New guy needs help with a 5 day itinerary

My wife and I are finally headed down for our very first trip on 6/16, and I’d really appreciate any suggestions you guys might have for a 5 day itinerary. I’ve spent some time trying to learn as much as I can from previous threads, but I hope you’ll forgive any first-time mistakes or goofs from a well-meaning new member!

We’re chartering a Jeanneau 53 out of Road Town, which includes the services of the boat’s captain/owner, and there are 3 couples in our party (no kids <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />). None of us has ever visited before, and I was thinking of the following:

• FRI (6/16): ARRIVE, then stay on Tortola
• SAT (6/17): Tortola > Norman Island (The Indians / The Caves)
  
• SUN (6/18): Norman Island > Snorkeling at the Rhone > Virgin Gorda (Leverick Bay)
  
• MON (6/19): Explore (The Baths (if we can time it to miss the tour boats), along with whatever else you guys suggest!)
  
• TUES (6/20): Virgin Gorda > Jost Van Dyke (White Bay)
  
• WED (6/21): Back to Tortola

I’ve read in multiple threads that we’ll have a much better time if we don’t try to stick to an itinerary that has us on the move for the whole trip, and I think the general consensus is that we'd like to strike a balance between "Let's see everything" and "Let's just chill."

It's our first time, so we'd be OK with some touristy stuff, but most of us would prefer a more authentic experience AWAY from the beaten path. Suggestions for restaurants are also welcome...we like to eat!

Any help you could send my way would be greatly appreciated!

Talk to your captain about your wishes. He will be able to help with the logistics. Weather, seas, attitude all in play. Have a great trip

I would skip snorkeling the Rhone. I feel it is more of a dive site. My opinion & I love to snorkel.

Thanks, Appleton...I wondered about that one. I saw a few people who said they enjoyed snorkeling it, but others that didn't.

Best time to hit The Bathes is 8am, out of there by 10am.

Good to know! Sounds like it's horrible if you try to go when a cruise ship is coming through...

Not many cruise ships this time of year.

Sounds like a plan. We enjoyed the sail up to Leverick Bay. Nick does a nice job at LBYC. Nice dinner at the restaurant. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

The Rhone is best when you dive, but it is actually a great snorkel stop too - you can actually see a LOT more then I would have ever expected by snorkeling. One friend of ours even did the swim through of the propeller - one that we normally do when diving!

As far as the rest of it, I'd probably do 1 night at Virgin Gorda. We almost always do 2 but with 5 nights, it would be less running around to do just 1 night.. Here's one option that would fit in all your stops, plus add one more and make a shorter leg Sunday.

FRI (6/16): ARRIVE, then stay on Tortola
SAT (6/17): Tortola > Rhone > Cooper (backup Marina Cay)
SUN (6/18): Cooper > Virgin Gorda (get there as early as possible, rent car explore the baths..etc)
MON (6/19): Virgin Gorda > Jost Van Dyke
TUE (6/20): Jost Van Dyke > Norman (The Indians / The Caves on the way)
WED (6/21): Norman > Tortoal

Here's what we did a couple weeks back and it did not feel rushed.

Got to Road Town in afternoon, went shopping got boat briefing, slept at dock.

Cooper the next morning grabbed a mooring ball kayaked and snorkeled.

Sailed to the Baths in the morning, moored, did the baths then ate lunch aboard before sailing up to North Sound and docking at Leverick's.

Next day sailed to Monkey Point for snorkel and lunch then on to Cane Garden Bay.

Then Sandy Cay for swim and walk around the island an don to Foxy's Taboo on JVD for lunch. spent the night on a mooring there.

Next morning we sailed and motored a bit to Norman and got a ball in the bight. Kayaked to the caves for a snorkel.

Last morning an easy 2 hour sail back to Road Town to return the boat.



B

Talk to your captain about desires for amount of sail time vs stops along the way.... short stops (1hr or so vs longer)...

I would probably add a day getting up to Leverick and then go from there to JVD..

Email me and I will send you PDF of article I just read about "best snorkel sites in BVI".

On the way home, start planning a longer trip to do the things you wish you had done/see/been.

Some favorite restaurants are Sydney's Peace and Love, Harris's Place, Anegada (everywhere).
My favorite is grilling in anchorage with stake, burgers, fish, etc.

Enjoy your trip, but be prepared. You might as well book your next trip now because five days is what we did 23 years ago. It was just long enough to make us want to return.....again and again and again.

Marina Cay or Trellis Bay
North Harbor & Baths by taxi
Anegada
Jost
Norman

Maytrix, glad to hear you think the Rhone is worth snorkeling...two of our party actually scuba dive, so it sounds like it might be a good fit for the whole group. I really like your suggestion of heading straight to Cooper, too.

Thanks Deep Cut, I'd love to see the article! And, yeah...I've heard that we probably need to go ahead planning the next one <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />. Can't wait!

Thanks NCSailor...wasn't sure about Anegada, but that route looks like it might work within our timeframe.