Craving a crowd-free Caribbean vacation? The form of get-away-from-it-all break that entails lolling about on abandoned seashores, each day snorkelling and quaffing piña coladas? I hear you.

You’ve most likely thought of Cuba, contemplated about Puerto Rico and even toyed with the concept of Tobago, however I’d wish to put the British Virgin Islands in your radar. Most well-known for Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s 74-acre hideaway the place the likes of Princess Di, Mariah Carey and Harry Kinds have holidayed, the vacation spot is usually dismissed as a glitzy billionaire’s playground.

However there’s a lot extra to the archipelago than $40,000-per-night-rooms, superyachts and celebrities. Scattered like pearls throughout the Caribbean sea, the British Abroad Territory contains 60 islands, isles and cays, with one thing to supply each kind of traveller, from honeymooning {couples} to journey seekers.

Arriving right here does require a breezy inter-island hop on a miniature aircraft after your lengthy haul flight to a most important island, however it’s undoubtedly price the additional effort. You’re rewarded with swathes of unspoilt nature and a few of the area’s most dazzling seashores, full with pristine stretches of powder-white sand and heat turquoise lagoons.

Other than the breathtaking seashores, this secluded pocket of paradise boasts wildlife-rich rainforests, lush inexperienced peaks and shimmering reefs, offering countless alternatives for climbing, snorkelling, diving and myriad water sports activities.

Then there’s the mouthwateringly scrumptious gastronomy (assume ocean-fresh seafood and a rainbow of tropical fruit and veg), glorious rum and charismatic locals, who’ve friendliness constructed into their bones. As for the vibe, it’s decidedly laid-back and slow-paced – I felt the colossal weight of the world slip from my shoulders mere moments after arriving on paradise shores.

Tempted but? Right here’s the whole lot you must find out about holidaying within the British Virgin Islands…

A style of luxurious on Virgin Gorda

Out of the 60 emerald splodges that make up the BVIs, there are 4 most important islands; Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dijk, every with its personal distinctive identification. Jost Van Dijk, as an illustration, presents hedonistic nightlife, whereas low-lying Anegada, which hosts extra sea life than you would shake a flip flop at, is a haven for divers.

I started my journey on Virgin Gorda, finest identified for its untamed pure magnificence and manicured resorts, with a keep on the legendary Rosewood Little Dix Bay (a favorite with the royals), and all I can say is wow.

After touchdown bleary-eyed at Beef Island airport, I discovered myself on the resort’s catamaran – fiery rum punch in hand, sea breeze working by my hair – scooting over moonlit waves in direction of the bay. I stepped onto the picket pier to be greeted by my very personal butler (!) who, after handing me an iced flannel, whisked me off to my treehouse suite in a buggy. Too darkish to make sense of something apart from the swaying palms and chirping crickets, I felt like I used to be in a dream.

Standing proudly on stilts amid tumbles of greenery, my suite was extra like a fully-fledged seaside home than a resort room, with an infinite bed room, lounge, outside bathe and a beneficiant wrap-around balcony. Because the sky pinkened with daybreak the next morning, I pulled again the blackout curtains and caught my first glimpse of my postcard-pretty environment – palm-drenched sands, translucent jade waters and verdant hills. Heaven.

Island life is splendidly sluggish paced

Life at Rosewood is blissfully lazy, making all of it too straightforward to whereas away the hours on the pristine half-mile-long seaside, flip flopping between the ocean and your solar lounger. It’s price benefiting from the complimentary water taxis to the impeccable seashores close by, nevertheless. Gourmand picnic lunches ready by the cooks will be packed, together with seaside umbrellas and snorkelling gear for an island getaway inside a getaway.

A go to to the well-known Baths, the place a jumble of ginormous granite boulders have created pure swimming pools, paths and grottos you can wade, swim and clamber between, can be a should.

The Baths on Virgin Gorda are one of many BVI’s hottest vacationer sights

Though Virgin Gorda isn’t a celebration island, you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from a slice of night motion. I’d counsel beginning on the resort’s open-air Rum Room for an expertly combined Darkish ‘n’ Stormy earlier than leaping in a taxi to CocoMaya, a beachside restaurant and bar sat on a stunning stretch of seaside in Spanish City. The vibe right here is spot on: lilting reggae beats, full of life teams taking part in seaside video games, luridly colored rum cocktails and the distinct waft of recent seafood and spices.

We had solely deliberate to go to for a quiet dinner however ended up staying till the early hours, taking part in cornhole (an American garden sport which entails lobbing a bean bag right into a gap. Belief me, it’s much more enjoyable than it sounds) and dancing euphorically to Mamma Mia! songs within the heat, tropical rain. It’s genuinely essentially the most enjoyable I’ve had in years.

Rooms at Rosewood begin from $1,020 per evening in an ocean view cottage on a B&B foundation. Discover out extra and ebook: rosewoodhotels.com

Hitting the water

Touted because the crusing capital of the world, it could be remiss to go to the BVIs with out spending a while on the water. There are inter-island ferries and water taxis providing each day rides between the bigger islands, however chartering a ship is how most guests select to discover.

After three luxurious days on the Rosewood, we hopped on board Tapas, a 57ft ultra-modern catamaran chartered by Dream Caribbean Blue, with six en-suite double cabins, a saloon, a beneficiant deck and a crew of two – skipper Rob and chef Jackie – readily available to cater to our each whim.

Island hopping by catamaran is a well-liked solution to profit from the vacation spot

Our first cease was the infamous Willy T, a floating bar anchored off Norman Island (stated to be the inspiration for Treasure Island). It’s an unashamed social gathering joint with pumping reggaeton, loads of bumping and grinding and no official closing time; the bar stays open so long as the vibes are excessive. As we bounced over the brilliant blue waves in direction of the pirate ship in our dinghy, we might see partygoers leaping off the highest deck into the crystal waters beneath – a long-standing custom, apparently.

A few robust rum punches later, we clambered again on board our beloved Tapas to prepare for a night at Pirate’s Bight, the one and solely restaurant on Norman Island. Right here, we obtained a style of rustic Caribbean cooking, tucking into golden conch fritters, juicy Anegada lobster and spicy rotis as we watched the solar dip beneath the horizon.

Captain Rob’s painkiller cocktails had been critically robust

Life afloat is all about hopping between idyllic bays and exploring the tropical waters, so the following morning we headed to one of many BVI’s hottest snorkelling spots, The Indians. Donning our masks and flippers, we dipped our heads underwater and bobbed together with rainbow-scaled parrotfish, metre-long barracudas and stripy sergeant majors. It was really magical. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in a recumbent place on the sundeck, solely rising to nab a painkiller (not paracetamol, a potent cocktail of rum, fruit juice, coconut cream and nutmeg) or scoff considered one of Jackie’s scrumptious selfmade samosas.

I’d by no means sailed earlier than so I had no concept what to anticipate (and was a bit apprehensive about getting seasick) however I used to be completely blown away by the expertise. Sitting beneath the crusing cover, the nice and cozy breeze fanning my face as I gazed out on the glittering sea, I don’t assume I’ve ever been so relaxed in my life.

7 evening stays on board Tapas begin from $40,000 for 10 friends on an all-inclusive foundation. Discover out extra and ebook: dreamcaribbeanblue.com

Island for one?

Sadly, Branson didn’t invite me on to Necker for considered one of his star-studded events, however I used to be fortunate sufficient to spend my previous couple of days in paradise on Guana, one of many BVI’s most sought-after personal island resorts.

Guana Island boasts peak pure magnificence and a down-to-earth life-style

The 850-acre island is nature’s playground, with seven good white-sand seashores, a lush inexperienced inside and a magical array of wildlife together with flamingos, tortoises, goats and scores of iguanas that roam the rocky paths like mini dinosaurs. 90% of the island stays undeveloped and it holds a most of 40 friends at any given time, so it feels such as you’re discovering you’re very personal abandoned island.

There are 18 rooms and villas constructed into the hillsides, every somewhat bit completely different however all with mesmerising sea views. Mine was one of many largest, apparently, with a sweeping terrace dishing up elegant vistas of the blue-green waters, cactus-studded hills and flamingo pond. As for the decor, it’s white-washed stone, picket shutters and classic rattan furnishings that wouldn’t really feel misplaced on a Greek island.

I used to be a tad involved it could be too stuffy and pretentious for my liking, however the exact opposite was true. At Guana, it’s all about laid-back luxurious – the pleasant employees are at all times readily available to do no matter’s wanted, however they’re not obsequious and provide the house to discover the tropical environment at your individual tempo.

After arriving, we obtained a buggy by the inexperienced winding lanes straight all the way down to White Bay. Whereas the entire seashores within the BVI are stunning, this one is actually distinctive. We’re speaking the seaside out of the Bounty advert, with dazzling white sand, good palms and heat, translucent waters that you just need to dive proper into. I might have simply spent your complete day kicking again on my solar lounger, however we had organised a hike to the island’s well-known Hen Rock (an enormous rock formation that may resemble a hen after just a few rum punches). It was an effective way to discover the new and hilly heartland, however I would suggest doing it very first thing to keep away from ending up a dehydrated, sweaty mess like moi.

Guana Island is residence to a few of the BVI’s most dazzling seashores

I discovered getting some motion in was an effective way to really feel virtuous earlier than feasting on the a few of the most scrumptious meals I’ve tried within the Caribbean. The central philosophy right here is ‘farm to fork’, with vibrant fruits, veggies, herbs, fish and meat sourced from the Guana’s five-acre orchard and surrounding waters. On the buffet-style lunches and three-course dinners, we had been handled to candy and bitter cauliflower wings, creamy corn pie, plantain fritters and flame-grilled lobster. Not forgetting the unimaginable desserts: zingy key lime pie, moist coconut cake and fairly presumably the most effective apple tart I’ve ever eaten, with buttery, flaky pastry and the sweetest, spice-drenched apples.

Friends are free to make their very own cocktails on the well-stocked honesty bar

Though you would get away with out bumping into one other soul on Guana, socialising is inspired, with a each day cocktail hour and communal dinners within the Membership Home. Sometimes, this could be my concept of hell however everybody was relaxed (bartender Samson’s beneficiant cocktails most likely helped) and island life threw up a lot to talk about. By the tip of the week, we’d made agency associates with an aged Texan couple who’d been holidaying right here for 15-odd years. A pair of younger honeymooners additionally advised us they’d positively be again subsequent yr. What I’d give to affix them too…

Stays at Guana Island begin from $995 in a sea view cottage on an all-inclusive foundation. Discover out extra and ebook: guana.com

The best way to get there

Fly from London Gatwick to Antigua return from £485 with British Airways. You possibly can ebook a connecting flight from Antigua to Beef Island operated by InterCaribbean Airways from £152. For extra data and to ebook, go to britishairways.com.