My husband and I will be staying on Virgin Gorda for a week this May. We are thinking about taking the ferry over to Anegada for the day. I'd love to hear your tips and recommendations for a day on this island. Where is the best place to eat lunch (especially for lobster)? How to get around on the island? Where to go to see flamingos? Where is the best snorkeling, and can we rent gear there? Anything else?
Thank you all in advance! I can't wait for May!

Day trip?

For lunch I would recommend going to see Monica at Flash of Beauty. It is near Loblolly Bay and you'll see signs as you approach that part of the beach. I've never seen her have lobster though. If you're heart is set on Lobster, I recommend stopping to see Bell at Cow Wreck. She does a great job with lunch and you can't beat the setting.

If you plan to go to more than 1 location on the island, you should rent a vehicle. Dean Wheatley is the best source and will bring a car to you at the ferry dock (or airport). His number is (284) 495-9677 and if you call him the day before he'll come and meet you when you arrive.

No snorkeling gear on the island so I suggest brining it with you from VG.

Flamigos are tougher. You can almost always see them from the bridge located between the setting point where the ferry comes in and the turn to the airport but they are far off in the distance. Sometimes I also see them fly along the shoreline at Flash of Beauty. If you decide to use a taxi instead of renting a vehicle, the taxi driver can take you on an island tour and will probably know the best spots to see them that day.

One other suggestion is not to bother with the ferry. Instead, fly over with VI Airlink. The trip from VG is $99/person round trip. The flight takes 10 minutes instead of almost an hour on the ferry (if its running on time) and the views are fantastic.

Have fun!

Cheers,
Jason

Our favorite for lunch and lounging is Cow Wreck. Ann is a joy to meet and super friendly. The beach is gorgeous and we love their lobster sandwich.
We've rented cars with Dean twice in the last year - he met us at the dock and then took one of our crew to his rental office to fill out paperwork and then that crew member came back and picked up the rest of us. While it's not a huge amount of time it does take away from the little time you have there if it's only a day trip. We're renting from S&K next trip - right by the dinghy dock.
We do like snorkeling at Loblolly when the current isn't too strong.
Sadly we've never seen a flamingo!

If you fly to Anegada instead of taking the ferry, Deans office is on the way to Cow Wreck... Just sayin'

To add more opinions ... we usually have a mid-morning snorkel at Loblolly and lunch there with lunch drinks from The Big Bamboo. Then head to points west in a counter-clockwise circle around the island. Please don't be tempted to take your rental along the "dotted line" road between Loblolly and Windlass Bight. It just gets worse, and worse, and worse and eventually you have to turn around after having committed a good half hour to the road. Much better to go back down to the airstrip and then hang a right.

Second to rent a car from Dean. He was super friendly and met us at the ferry dock. We were on our way soon after that filling out paperwork at his office. Highly recommend the conch fritters and lobster sandwich at Cow Wreck.

We saw flamingos but only at a considerable distance. Don't get too carried away trying to see them if they don't happen to be close by.

if you want to see Flamingos...bring binoculars. often times you can see them AFAR off the "highest place in Anegada" (the bridge, 43 feet). often off to the left. while you are at it (the bridge), walk out a few hundred feet, it is knee deep for a while, makes a nice picture.

If your wife likes to walk on the beach, leave her at Flash of Beauty, drive up to Cow Wreck and wait for her at the bar <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Anegada Beach hotel has a swimming pool, but since you are land based, you may be waterlogged. Check out their accommodations, the ocean view tents are really cool.

there is a bakery on the island (name slips me, it is "in the town") that makes all the key lime pie for the island. 20 bucks, as opposed to 5 bucks a slice. If Key lime pie is your thing. (it is mine)...EDIT...IT IS DOTSY'S.

good tip on the dotted road...DONT do it.

+1 on cow wrecks fritters. not sure if Wonky serves lunch, but they are really good for dinner.

you can always try to meet someone and next thing you know you might spend the evening on their boat. We often invite total strangers, just for the heck of it.

The Anegada flamingos have the uncanny ability to be where you ain't. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> No matter where you stop to look they are almost always a pink smudge on the horizon.

If you are lucky, Walker and Nancy may be around their place at Cow Wreck and will show you their asses. Might even be able to scratch them.

We just flew with Cape Air from St. Thomas. 150.00 round trip pp. Mike was our pilot. He flew us over the all the BVI islands. It was awesome seeing all the spots we have been from the air.This also included ride to Cow Wreck. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Dotsy's is closed We were told she is doing desserts for some other establishment on the island but her little bakery is closed.

Wonky's does have lunch. Pam's Bakery has good Key Lime Pie too. How many people did you have for Cape Air. I called VI Air Link for St. Thomas to Anegada and they told me I had to have 4 people, we only have two. We are getting ready for our two weeks at Dean's. I would second, Flash of Beauty and Cow Wreck.

Thanks all for the info!

Which of Dean's places are you staying in? We stayed in the 1BR cottage for a week in Nov. and since nobody else was in either of his other two cottages it felt like we had the entire West end of Anegada to ourselves. I would recommend them to anyone for a land based Anegada stay. Great people and nice, new accommodations.

Sorry I forgot to add our experience w VI Airlink. When I called to try and reserve EIS to Anegada the woman told me there was a minimum, but if I went directly to the website and they accepted the reservation we would have a flight. We ended up having a private flight for 2!

If you want to see flamingos book a tour to Necker Island with Gumption's
See it Clear. I believe he still has a tour of Necker every Wednesday. We got to hold a blind flamingo that Sir Richard rescued.

I forgot to mention the Lemurs <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

My wife scratched Walker's [censored] in January, and so did I.

so how long is the flight from St thomas to Anegada?? We have flown from Tortola to Anegada with VI airlink & that was so worth it but want to just fly from st thomas the next time, don't want to waste any time getting there !!

The flight is about 40 minutes. You can charter from Ace Flight Center for $500 each way.