Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands: A Guide

Jost van Dyke, a tiny island in the British Virgin Islands is no different. It has a distinct personality that’s larger than life. Jost Van Dyke is named after an 18th-century swashbuckling sea captain. The island is full of bravado, enough to make a pirate proud. The Soggy Dollar Bar is the origin of the Caribbean cocktail called the Painkiller. Jost van Dyke is one of the Caribbean’s biggest party destinations, thanks to the nearby Foxy’s.

Visitors who peel back layers on Jost Van Dyke will find an island paradise that is mostly unspoiled, with hidden landscapes and sparkling bays. It’s almost quiet. While Jost Van Dyke’s painkiller cocktails run colder and stronger than ever, new attractions like a floating spa and villas with sweeping views prove there are more reasons to come to Jost Van Dyke—and stick around well after final call.

Best Hotels & Resorts

The Hideout

Seven private villas are available for rent. The Hideout This property is located on White Bay Beach in Jost Van Dyke, which is the most desired spot. These one-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites are located in a popular area, but they feel distinct and separate. Each has its own plunge pool, and offers oceanfront or tropical gardens views.

White Bay Villas & Beach Club

Clinging to a cliff over the water. White Bay Villas & Beach Club There are 18 spacious villas that offer stunning ocean and island vistas. The property features a variety of spaces, from an expansive five-bedroom villa to smaller one-bedroom cottages. Each space has a Caribbean-inspired indoor-outdoor feel that is perfect for the island. A small beach club, as well as a waterfront dining area are also located on the property.

Sandcastle Hotel in Soggy Dollar

The island’s famed Soggy Dollar Bar, which was once a humble bar, has now expanded to accommodate overnight guests. Sandcastle Hotel at Soggy Dollar. Though the property requires a three-night minimum stay, its six small, colorful cottages are a great option for those who want to be just steps from the sand—and the island’s party scene.

The Glass House

The Glass House A sleek and sexy villa with four bedrooms is nestled on the hillside of White Bay Beach. This standalone property feels like it belongs in a magazine. Virgin Gorda. The property has a modern feel, with its wall of windows letting in the Caribbean blue tones and uninterrupted views. Its kitchen is fully equipped, while its indoor/outdoor living area is perfect for large family gatherings.

What to do?

Enjoy a beach-hopping adventure.

As boats pull up to the pristine patch of sand at White Bay Beach, many island visitors barely get further than the famous Soggy Dollar Bar—but with vibes this festive, can you really blame them? Enjoy a few hours of sunbathing here before moving on to Great Harbour. This popular beachfront offers a variety of activities, including water sports such as paddleboarding and kayaking, and beachside treats at Foxy’s.

Overwater massages are available.

The floating yacht White Bay is anchored above the calm waves of White Bay. Ocean Spa It is perhaps the Caribbean’s most unique relaxation ritual. You can choose from different styles of massages, and then relax to the soothing sounds of the ocean while you enjoy the experience.

Take a snorkeling or diving trip.

The volcano-based foundation of Jost Van Dyke is a great place to explore the underwater landscapes. There are many dive sites, from beginner wall dives to advanced dives like The Cathedral. The Cathedral features a tunnel that leads to a secret cavern hidden under the heartland of the island. Jost Van Dyke Scuba The ultimate outfit for any adventure, from gear rental to multi-day certification classes.

Bubbly Pool Hike

Jost Van Dyke’s Bubbly Pool, located in a less-visited corner of the east coast of the island and shaped by natural erosion over centuries, is a kind of natural Jacuzzi. As seawater flows through narrow cracks in the rock, it fills up the natural pool. It is then heated by sunlight. You can’t reach the Bubbly Pool by car. Instead, you need to follow a trail behind Foxy Taboo. It’s a short hike, so wear sturdy shoes. You should swim at your risk as waves here can get rough.

Best Restaurants

Soggy Dollar Bar

The Caribbean’s most famous Beach Bar Soggy Dollar Bar The famous Painkiller is not the only thing that makes this bar special. It’s also the perfect tropical cocktail of dark rum with cream of coconut and pineapple, orange and nutmeg juices. Since the 1970s customers have swum to shore and ordered cocktails. They leave their money waterlogged, but are always welcomed. The popular restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, including jerk-style chicken and Asian-inspired side dishes.

Foxy’s Restaurant and Bar

White Bay Beach is a great place to relax, but head over to the bar for a drink. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and RestaurantSince 1968, has become a popular island destination. Foxy’s “is one of the Caribbean’s most legendary beach bars, known for the lively atmosphere, the live music, the BBQ feasts and the unforgettable New Year’s parties that attract sailors and travelers around the globe,” Mason Kramer says, a destination specialist. onefinestay, a luxury home rental company, rents villas to guests and organizes memorable vacations in the British Virgin Islands. Foxy was so well known in the BVI, Queen Elizabeth II made him a Member of British Empire. You can catch him talking to patrons at the bar and listening to his original music until the early hours of the morning.

Hendo’s Hideout

Some of the beachside spots on Jost Van Dyke’s South Shore all start to look the same after a while— but not Hendo’s Hideout. Hendo’s Hideout, a bar and restaurant offering a more refined, yet never stuffy experience, is located on White Bay Beach. The menu, which includes sushi with freshly-caught fish, as well as a Sunday brunch that features bottomless mimosas, is extensive. The open-air restaurant and the spacious beachfront, shaded by trees, invites guests spread out throughout the day.

Abe’s By the Sea

Garner Bay is a great place to escape the busy days of Great Harbour or White Bay. You’ll find peace, tranquility and classic Caribbean flavors. Abe’s by the Sea. Enjoy fresh lobster, curry fish and stewed konch, among other island favorites. Wash it all down with an ice-cold Carib as the sun sets at this locals-only, still-secret spot.

Nightlife

Full Moon Party in Foxy’s

Jost Van Dyke can feel like a party from sunrise to sunset, though its beach bar-style venues don’t lend a true nightlife feel to the island—with one big exception. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and Restaurant attracts partygoers for its raucous atmosphere. Full Moon Party. These celebrations feature fire dancers and live music as well as DJ sets to keep the party going while moonlight fills the bay. They are so popular, regional ferries will often alter their schedules in order to accommodate the attendees.

The Best Places to Visit

South Shore

White Bay Beach is located next to Great Harbour on the South Shore of the island. This is where almost all the restaurants, bars and accommodations are located, which attracts party-goers and paradise seekers. It can feel crowded when the bays are filled with yachts in the peak travel season.

East Shore

East Shore, the less developed and much less visited side of Jost Van Dyke, feels like a world apart from White Bay Beach. Foxy’s has an outpost on the east shore. Foxy’s TabooJost Van Dyke’s East Shore is all about a relaxed lunch, before hiking to Bubbly Pool or sailing to Little Jost Van Dyke across the channel.

Little Jost Van Dyke

You can reach Little Jost van Dyke by throwing a conchshell from the East Shore of the island. It is an uninhabited island that has a single beach bar on its untouched coast. After soaking in the sun for a while, head to the nearby Sandy Spit. A perfect white dune that emerges from sea makes for an ideal castaway experience.

The Best Time to Visit

Jost Van Dyke, like most Caribbean islands, has clear skies and calm seas between December and April. This is why so many people flee colder climates to visit the island. Jost Van Dyke will be busier, more expensive and have a smaller number of guests during high season.

Jost Van Dyke is located in the hurricane belt. Tropical storms can occur from June to November. Even when large weather systems skirt the island, high temperatures and stormy clouds can bring afternoon rains up to several times per week.

Kramer reports that New Year’s Day on Jost Van Dyke, an island well-known for its party scene is “a legendary celebration, known for a lively atmosphere”, with Foxy’s at the heart of the festivities. Booking your holiday trip far in advance is recommended, as hotels and villas are often booked out a year or more in advance.

The annual British Virgin Islands Sailing Festival will be held in the British Virgin Islands early in April. BVI Spring RegattaIt is considered to be one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious regattas. Although most of the events during this week-long festival take place on TortolaJost Van Dyke is always packed full of event participants and visitors looking to unwind after and before the main event. The island has a festive feel all week.

How to get There

Jost van Dyke does not have its own airport, so many travelers begin their journey to the island in Tortola. Tortola, the largest and most populous island in British Virgin Islands is home to Terrance Lettsome International Airport. This airport receives multiple flights daily from Miami as well as a daily American Airlines flight. San Juan, Puerto RicoOther Caribbean destinations nearby.

Jost Van Dyke can be reached easily from Tortola via private boat charter, water taxi or ferry. Ferry service Five times daily, the round-trip travel between Tortola’s West End to Jost van Dyke’s Great Harbour takes just 25 minutes. Tickets are $40 round-trip per person.

How to Get Around

The majority of visitors to Jost van Dyke stick to the southern shore. This makes it easier to walk to beaches and accommodations along the oceanfront. Paradise Jeep Rentals, located in Great Harbour offers rental cars for those who are more adventurous. They can access the hilltop views of the windswept, craggy north coast or the rental homes in the interior of the island. Taxis are readily available to visitors.