Virgin Gorda is part of the British Virgin Islands in the British West Indies as one of about 60 islands in the BVI mostly uninhabited. As the third largest island in the BVI Virgin Gorda has around eight square miles of land area as it's 10 miles long by about 2 miles wide with around 1400 permanent residents. Christopher Columbus must have thought that it resembled a robust woman recling as he named it fat virgin along with the whole island chain named for Saint Ursula and her 11000 virgin followers. A great majority of the vacationers go to the Caribbean for the beaches and on Virgin Gorda arguably the best beach to be found is at The Baths. Here you will find giant boulders that were once liquid deposits of magma and due to the erosion of surrounding earth are now stacked in ways to create grottos and caves providing endless entertainment for beachgoers. Some of the other beaches on Virgin Gorda are Devil's Bay National Park that is about a twenty minute walk from The Baths and is pleasantly secluded. Spring Bay like The Baths has large boulders scattered about and a very nice beach called The Crawl that is welcoming to families and children due to it's placidity. Not far from Spring Bay is Trunk Bay that has a great beach facing west that is accessible by water or via a path from Spring Bay. Savannah Bay provides a sandy beach north of the yacht harbor and of course not to be neglected is Mahoe Bay with a curving beach and beautiful blue water. The BVI is renowned for excellent sailing conditions as well as dive sites that range from 15 to 80 feet and many areas have no appreciable current and is ideal for photographers. This area of the Caribbean doesn't have any extreme drop off's but it does have plenty of coral gardens and topographical variation to include canyons tunnels caverns grottos and wrecks. With the ambient ocean temperature at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit the flora and fauna is prolific to say the least and divers won't lack for activities. The northern side of Virgin Gorda is mountainous with Gorda Peak as the highest spot on the island reaching 1370 feet enclosed by the Gorda Peak National Park. A lookout tower at the summit offers an excellent view of North Sound and Anegada as well as the land snaking it's way to the southern end of the isle as well as other islands with their heads above the waves. Hikers may wish to consider excursions around the northern spine of the island to enjoy the views and semiarid terrain. If your vacation itinerary requires a serene destination One of our 44 luxury Virgin Gorda villas httpwww. villasmajestic. comviewdestVirginGorda. htm should be placed high on your list of considerations.

• published: 07 Apr 2015
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