5 Bucket List Experiences in the British Virgin Islands

Turquoise waters, smooth sailing, stunning sunsets, and fresh seafood everywhere. When my mother-in-law suggested we take a family trip to sail through the British Virgin Islands, I did not anticipate what a DREAM it would be. It far exceeded my expectations. My family went in late May/ early June for 8 days, plus two days in the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas).  You can see our itinerary here: _____. Each island had its own personality and charm. Below I’ve highlighted for you my top 5 experiences in the British Virgin Islands! These are can’t-miss experiences, in my opinion, and WOW what memories!

1. Drink a painkiller at the Soggy Dollar bar – There are a lot of great bars in existence, and the Soggy Dollar bar is one of my favorites in the world. It’s the home of the painkiller drink (rum, coconut, pineapple and orange juice) and it is set on the most stunning white sandy beach with hammocks, beach games, tables, and views of the turquoise sea. I could have spent all 9 days in the BVI at this bar and been very, very pleased. During our 1 day there, we made some friends who let us drink our painkillers in their Unicorn floatie ;).
2. Relax at Scrub Island (Ixora) Spa – Our sweet family surprised my husband and me for our anniversary with massages at the Scrub Island spa, and it was SO much more than massages. We first relaxed outside with a hot tub to ourselves, champagne, and views on top of a cliff overlooking  the sea. We also had a delicious lunch brought to our lounge chairs. When it was finally time for the massage, we were guided into a relaxing suite with rose-petals on our massage beds. And we finished the date by enjoying the bathtub and shower facilities within the gorgeous massage room. Pure bliss!
3. Snorkel in little Jost Van Dyke – We took a dinghy to this island in the middle of nowhere and snorkeled, spying on thousands of fish. I even had a close encounter with what-I-was-told-was a “kind” shark. I’ll never forget it.
4. Eat a tiki-lit dinner at Coco Maya restaurant – This was the best restaurant we ate at in the BVI, and we surprised my mother-in-law by reserving the private table for the special occasion. They set up tiki lights on the beach and we had a hammock and sunset views nearby. I felt like I was on the set of The Bachelor. If you don’t have a special occasion excuse to reserve the private table, or simply want to save money for the rest of your trip, truly ANY table at this hip restaurant features stunning views and romance.
5. Climb through rocks and caves to Devil’s Bay – When we first arrived to the Baths and saw the water views, I thought “hmmm this is pretty”. But I didn’t understand why everyone raved about this place. The initial beach that you pull up to is small and nice… but similar to many other beaches in the BVI. But THEN I discovered the somewhat hidden path through large rocks and caves, which involves climbing at times via rope ladders. This hidden path leads out to the most stunning swimming hole and WOW it was worth it. You could spend a couple hours amongst the rocks alone, they are so interesting with cool pools to relax in. And when you get to the final swimming hole, it is a picture perfect BVI experience.

If you haven’t been, definitely add the British Virgin Islands to your bucket list! And soak in the memories with the most incredible activities. Which activity are you dying to do first?