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The BVI is a great place to come and just "chill." Warm beaches and palms await your horizontal form on a towel or in a hammock, and tropical drinks are often imbibed by noon.
By Jane Bakewell
However, if it's stress you really want to shake off, studies show that exercise leads to the release of neurotransmitters in the brain called endorphins that help to alleviate mental anxiety. And in the islands, the sporting life, with its healthy benefits, is available for all to enjoy.
Biking
A great way to tour the BVI is by bicycle. A little pedal-pushing will do wonders for toning your body and still be slow enough to enjoy the beautiful vistas on all sides. On Tortola, Last Stop Sports has mountain bikes for rent, and all bikes come with a helmet, lock, water bottle, pump and a seat bag with a patch kit. Mountain bikes prove to be the most versatile in varying terrain, with a wide gear selection to tackle some of the challenging vertical hills, and powerful brakes, which help to control the bike in steep descents or on rough terrain.
The coastal road from Road Town to West End offers 10 miles of flat roads with views of the surrounding islands that dot the Sir Francis Drake Channel. If you are up for a challenge, there are spectacular views from atop the Ridge Road. However, it might be a joint cycle-walk effort up a steep hill to enjoy these panoramic vistas. There are some scenic trails for off-road bikers in Sage Mountain National Park that also offer great views as far as St. John and St. Croix. Anegada has the flattest terrain for biking, as this all-coral atoll has no hills — but be forewarned: The sandy terrain can be a challenge. Li'l Bit Taz, a provisioning store just down from the ferry dock at Setting Point, offers bicycle day rentals at a very reasonable price.
Hiking
You won’t need to pack your mountain boots for hiking in the BVI, as most trails are easily accessible and require a good rubber-soled walking shoe. Sage Mountain National Park offers a cool misty “semi-rainforest” with exotic flora to behold. The park comprises 92 acres of Tortola mountainside, with vegetation that includes giant elephant ear vines, towering mahogany trees and the white cedar, the BVI’s national tree. There are two well-maintained trails with markers that lead off the Central Trail on the ridge of the mountain, with choices to hike either the north or south routes. The Mahogany Forest trail leads up to Mount Sage, Tortola’s highest precipice reaching 1,716 feet.
Virgin Gorda offers excellent hiking adventures as well, with Gorda Peak National Park covering 265 acres of dry forest with some of the rarest plants found in the Virgin Islands, as well as the world’s smallest lizard, the Virgin Gorda gecko. A trail accessed off the coast road past the Nail Bay Resort turnoff offers amazing panoramic views of the islands in the North Sound, including Necker, Mosquito, Prickly Pear, Eustacia and tiny Saba Rock. Gorda Peak, the central focus of the park, reaches 1,370 feet above sea level — making it the second-highest point in the BVI.
One doesn’t always need a forested trail to enjoy a good hike, and the BVI has many beaches that beckon for an early morning or sunset stroll. Anegada boasts the longest beaches with the fewest people, and walks starting from either Loblolly Bay or Cow Wreck beaches are magical in their pristine beauty and solitude.
Horseback Riding
The place to hire horses is from Shadow’s Stables above Brewers Bay. Shadow, a laid-back farmer peddling fresh herbs when not leading guided horse tours, has several different excursions that lead you along Sage Mountain. He also offers sunset beach rides, during which you can canter with the spray of salt in your face. This is a great outing for the whole family.
For those who prefer to watch horse racing versus riding, Little A Race Track in Sea Cow’s Bay holds races intermittently throughout the year, with horse entries from rival St. Thomas and St. Croix owners. These races are especially lively at festival time in August, when horse racing becomes Tortola’s “Kentucky Derby.” The BVI Tourist Board is a good resource for a schedule of race events throughout the year.
Motorcycles and ATVs
Motorcycles have become a very popular way to explore the BVI, and over the last few years numerous rental locations have sprung up on Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. On Tortola, you can rent a scooter or motorcycle for a half or full day. Hills on the island are steep, offering wonderful views, and the two main roads follow the coast or lead to the mountain road. On Anegada, L’il Bit Taz offers scooter rentals, making an off-road cycle adventure along the sandy trails and scrub brush a fun way to explore this coral atoll.
Sea and Land Adventures in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke offers ATV excursions. A two-hour tour led by an experienced guide gives you an opportunity to motor to some great locations with stunning views. These sturdy four-wheelers can go off-road on the sandy or pitted trails with bounce and fun, offering a chance to explore the island in an unconventional way.
Tennis
Most of the resorts in the BVI have tennis courts and will allow non-guest use. A call to the resorts’ Concierge Service Centre is a simple way to get information about court availability and fees. Long Bay Beach Resort and Peter Island Resort offer some of the most scenic spots to enjoy zinging the ball over the net, and both have tennis pros on staff who can be booked for lessons.
Tortola Sports Club in Road Town has courts available for day and evening tennis, and non-members can obtain a guest pass for a court at a very reasonable price. A delightful restaurant overlooking the courts is a great place to sip a cool drink or get a bite to eat between sets.
Running
Although there are no dedicated running paths other than a track at the Sports Complex in Road Town, there are many quiet back roads with less traffic, offering a scenic and safe place to jog. Just past the bridge to Beef Island, a long smooth road winds past salt ponds, hideaway beaches and the airport, leading to Trellis Bay. This is a great spot for a run, and it offers a chance to cool off afterwards in one of the cafÈs that line the bay. It’s best to ask the staff at the front desk where you are staying for suggestions of scenic back roads in that area.
Volleyball
For the visitor wanting to get in on a rousing game of volleyball, the best bet for net action is the beach. Volleyball nets are generally set up in front of a rocking beachside restaurant, with Cane Garden Bay and White Bay on Jost Van Dyke being two popular spots. A fun night to hook up with other enthusiasts is Walleyball Thursdays on the beach in front of the Peg Leg Landing Bar and Restaurant in Nanny Cay. Teams form and playing gets under way around 7 p.m., with beer specials for players as an added bonus.
National Parks
These BVI parks were established in 1961 to preserve the natural beauty of the islands. They include 736 hectares and span both land and sea:
Sage Mountain National Park - Tortola
Mount Healthy National Park
J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens
Queen Elizabeth II National Park
Shark Bay at Brewer’s Bay
Gorda Peak National Park - Virgin Gorda
The Baths National Park
Devil’s Bay National Park
The Copper Mine
Spring Bay
Little Fort National Park
Diamond Cay - Jost Van Dyke
Rhone Marine Park - Salt Island
Cam Bay National Park - Great Camanoe
Dead Chest National Park - Dead Chest
Fallen Jerusalem national Park - Fallen Jerusalem
Little Tobago/Great Tobago Park - Great Tobago
Prickly Pear National Park - Prickly Pear
West Dog National Park - West Dog
Find special sporting event dates in our Events section.
Show me a list of contact info for activities.
What would make your BVI vacation complete? Whether its boating, biking, hiking, team sports, horseback, surfing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, kayaking, kite boarding, sailing, fishing — get the 411 on who to contact right here.
Learn more about each island of the BVI and its beautiful pristine beaches, here.
Read unbiased opinions about BVI activities at TripAdvisor.
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A great way to tour the BVI is by bicycle. A little pedal-pushing will do wonders for toning your body and still be slow enough to enjoy the beautiful vistas on all sides. On Tortola, Last Stop Sports has mountain bikes for rent, and all bikes come with a helmet, lock, water bottle, pump and a seat bag with a patch kit. Mountain bikes prove to be the most versatile in varying terrain, with a wide gear selection to tackle some of the challenging vertical hills, and powerful brakes, which help to control the bike in steep descents or on rough terrain.
You won’t need to pack your mountain boots for hiking in the BVI, as most trails are easily accessible and require a good rubber-soled walking shoe. Sage Mountain National Park offers a cool misty “semi-rainforest” with exotic flora to behold. The park comprises 92 acres of Tortola mountainside, with vegetation that includes giant elephant ear vines, towering mahogany trees and the white cedar, the BVI’s national tree. There are two well-maintained trails with markers that lead off the Central Trail on the ridge of the mountain, with choices to hike either the north or south routes. The Mahogany Forest trail leads up to Mount Sage, Tortola’s highest precipice reaching 1,716 feet.
The place to hire horses is from Shadow’s Stables above Brewers Bay. Shadow, a laid-back farmer peddling fresh herbs when not leading guided horse tours, has several different excursions that lead you along Sage Mountain. He also offers sunset beach rides, during which you can canter with the spray of salt in your face. This is a great outing for the whole family.
Motorcycles have become a very popular way to explore the BVI, and over the last few years numerous rental locations have sprung up on Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. On Tortola, you can rent a scooter or motorcycle for a half or full day. Hills on the island are steep, offering wonderful views, and the two main roads follow the coast or lead to the mountain road. On Anegada, L’il Bit Taz offers scooter rentals, making an off-road cycle adventure along the sandy trails and scrub brush a fun way to explore this coral atoll.
Most of the resorts in the BVI have tennis courts and will allow non-guest use. A call to the resorts’ Concierge Service Centre is a simple way to get information about court availability and fees. Long Bay Beach Resort and Peter Island Resort offer some of the most scenic spots to enjoy zinging the ball over the net, and both have tennis pros on staff who can be booked for lessons.
Although there are no dedicated running paths other than a track at the Sports Complex in Road Town, there are many quiet back roads with less traffic, offering a scenic and safe place to jog. Just past the bridge to Beef Island, a long smooth road winds past salt ponds, hideaway beaches and the airport, leading to Trellis Bay. This is a great spot for a run, and it offers a chance to cool off afterwards in one of the cafÈs that line the bay. It’s best to ask the staff at the front desk where you are staying for suggestions of scenic back roads in that area.
