TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Baths By Land Or Sea

Planning an upcoming charter, and want to stop at the baths of course. I'm thinking that a car to the baths from Leverick, incorporating a dinner at Hog Heaven might be fun. Anyone have a preference in doing the Baths from sea rather than land?

I'm a "by land" vote without question. It opens up other options as well (Copper Mine, Savannah, Mahoe) if the Baths don't go as planned. Hog Heaven is a great dinner stop as is Leverick and seeing the illustrious host, Nick.

Unless your party consists of very strong swimmers then going by car is the preferable option. Get there early, or late so that you miss the crowds. Enjoy the walk down to the beach, have a drink and/or food at Top of the Baths or Mad Dogs on your return and you have the car at your disposal to see the rest of Virgin Gorda. Don't forget to take your National Park certificate with you or else you will have to pay again to enter the area. There are lockers available at the beach to leave anything you don't want to carry through the Baths themselves should you wish to use them.

Hog heaven/hog heaven >> any idea on taxi ride cost from either Spanish town to Hog heaven or from Leverick Bay? What does a rib dinner/lunch run, money wise? thx, rrs

I got a quote from virgingordatours.com on a tour going from Leverick to the Baths, dinner at Hot Heaven and back to Leverick for $150 total for our party of 6. Sounded like a bargain to me. I'm sure our own car would be cheaper, but we don't want to worry about having too many sundowners and driving.

I always have ribs for lunch and it is around $16 for the ribs and two great sides. I don't think there's any difference in lunch/dinner prices as portions are equally sized on the one menu. Of course the Cruzan and Diet run the tab up just a bit. Another great dish is their Conch in Butter Sauce, extremely tender!

First few trips we did it by sea and then aside from 1 trip only have done it by land. Skipped it all together a number of trips too.

I think land is far more preferable. No time limit to worry about on the mooring balls (although most people seem to ignore that anyway unfortunately) and no having to swim in under poor conditions. You also get a great view of the island and can stop at many other places.

When we visit by land, we tend to spend two nights at Leverick. Thu/Fri typically. Thursay, dinner at Coca Maya and then Friday the Leverick BBQ. While out visiting the Baths, we often stop at Hog Heaven for a snack on our way back. Baths we usually have breakfast.

Definitely by land. Rent a car at Leverick and see the whole island of VG and not just the baths. It's really spectacular. Its worth the trip just to have a beer at Hog Heaven.

I never liked visiting by sea. Swimming in can be downright dangerous when there is a surge, and landing a dinghy (back in the days when that was allowed) was also a pretty exciting and potentially dangerous proposition.

Also, something nobody ever seems to talk about, those moorings have a very high maintenance requirement because of the heavy winter surge. I've seen them in pretty bad shape, and I've heard of at least one incident over the years where someone picked one up and everyone lit out only for the line to part and the boat to wash ashore and sink. Basic seamanship would suggest someone competent remain onboard to avoid trouble. Not much fun sitting on a rolly boat while everyone else is onshore IMHO.

Going early or late to avoid cruise shippers being a good idea. What time are they usually there? 10-3 ?

Yeah, to avoid the cruise ship crowd I'd recommend going between 8-10:30 or after 3:30. If you're in Leverick and driving you can see if there's a cruise ship in North Sound or Spanishtown and time your trip accordingly. Cruisers also come over from Tortola, but in smaller numbers in my experience.

Don't forget your national park card/receipt on the boat, or you'll have to pay admisson (again) to the Baths at the top of the hill.

Last time we were there, some 4 person excursion boat dropped off a mother father and their two infants at the east entrance. When Linda and I got there there were trying to get in. the father was one the verge of a panic attack, and his wife was stranded on the barnacled rock. I took the baby from the father and took him in, he was BONE WHITE. Linda went out to the rock and brought the other baby back in, then helped her back to the beach. we entertained the kids while the family got over their stress. If you are fairly strong swimmers, the devils bay entrance is much easier. but NEVER attempt it in any swell. remember my dingy painter rope ladder idea as you might be tired by the time you return to the dink.

I remember, back in the days of the fiberglass/wooden dinghies, we approached the baths from the East entrance. My wife was on the front of the dinghy (maybe doing some coaching). As we came into the beach, she stepped off in what appeared to be shallow water. She was wearing her "going shopping clothing and hat". One moment later, all I could see was her straw hat. When she surfaced, I yelled, "Who gave the order to abandon ship?" It seems to me, it became a long afternoon.

Land!

First time was by water and never again.

Rent a car through Leverick and you can enjoy Hog Heaven and other places mentioned above. We also like to stop at a grocery to pick up any needed items. Leverick store is good but don't have some things.

We like to have breakfast at Top of the Baths (and we pick a non cruise ship day) and then walk down past the gift shop and on down the trail.

It's always a great time!

Ditto everyone else --- LAND !!! We have done by sea twice and will never do it again.

Definitely by land, and remember to bring the Park Service paperwork that you get as part of the charter. That way you don't have to pay again to go down.

I think most of the tourists that come to the Baths on the large (20 passenger) safari taxis are coming from the big cruise ships in Tortola. Speedy's ferries send special boats when necessary. We just returned from VG yesterday were staying at Guavaberry. From our cottage we could see when the taxis arrived. At least once a week, 5 taxis arrived by 8:15 AM with over 100 people <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Man, that's a lot of ppl coming on the ferry. Lot of changes with the new dock and cruise ship deal in Tortola. Not too many of those changes for the better either, IMHO.

ports.cruisett.com > has a list of cruise ships in Tortola and STT for each day through the next six months

5 years ago we went in by dingy ... it was a perfect day so no problem with swells etc ... biggest issue was trying to get ourselves heaved back into the dingy after a couple of wobbly pops ... we put on quite a show for anyone looking out from the beach. 5 years later we go by land and enjoy the top of the baths after our trek thru this incredible wonder.

I was there once when a ferry (from a cruise ship) dropped off about 100 people. They all went in a single-file line through the baths, never allowing other people to filter back the other way. We had to wait about 30 minutes for them to clear so we could get back to the beach... avoid at all costs when cruise ships are around. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and I've gone by sea every time. I've never had a problem. I aim to get there no later than 9am, motoring if necessary from my previous night's mooring/docking/anchorage. On several occasions I've left the Bight (Norman Island), motored up to the Baths, then sailed up to Leverick... no problem, mon <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

We had the same issue once. We were at the point where you climb a narrow staircase up one side of a rock and back down the other. I shouted to the other side asking the people to please hold up for a moment so the two of us could get through in the opposite direction, but they kept coming. Finally I just rudely squeezed/pushed my way through.

Dan <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

I beg to disagree with you. YOU were not the ones being rude. It was the people who refused to hold up a few moments to let you get by who were being rude. You simply did what you were forced to do, given their rudeness.

That's why we call them "[censored]". Like a floating Walmart on black friday.

we were at the Baths twice during a 10 day trip in February and both days it was absolutely overrun with excursions. There was at least on cruise ship anchored off of VG (Costa line?). So the advice to monitor the cruise ships is sound.

One of the two days we were there, the rescue service was busy plucking people out of the water and we saw one man unconscious (potential drowning) that was being worked on by EMTs as well as a group of young Australia sailors who swam in and had a very, very rough time. When the swell is up, it is no joke on the "Baths" side.

Bareboat with crew of 11 in June 2014. Bareboat with crew of 6 in June 2015. Missed this year, but back again with crew of 11 in June 2017. One of the main reasons we charter in June? No cruise ships! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />