How To Get to Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands is a poorly kept secret. Luxury travelers speak of it in hushed tones, hopeful that the hordes won’t discover this mostly undeveloped and untouched Caribbean paradise.

So much of Virgin Gorda’s boundless appeal comes from its exclusive air and set-apart location, though that also makes it a little more challenging to get vacation mode started once visitors touch down in the BVI. Read on for how to get to Virgin Gorda; whether an affordable ferry journey or a private helicopter arrival is more your speed.

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How To Get to Virgin Gorda

How you choose to get to Virgin Gorda will largely depend on where exactly in Virgin Gorda you’re headed. Despite being one of the largest islands in the British Virgin Islands, large swaths of the island are still inaccessible by road, dotted just by the hidden beachfronts of luxe resorts.

These are the most common ways to reach Virgin Gorda:

1. Fly to Virgin Gorda
2. Take a Charter Boat to Virgin Gorda
3. Take a Ferry to Virgin Gorda
4. Take a Helicopter to Virgin Gorda

Here’s a word of wisdom if you’re staying at a hotel or resort in the British Virgin Islands that you’ll hear us repeat again and again: check with your specific resort or hotel before booking any transportation, even your flights from abroad! Depending on where you’re staying, it might not make any sense to fly directly to Virgin Gorda even if you’re staying on the island.

1. Fly to Virgin Gorda

While it isn’t the most common way to get to Virgin Gorda, a good number of visitors fly directly to the island. Virgin Gorda is home to the tiny international airport (VJI) in the island’s main city of Spanish Town, which receives regular direct flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

From the airport in Virgin Gorda you can find taxis and private cars to take you across the island. Charter boats will take you from the dock in Spanish Town to other islands or other parts of Virgin Gorda that are inaccessible by land (if you’re staying at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Bitter End Yacht Club, or Oil Nut Bay, for example).

Flights to Virgin Gorda vs. Flights to Tortola

If you’re staying on Virgin Gorda, don’t immediately book a flight straight to the island. Tortola’s Beef Island International Airport (EIS) is the largest airport in the British Virgin Islands. It receives multiple daily flights from islands around the Caribbean and even now from Miami. Its central location within the BVI and unmatched connectivity make it our top recommendation for travelers.

We’ll say it again: check with your hotel or resort in Virgin Gorda before booking your flight directly to Virgin Gorda; it may make way more sense for you to fly into Tortola instead!

For example, on my recent trip to the British Virgin Islands, I had the absolute pleasure of staying at the exclusive Oil Nut Bay. This luxe property is located in the North Sounds of Virgin Gorda, which isn’t accessible to the rest of the island by road. Staff advised that it is more of a journey (and more expensive!) to fly into Virgin Gorda than to fly into Tortola; either way, guests need a boat ride or helicopter flight to reach the property.

2. Taking a Charter Boat to Virgin Gorda

Traveling by charter boat or water taxi is the most common way to get to Virgin Gorda. By booking a private charter or taking a water taxi, you’re able to have much more control over your itinerary than you’d be able to have if you’re governed by the ferry schedule.

There are countless charter boat companies in the British Virgin Islands that run regular routes between Virgin Gorda and the other principal islands of the BVI and beyond. Book ahead if you know you’ll need a specific time for your charter.

These are just a few of the reputable companies that operate in the British Virgin Islands and make regular trips to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda and other Virgin Gorda destinations like Bitter End Yacht Club and beyond:

3. Taking a Ferry to Virgin Gorda

If you’re not traveling by private boat, the most common way to reach Virgin Gorda is by ferry. Virgin Gorda’s main city of Spanish Town is well-connected to the surrounding British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands by ferry, with regular service making them an important method of transport for locals and visitors alike.

Ferries to Virgin Gorda from Tortola

Ferries depart from Tortola to Virgin Gorda from two different locations: Road Town, the island’s capital city, and Beef Island, the location of the international airport. These are the most up-to-date ferry schedules currently available (though we recommend checking with the companies directly before making plans to avoid last-minute changes).

Not that there are no ferries from Virgin Gorda to Road Town, Tortola on Sundays, though Sunday ferries from Virgin Gorda to Beef Island, Tortola are an option. Ferry tickets cost $30 round-trip for passengers over the age of 12 and $20 round-trip for children.

Ferries to Virgin Gorda from St. Thomas

Ferries from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to Virgin Gorda provide an important and hassle-free connection for travelers looking to skip Tortola entirely. Speedy’s offers a direct 90-minute ferry service between Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda on Saturdays, departing from Charlotte Amalie at 4:30 PM. On the return trip, the departure from Virgin Gorda is at 8:30 AM.

While ferries from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda are much less frequent, visitors can also opt to take a ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola and then an additional ferry to Virgin Gorda. Three ferry companies interchangeably offer this route daily, departing from Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas for Road Town, Tortola at 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.

4. Taking a Helicopter to Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is also accessible via helicopter if you want to start your vacation in style. Caribbean Buzz is a helicopter charter company operating in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands that arranges private helicopter service to Virgin Gorda.

Staying at one of the many luxury resorts in the British Virgin Islands and want to arrive in style? Not every resort in the British Virgin Islands has a helipad, though some of the more upscale private island resorts do. Oil Nut Bay has the first heliport in the BVI approved for international flights, meaning you can clear customs right at the resort, flying in from Puerto Rico or a number of other Caribbean islands without stopping in Tortola first.