Virgin Gorda is the third-largest island of the British Virgin Islands, after Tortola and Anegada, and the second most populous. It covers about 8 square miles (21 km2). Spanish Town, on the southwest side, is the main commercial and residential area. Two of its main sights sit at opposite ends of the island. The Baths, at the southern end, is where huge granite boulders form grottoes open to the sea. North Sound, at the northeast end, holds more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of sheltered water that suits watersports.
Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage, and the Spanish claimed it without settling it. In the sixteenth century, North Sound was a strategic anchorage for the British Navy. In 1631 the Dutch West India Company funded a settlement to mine copper, and the old Copper Mine is the island's most notable ruin. Many visitors arrive by boat from Tortola or St. Thomas, since the island's airport is small.
Virgin Gorda in five
- Take the ferry from Tortola or St. ThomasMarine ferries run from Tortola, St. Thomas and St. John. The island's airport is small, so many visitors connect through Tortola or St. Thomas and take a boat from there.Getting around
- Check the Baths rules before you goThe Baths is inside a national park, so check current entry terms and trail rules with the National Parks Trust before you travel.
- Pay in US dollarsThe island uses the US dollar. Carry small notes for taxis and small shops.Money and costs
- Install an eSIM before you flySet it up at home before you fly, so your data works when you land.Phones and eSIM
- Check entry rules before you bookEntry depends on your passport. Check the UK government's travel advice for the British Virgin Islands before you book flights.Visas and entry
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- Depends on your passport; check before you book Read more
- Emergency
- 999 or 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Check the bill for a service charge before adding a tip
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, breezy
- FebruaryDry, breezy
- MarchDry, quiet
- AprilDry, warming
- MayShoulder, calmer
- JuneHurricane season
- JulyHot, wet
- AugustHurricane risk
- SeptemberPeak hurricane risk
- OctoberHurricane risk
- NovemberHurricane season
- DecemberDry season starts
Right now in Virgin Gorda
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 26 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 51%
Virgin Gorda
04:41 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°26°51%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Tue29°27°35%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Wed29°27°36%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Thu29°26°53%Thursday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Fri28°26°61%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Sat28°27°69%Saturday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Sun28°27°48%Sunday: Clear. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 48%.
Updated 04:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Tortolaby ferry, times vary by operatorThe largest island of the territory, with the main airport and the capital, Road Town.Read the guide
- Anegadaby ferry from Tortola, times vary by operatorA flat coral island with reef beaches.Read the guide
- St. Thomasby ferry, times vary by operatorA US Virgin Island with ferry links to Virgin Gorda.Read the guide
Before you go to Virgin Gorda
Rules for Virgin Gorda, checked
- Check entry rules for your passport on the UK government's travel advice for the British Virgin Islands before you book flights.Source
- The Baths is inside a national park. Follow the trail and rock-pool rules posted there, and check the National Parks Trust before you go.
- Service charges are often added to restaurant bills. Check the bill before you add a tip.
Plan around Virgin Gorda
Ferries from Tortola, St. Thomas and St. John, plus commuter flights.
Read the guideWhere to stay on Virgin GordaNorth Sound resorts, Spanish Town and the Baths end of the island.
Read the guideMoney and costsUS dollars, tipping and what a day on the island costs.
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules by passport, to check before you book flights.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMSet up data before you fly to the islands.
Read the guideBritish Virgin IslandsThe wider territory, from Tortola to Anegada, in one guide.
Read the guideVirgin Gorda FAQ
How do you get to Virgin Gorda?
Marine ferries run from Tortola, St. Thomas and St. John, and small commuter airlines also serve the island. The airport is small, so many visitors connect through Tortola or St. Thomas and take a boat from there.
Is Virgin Gorda worth visiting?
Yes, for the Baths and North Sound. The island is about 8 square miles, and the Baths, the old Copper Mine and North Sound all lie on it.
How many days do you need on Virgin Gorda?
Plan around the ferry times, since they set how long you can spend on the island. Check the operator before you book.
What are the Baths on Virgin Gorda?
Huge granite boulders on the southern end of the island form grottoes open to the sea. The rocks formed deep underground, were exposed by long-term erosion and were rounded by weathering.
Can you visit Virgin Gorda as a day trip from Tortola?
Yes, if the ferry schedule works for you. Timetables change, so check the ferry operator before you plan a single day.
