Jost Van Dyke
Gorgeous, sun-kissed Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is widely considered to be a great “party capital” of the world. In fact, Foxy’s Beach Bar on Great Harbour is listed as one of the top three places in the world to spend the New Year’s Eve by Times Magazine. Partying is but one of the many things Jost Van Dyke offers. Name it, and this jewel of the Caribbean has got it–picture perfect beaches, stunning anchorages, fun, colorful characters and a laid back vibe guaranteed to take that stress knot out of your back. The best way to experience Jost Van Dyke? By charter boat, of course!
Whether you’re here for an afternoon, a week, or a month (lucky you), there are some “do not miss” locations to put on the schedule.
If you really want to see what Jost Van Dyke is like, check out any “beach based” Kenny Chesney song on YouTube. Kenny has a home on St. John, and has shot many of his music videos at our local beach bard–they make a gorgeous background! Check out this video–it’s all Virgin Islands.
White Bay
Named for its long stretch of pearl white soft sand, White Bay has incredibly calm waters, perfect for relaxing and floating. Rest in any of the many hammocks under the shade of the palm trees at Soggy Dollar Bar. This iconic beach bar was called Soggy Dollar, because patrons anchor off the beach and swim to the shore—there’s no dock. Visitors deposit their “soggy dollars” on the bar, where the bartender hangs them to dry on a clothesline, and place their order for a Painkiller. Soggy Dollar is the birthplace of the world famous cocktail known as the “Painkiller,” which is the cocktail synonymous with the Virgin Islands. Soggy Dollar is a great place to spend an hour, a day, or a lifetime. Steel drums and laughter float on the breeze, while visitors lay in the sun, plat the Ring Toss game, or float in the warm water making new friends. You’ll also find Ivan’s Stress Free Bar and Campground, One Love Bar, Jewel’s Snack Shack and many more on White Bay.
Great Harbour
Swimming and sun-loving is ideal in Great Harbour, where the pristine beach is sheltered and ringed by mountains. Great Harbour, while tiny in size, is home to a customs office, so its a great place to check into the British Virgin Islands. From the dock, wander down the beach, passing a tiny police station, a church, ice cream shop, grocery store, and a slew of little bars. These establishments are nothing like their counterparts in the states. Each place is housed in either a Caribbean style block building, small and colorful, or in a place built from available island resources or items that washed ashore. The term “lean-to” is taken to a whole new level in the Virgin Islands!
At the end of this character filled walk, you’ll come to Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and Grill. The owner and BVI legend, Foxy Callwood, was knighted by the Queen of England in 2009, so he answers to “Sir Foxy.” He’s always happy to see you and is usually up for an impromptu show, playing calypso music and singing, telling a story or two, or a joke you won’t be able to repeat in mixed company. Foxy’s is also known for great food. Be sure to check out their chicken roti, grilled fresh fish and lobsters, lobsters and more lobsters. If you make there on a weekend day, they fire up the Grillzebo, a gigantic BBQ the likes of which you’ve never seen before. The intoxicating scent of grilled chicken, hamburgers, and local seafood floating on the Caribbean breeze will meet you long before you actually arrive at Foxy’s.
Jost Van Dyke offers great bars and fantastic beaches, but its also a snorkeler’s paradise. Diamond Cay, Little Jost Van Dyke, Green Cay, Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit offer an enchanting underwater adventure. Lose yourself in the warm waters, teeming with colorful fish like angel fish, surgeon and glassy minnows. The patrol of jacks, tarpons, snappers and barracudas are also an awesome sight to behold. Turtles and even dolphin frequent these areas, all swimming among one of the most stunning coral reefs in the world. The colors are so bright, it’s like high-definition TV!
There’s a name for the quintessential Caribbean island everyone pictures when they think “tropics”—it’s Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Island. Be sure to put this amazing place on your “must do” list.
