How to Get to the BVI from the USVI

Do you have a trip planned to the USVI and are wondering how you can get to the neighboring BVI for a day trip? There’s so much to see in the Virgin Islands – in both territories! If you’re going to be staying on St. Thomas or St. John, it’s simple and easy to be able to go to hot spots of the British Virgin Islands such as White Bay Beach on Jost Van Dyke, The Baths of Virgin Gorda, and Norman Island’s famous bars.

Here’s how to get to the BVI from the USVI: Boat day!

While there are ferries that go in between the islands, the schedules can sometimes be tricky to navigate if you have specific sightseeing you’d like to do. Trying to fit it all into the allotted timeframes of the ferry schedules plus taking the slower transportation time into account can make for a rushed, less-than-leisurely day. Instead, we highly recommend a powerboat charter.

Powerboat charters leave from both St. Thomas and St. John on a daily basis. When you charter your own boat, they can oftentimes also personalize where on island to pick you up that’s most convenient to where you’re staying.

The main benefit of a powerboat charter is that you get to fully personalize your day with your captain. Due to distance, some spots may not be possible to all hit in one day, so we recommend that you select your top must-see, then allow your captain to shape the day based on other areas of interest.

For example, if you’d like to see The Baths of Virgin Gorda, your captain will choose a route that gets you there and leaves time to get home, based on how long you end up exploring The Baths. Depending on the weather and boat, you may have time to hit up Willy T or Soggy Dollar Bar on your way back, if those are on your list too.

Some other must-see BVI spots to add to your boat day wishlist: Foxy’s at Jost Van Dyke, the bubbly pool on Jost, Sandy Cay, the Indians & caves of Norman Island, Cooper Island Beach Club, Lovango Beach Club, Scrub Island, and North Sound Virgin Gorda.

A BVI boat day is an incredible way to spend at least one of your USVI vacation days. We have many different options to choose from here on our site. Be sure to reserve your trip in advance, as spaces tend to fill up at least a week or two out.