Jost Van Dyke
From World travel guide
Jost Van Dyke is an island in the British Virgin Islands. An easy and beautiful sail from Tortola and the home of the notorious rum Painkiller.
Contents |
Get in
The only way to get to Jost Van Dyke is by sea. Ferrys run daily if not regularly, and docks aren't available at every landing. The Great Bay has public moorings, but be sure to arrive early before these run out! You can also anchor for the night in Little Bay, but if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction you're no longer protected and you're in for a miserable night.
Get around
Walking is the best, and likely only, method of transportation on the island. Paths and roads are available between each population center, bay and beach.
See
If you have a dinghy or want to make a stop with your sailboat along the way, do yourself a favor and stop by uninhabited Sandy Cay right along the way to Jost Van Dyke. It has one of the most spectacular sandy beaches available, is usually not too crowded, and even has a path around the island so you can look at the local flora and fauna. Please note that during some seasons the beach can be a little buggy, but the slightest breeze will take care of this problem.
Do
Walking between the main "town" on Great Bay, up over the hill to White Bay is one of more peaceful, beautiful short walks in the Caribbean, allowing views from Tortolla all the way across St. John to St. Thomas in the distance.
The point of being on JVD is to do pretty much nothing. Stare at St. John's. Rub suntan lotion into your companion's back. turn the page in your paperback. Maybe. Shout up to the Soggy Dollar Bar for them to bring you another Pain Killer please!
For the adventurous, hotels will be happy to arrange Deep Sea fishing, Sailing trips, or day trips to unihabited specs of perfection like Sandy Cay.
Buy
Not much commerce here beyond food, drink, and lodging. Foxy's and Sandcastle will both sell you a T-shirt, beach cover up or hat.
Eat
Great Bay, White Bay and Little Bay all have restaurants, but each runs on a different schedule, more or less at the whim of it's owner. Wander up and down and you're sure to find something interesting. Great flying fish sandwiches, burgers, chicken and the like. Foxy's is known to have an all-you-can-eat buffet on weekends that will fill you up quite well.
Drink
White Bay has the Soggy Dollar Bar, Great Bay has Foxy's, and Little Bay has Sidney's Peace and Love Bar. Order a Painkiller from each and see which one has the recipe down best. (Soggy Dollar Bar invented it)
Sleep
Your lodging choices are slim. White Bay has a few mini-resorts, the most established being Sandcastle. Great Bay has a few hostelry-type facilities, and there used to be camping available. Most overnight visitors sleep in their sailboat berths, anchored dozens or more at a time in Great Bay.
Get out
Getting out, like getting in, means ferry or private boat. no cruise ships, no planes.
External links
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