Coast to Coast Scenic Drive
Duration: 3 hours
Tour Code: TRT-009
This mostly panoramic tour presents Tortola's picturesque southern shoreline and a fine island resort before returning via an elevated ridge road.
Boarding an open-air safari bus at the pier, you'll commence your tour with a leisurely drive through Road Town, the lovely capital of the British Virgin Islands. As you leave the city limits, you'll notice that Road Town surrounds the crescent-shaped bay like an amphitheater, gently rising into the lush hillsides. As you continue west along the scenic roadway hugging the Sir Francis Drake Channel, you'll see several islands on the horizon. Among them is Norman Island, an uninhabited paradise often referred to as Treasure Island because its rugged terrain is thought to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island."
Just before reaching Tortola's westernmost tip, you'll cross the bridge leading to palm-dotted Frenchman's Cay, an area where the fabled pirated Blackbeard plundered ships in the late 1700s. This part of Tortola is particularly historic, and your guide will happily go into detail describing the island's watershed events and most notorious characters. You'll enjoy more than an hour on the cay at Pusser's Landing, a collection of colorful houses, boutiques and bars clustered around the bay.
The drive back to Road Town follows an entirely different route, partially along the northern shore and then inland, ascending the ridge road through the middle of the island. After a few stops for photos of the panoramic views, you'll return to the pier.
Please note: Walking on this tour is mainly at the guests' discretion during the stops. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the safari bus, and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Those with mobility concerns should carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Casual light-weight clothing, sun cap; sunglasses; sunscreen; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.