Officially considered a British overseas territory, the British Virgin Islands are made up of four principal islands along with more than 50 smaller cays and islands. Out of all these, about 15 have inhabitants, with the largest island, Tortola, possessing the vast majority of islanders. Tortola also boasts the capital of the British Virgin Islands: Road Town.
Visitors will find that British Virgin Islands vacation homes allow them to see not only Tortola, but also the other major islands: Virgin Gorda ("The Fat Virgin"), Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. Each island has its own unique charms. Tortola, for example, has 13 different marinas, along with a local mountain known as Mount Sage that can provide a pleasant day's hike to the summit.
Virgin Gorda, on the other hand, features an area known as Baths, which is made up of a series of grottoes and caves frequented by snorkelers who enjoy the mazelike challenge it presents. This island also has a peak, and it can be accessed by car or on foot.
Anegada Island is a coral atoll whose outstanding feature lies in the waters offshore; more than 300 separate wrecks dot the seas around the island. Anegada is also known for its flocks of pink flamingos and the pink conch shells that cover its beaches. No trip to Anegada is complete without sampling the Anegada lobster, widely considered more succulent than the more common North American Maine varieties.
On Jost Van Dyke Island, there are fewer than 6,000 feet of paved road. Tourists here relax in one of the two bars and simply enjoy the view.