Tortola – an island paradise with colorful towns
With picture-perfect beaches that are straight off a postcard, Tortola is an ideal destination for relaxing and taking in the views. Surrounded by coral reefs, it's a popular spot for scuba diving or swimming with dolphins, and it's easy to hop on a ferry and explore the rest of the British Virgin Islands. Stay in a Tortola vacation rental and you can discover the island's settlements, such as Road Town, which is painted in bright colors and which features rustic, traditionally Caribbean restaurants with a laid-back vibe.
Discover how rum is made in Tortola
Callwood Rum Distillery is well-hidden among sugarcane fields, so you'll need to follow the hand-painted signs to find this rustic building. You'll be able to watch locals making rum the old-fashioned way, with big copper pots being boiled outside. The rum is then stored in wooden barrels in stone buildings, and you can wander around taking samples of some of the rich liquors on offer. There's a well-stocked bar at the end of the tour where you can relax and try a rum flight, and you can pick up some bottles of your favorites to take home.
White sands and turquoise seas in Tortola
Tortola is surrounded by beaches with white sands and warm inviting waters. Accessible only by boat, White Bay is a peaceful stretch of beach, with a coral reef just offshore. Relax under a palm tree or grab your snorkel and spot schools of colorful fish just under the water's surface. Smugglers Cove, in the west of the island, is close to many Tortola vacation rentals, and was the site where pirates used to dock. Because it's off the beaten track, it's often empty, and it's a great place to take a long walk at sunset, along the powdery sands.
Tropical Tortola sunshine year-round
Tortola enjoys a hot, tropical climate all year round. There's not much variation in temperature from winter to summer, although January to April are the driest months, which makes it a popular time to book Tortola vacation rentals. From May to December, it can be humid and there are often showers, although they're usually short and localized. September and October see the biggest hurricane risk, so keep an eye on the news, for advice.
Island exploration and mountain hikes in Tortola
Most visitors to Tortola come for the beaches, and the island certainly has an abundance of them. You can also take the small ferries out to surrounding islands such as Jost Van Dyke, which has rocky, unspoiled coves plus almost empty beaches, so you can find your own island paradise. Hiking is also a popular activity in Tortola, which has dense tropical rainforests as you head inland. Sage Mountain National Park has long shady trails, where you'll see small waterfalls, exotic flowers and lush ferns along the way. Hike to the top and you'll enjoy panoramic views across Tortola.
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