TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands St. John to Caves, Indians before clearing customs?

Chartering a boat from CYOA in June. Plan to visit St. John for a couple of nights before heading to the BVI. Wondering if it is ok if we stop at the Caves and the Indians before heading to Roadtown to clear customs.

Legally No.

Clear at West End

Please don't, and it's much easier to clear in at West End or preferably Great Harbour, JVD.

I don't think you'll like CaptainJay's response to that question.

Not a good idea.

Is it OK? NO -- is it advisable? Not even a consideration worth discussing. -- Will you get caught by a BVI C&I boat? Maybe. -- Do you have a defensible argument to present if boarded? Only an extreme emergency [boat sinking?] -- Will the transgression be expensive, time consuming, and a giant hassle? Definitely!
Do I speak from experience? Yes!

Life goes along well when you follow procedures.

Check to make sure WEST END customs is open at Sopers Hole....Tortola. That should be easy .

Great Harbor , Jost Van Dyke would be easy as well. ( other fun anchorages at Jost.....White Bay, Little Harbor, Foxys Taboo at Diamond Cay, and the fun Bee Line bar and grille across from Diamond Cay.( all have moorings )

If you are going to be sailing the BVI, it is easy to LEGALLY stop at the Indians and the Caves, and maybe add in lunch and libations at Pirates at the Bight on Norman, or head up to
Peter Island and the Willy T, or Cooper .

So many great places to visit and have grand times in the BVI,

Clearing in at WE should only take 90 minutes out of your schedule. Silly to risk ruining your trip for that amount of time.

You'll also have the opportunity at C&I to purchase the National Park Service permit to use the NPS moorings at the The Caves and The Indians.

Why dont you step into my office real quick...

It’s a sure way to get to meet the BVI legal teams complete with their custom suits and empty Gucci brief cases along with a $15,000 retainer.

Last week I checked out at Jost for a brief trip to St. John's and re-checked in at Sopers. Both times I was in/out in less than 15 minutes. Cost was $10 each time for a crew of 4. Couldn't have been simpler or quicker compared to last year checking in/out from Grenada to the Grenadines. That was an ordeal. So, worth following the rules in the BVI's.

In a word, NO.

Sailing in the VI's is spendy enough before you add on hiring international lawyers to keep you out of HM Balsam Ghut prison, not to mention how spendy it will be to return the boat to its rightful owner while you rot in jail waiting for trial.

Check in to the BVI's through C&I at either Jost or West End, Tortola. Yes Sir, No Sir Three bags Full Sir and Thank you very much sir. No sunglasses, no ball caps, no bare feet or bare chests, and ladies with shoulders covered, shorts of granny modest length, and no bare feet.

The best news is that you can check out of the BVI's at the same visit as check in.

The very LAST thing you should be contemplating is messing with international boundaries.

These are great tips. Also, remember to greet the room as you walk thru the door. Just say "Morning", "Afternoon", or "Good Night" as you enter depending on the time of day.