of whom take great pains to build eco-friendly buildings on these islands.
Irma note - North Sound Virgin Gorda was hit directly by the eye of Hurricane Irma and sustained significant damage. It is busily rebuilding, but we recommend anchoring next to Prickly Pear Island or around the north bend in the protected, secluded bay before Oil Nut Bay.
Day 6: Scrub Island, The Dogs and Jost Van Dyke
Day 6 will be a fantastic sailing day crossing the Sir Francis Drake channel once again past Beef Island Tortola to Scrub Island. Along the way, stop at George Dog, an uninhabited island with a great anchorage and excellent snorkelling.
The Dogs are a series of 5 uninhabited islands at the west end of Sir Francis Drake Channel, named for the barking seals that the original sailors found there (before they ate them). They are best on calm days, as there is often a strong swell given their location at the mouth of the channel.
If your group is looking for a bit of luxury and would enjoy spa treatments, you head to the marina at Scrub Island Resort and Spa. IRMA note- the Scrub Island Resort and Spa has been completely renovated and has more luxurious rooms to stay at since its destruction in September 2017. Stop for lunch before continuing towards Manchioneel Bay Little Jost Van Dyke, where you can spend the evening with amazing views. Day 7 has beach bars galore!
Day 7 - White Bay and Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke is just a short sail away and the perfect way to spend the final day in the British Virgin Islands. Get to White Bay Jost Van Dyke early in the morning to find the best anchorage before heading onto the beach to sample an original Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar Bar (pictured at the top of this article). Play "hook the ring", get a "cheeseburger in paradise" and read their amazing book about the rebuilding after Irma. Take a walk on the beach to the other famous establishments such as Seddy's One Love. Kids may want to snorkel between the numerous boats anchored just offshore, as you really can find "soggy dollars" that have fallen out of people's pockets as they swim ashore.
As the sun begins to set, head over to Great Harbor for dinner at Corsairs and dancing late into the night at the famous Foxy's. If Foxy isn't playing his guitar, he can often be found in the restaurant and is happy to take a picture with you. Foxy's has remained open throughout the BVI restoration and remains one of the most famous BVI beach bars and is still well known as one of the best places in the world to visit for New Years Eve.
Adventurous? Try Anegada!
If you enjoy open water sailing, white sandy beaches that don't get hot in the sun, secluded beach bars and lobster bbq's on the beach, then consider sailing north to Anegada from Virgin Gorda and spending only one day on Jost Van Dyke! This is a slightly longer sail and is very dependant upon sailing conditions. We highly recommend Cow Wreck Beach for afternoon cocktails and the lobster dinners in the sand in the evening. See our Anegada chartering page for more details!
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The British Virgin Islands has been one of our most popular luxury yacht charter destinations for over 14 years. The Boatbookings expert brokers know the area inside and out and can recommend the best things to do and the must-see sites during your charter. Enquire today for your bespoke BVI proposal!
Interested in Hiking? See our BVI Hiking Guide to explore these islands both from the sea and above.
Our BVI Charter Guides: BVI Yacht Charter Guide | Tortola | Virgin Gorda | Jost Van Dyke | Peter Island | Anegada | BVI Attractions | BVI Blog
Similar Destinations: The Windward Islands | Antigua | British Virgin Islands | Grenada | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Spanish Virgin Islands | St Barths | Anguilla | St Martin/Maarten | St Lucia | St Vincent and the Grenadines | US Virgin Islands - St Thomas, St John, St Croix
