TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Baths via land

hey TTOL fam. will be down this month and planning to visit the baths via taxi at Leverick for the first time. Have some younger/older folks onboard and dont want to risk red flag conditions. Anyone have taxi driver referrals, preferably a safari truck? What's the going rate per person? What time should we plan pick-up to avoid cruise ship traffic? Thanks!!!

We've used Tiger in the past (I often see a driver waiting in the parking lot at Leverick), but we haven't done the baths in a couple of years, so I'm not sure what the current charges are.

My understanding (not from personal experience) is that to avoid the cruise ships, going super-early is generally better.

But my personal recommendation, if you have some schedule flexibility, is to look at the cruise ship schedule and plan your Baths visit on a day there aren't cruise ships in port. I find I can usually make this work without derailing our planned itinerary by simply changing the order in which we do Leverick, BEYC, and/or Saba.

Hope that helps.

The office at Leverick always used to call for you..whatever kind you wanted..

Depending on how many are in your party it may be more economical to rent a car. Leverick can arrange this. This way you can stop at Hog Heaven or other places along the way.

you may want to go in the afternoon and then go to Coco Maya for dinner...we use Sweet Ice Willy

Another vote for Sweet Ice Willy. He will entertain the group during the ride. I will look for his card when I get home. Have used him twice and we still talk about the ride.

Thanks all - looks like there's no avoiding the cruise ships in the coming days. Opted to rent a mini-safari truck ($100) vs a taxi (was quoted $400).

Be apprised: some of the those mini-safari trucks are manual five-speeds. And that blind, 120 degree right turn up the road from Leverick Bay will "get your attention".

Challenge accepted...but seriously thanks for the heads up gg. I've driven quite a bit all over Tortola so feel comfortable with it.

Cruise ships clear out in afternoon....

Im a morning guy bailua haha. not planning on Coco Maya this trip otherwise it's a great setup going after the crowds leave. Might try the Beans show at Leverick as well which we've never done.

Glad you’re renting the automobile- totally worth it….I’ll add this bit about
arriving early….I’ve gotten up just before sunup and gotten a crew of 9 and a crew of 5 to the Baths at dawn… each time most are a little grumpy about it….and each time we finish playing around for an hour or two by ourselves - with maybe a few others milling around…everyone reflects on how special that time was/is after the trip…

Obviously stop at Hog Heaven, there is a fun Virgin Gorda sign photo op a little further down that road too if of interest. I’d never stopped at Savanna Bay before and that has been a mistake - pull in there and enjoy for a bit…they have little covered patios built you can park right next to.

if you like planes, there is a bar/restaurant just above the VG airport tha is pretty cool hang out spot…you can watch a plane or two land on a dirt runway (taxi mainly) but kinda cool…

If you like hikes - there is an observation platform 800 meters up from the Virgin Gorda peak trailhead- huge hit for the kids in our crew and a great leg stretcher.

Nice nee grocery store in town too - think it was a Riteway…felt bad for Bucks….

Separately I am going to PM you about something else…..

thanks for all the tips!

I didn't know Leverick can arrange for a car rental. Much less cost than the taxi option (if memory serves, that is around $80pp). Sweet Ice is entertaining, but expensive.

Leverick can arrange a rental or you can go to the provider of your choice and most will leave the car at Leverick for pick up and drop off, Much cheaper option than taxi and it provides the ability to make other stops along the way at one's leisure,

Good afternoon,
Totally agree with Murdock about early morning at the Baths.
We like to head down the path not much later than 7:00
The morning light makes for strikingly beautiful views and pictures
There's a good chance that you'll have the "caves" completely to yourselves
The attendant won't be there to collect but you can pay the Parks fee on the way out
As to renting a safari truck compared to a taxi, I'd think you could have good time
on your own with the caveat that the drive between Spanish Town and Leverick at night is more
adventurous than I care for.
Savanna Bay would be a great beach stop any day but Sunday when the vibe is
quite different. Note that there are no facilities at SB.
The Friday night BBQ at Leverick is reasonably priced with much better food than you would expect
Looking forward to hearing about the good times you have.
If you want more info, feel free to PM

Mike

I have done first thing in the morning and sent crew in from VGYC and told them get up and back before the cruise ship lifeboats dock...they went in at 730 and up and out at 915. I use taxi becasue that drive is something else...2nd only to flying into to VG

Are you talking about Puck's Flying Iguana as the bar above VIJ Airport??? If so that has been far gone for some time now- it was a cool place to eat and drink and talk with Puck while watching the planes and the sea.

Puck also has rental cars. We usually rent from Mahogany. Great service. https://www.mahoganycarrentals.com/

Boulderboy - ‘Hawk’s Landing’ is the place I am referring to - really neat spot we found in Summer 2025….I believe it was fairly new. Separately, I rented from Mahogany Car rentals and Puck was the guy who brought the vehicle over and back from Leverick.

We’ve rented Safari trucks from Mahogany and Speedy’s. I’ve done it round-trip from Leverick starting back in the day when Nick took care of it. Did it last year where we picked up from mahogany at Spanish town and dropped it off at Leverick leaving the key under the mat. I think it was $70. We stopped at the the old copper mine, baths, Hog Heaven, and Savannah Bay. great way to experience Virgin Gorda. Yes, manual tranny, easy for those of us who grew up with them. Not possible for some youngsters 😂

The staff at Leverick just said that if there wasn't a cab (one of those pickup trucks with seats in the bed things) waiting at the parking lot to tell them and they'd get one to come pick us up. There was a guy waiting when we got ashore. $30/person round trip. (there were six of us). Nice and easy. Barry was the driver, if I recall.

I ended up with Mahogany over Speedy's due to availability - all worked out great. Got to the Baths a bit later than i wanted to, around 830, since i didn't want to be at Leverick the night before with 25 knots out of the east. Hard to beat that view from Hog Heaven. Beans show later that evening was also a first for us and a highlight for the kids.

When on a mooring at Leverick and leaving early for the Baths (before 12 noon) via land, how do you transfer the mooring for the next day? Try to reserve the same mooring ball or grab an open FCFS before leaving? Thanks for your input

Yes, that's what I would do. Try to reserve the same BB and move to an FCFS in the morning if that doesn't work.