September 19, 2025
New flights and hotels aren’t the only reasons the British Virgin Islands should be on your radar for 2026 — plus what’s new elsewhere in the region
Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands, which has reopened after seven years
It’s been worth the wait. After the double whammy of Hurricane Irma in 2017, which wreaked widespread damage, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has taken time for this super-scenic British Overseas Territory to rebuild its tourism industry. Now new initiatives such as direct daily American Airlines flights from Miami to the gateway island of Tortola (recently seen on screen in the BBC’s Brink’s-Mat drama The Gold) and the reopening of flagship resorts, are bringing an exciting buzz to the BVIs. This compact archipelago, made up of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke as well as more than 50 smaller islands, is just an hour’s flight west of Antigua.
Feverish partying is clearly on the agenda in the burgee-festooned Buoy Room at the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda where I encounter some hard-drinking yachties downing painkillers — the potent rum-and-coconut cocktail that is the islands’ go-to drink (cocktails from £14; beyc.com). Founded in the 1960s and an essential port of call for sailing enthusiasts, this family-owned beach resort is accessible only by boat and a renowned venue for high-end regattas. After the hotel was completely flattened by Irma, the last of ten new timber-built rooms, some modelled on vintage sail lofts, were finally opened in March. The design skilfully upcycles hurricane debris such as ropes, lights and mooring balls while a sunken supply boat, Reef Sampler, was salvaged from the seabed to create a flamboyant beach bar.
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Equally impressive is the rebirth of Peter Island, a soaring private resort that was closed for seven years. Now it is a top-class 1,800-acre sanctuary with five beaches, two pools, a superb steakhouse and a palatial spa. Its 52 smartly appointed rooms look on to the sheltered waters of Deadman’s Bay where every morning I wake to swim with turtles. Come late afternoon, guests are driven up to the lofty Sunset Loop viewpoint where, with a stiff rum punch in hand, we sit on brightly coloured Adirondack chairs admiring the island chain stretched out in the apricot light like stepping stones to paradise.
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To get the best of a trip to “Nature’s Little Secrets” (as the territory’s vehicle number plates boast), it’s important to get out on the water and stay on at least two islands. With the exception of Anegada, all are within a 25-minute boat ride from Tortola and there is a network of public ferries that includes connections to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands.
The Willy T floating bar is a happening spot in a former tanker
ALAMY
Sailing holidays where you book a cabin on a shared crewed catamaran, just as you would a hotel room, are one option. Alternatively, most resorts can arrange day trips to snorkel, dive and call in at watering holes such as the Willy T, a scruffy floating bar on a repurposed tanker off Norman Island that has a spring break raucousness. For something more refined, book lunch at Cooper Island Beach Club, which has its own microbrewery (main courses from £15; cooperislandbeachclub.com). As I sit in the sun sampling a flight of its solar-brewed craft beers, I can’t help marvelling at the tacky names people like to give their beyond-expensive boats. Rum Away, Beer Money and — a true crime — the Great Catsby.
• Explore our full guide to the Caribbean
Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a great choice for families and couples
KEN HAYDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
A smart pick for families and romancing couples, Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda has complimentary snorkelling trips and drop-offs at nearby beaches where you can be left alone with a parasol and picnic. After a fortifying breakfast enlivened by a jerk bloody mary, I head off for some castaway bliss on Great Dog Island. As we bounce across the waves, it is satisfying to see that the BVIs still hold true to their name. Green and virginal with a mere 30,000 fun-loving residents, this is surely the last bling-free millionaires’ playground left in the Caribbean. As the American conservationist Laurance Rockefeller, who did much to preserve the beauty of these islands, observed: “The only true luxury is closeness to nature.”
Nigel Tisdall was a guest of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (bvitourism.com). Seven nights — including two B&B at Peter Island, two B&B at Rosewood Little Dix Bay and three all-inclusive on a shared catamaran — from £5,830pp, including flights via Antigua and transfers (bviholidays.com)
Five new things to do in the Caribbean
Make a splash in Barbados
Barbados Open Water Festival
Last year close to a hundred British swimmers took part in the annual Barbados Open Water Festival, which now attracts more than 500 entrants from across the globe. It’s a sociable affair, held beside the broad sands of Carlisle Bay, next to the island’s capital, Bridgetown. Between November 5 and 9 there will be three practice days and two days of races. Accommodation is available at nearby partner hotels. Companion events centred on the Barbados Yacht Club include happy hours, beach barbecues and — new this year — a dance competition (entry from £15; barbadosopenwaterfestival.com).
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• Explore our full guide to Barbados
Go on a bird safari in St Lucia
Go in search of the “small six” in St Lucia
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Forget the big five; instead, go on a wildlife safari and search for the little guys in St Lucia — the elusive but enchanting “small six”, comprising three bird species, the worm snake, the whiptail lizard and the pygmy gecko. Launched in March and led by the local conservation expert Adams Toussaint, this minimalist quest is spread over two days, with guided hikes into the Quilesse rainforest and on the small east-coast island of Praslin. Other tours focus on butterflies, reptiles and flora. (from £103pp; stluciawildlife.com).
Jamaica’s new world heritage site
The ruins of Fort Charles in Port Royal
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In July the archaeological ruins of Port Royal, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, were added to Unesco’s world heritage list. In the late 17th century this was a notorious base for privateers and pirates, including Henry Morgan and Edward “Blackbeard” Teach. It ended when an earthquake struck in 1692 and most of what is left lies under water. Key landmarks are the rebuilt Fort Charles and St Peter’s Church, constructed in 1725. Audley Travel has a “Highlights of Kingston” day trip that includes this historic district, as well as the Bob Marley Museum (eight nights’ B&B from £5,650pp, including flights, transfers and excursions; audleytravel.com).
Reach new heights in Dominica
The 200ft-wide Boiling Lake among the Morne Trois Pitons
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This mountainous volcanic isle has few beaches but terrific hiking, and will soon be home to one of the world’s longest cable-car rides. Austrian-built and stretching four miles, the Dominica Cable Car is scheduled to open in December amid the dramatic peaks of the Unesco-listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park. After a 20-minute ascent, visitors will come face to face with a rare and remarkable sight: the 200ft-wide Boiling Lake, which steams away like a witches’ cauldron (dominicacablecar.com).
Perfect pickleball in Antigua
Pineapple Beach Club pickleball court
Pickleball is a fast-paced racket sport that has become a craze across the Caribbean — numerous resorts have installed courts and some villas have also added them for their guests. Find out if you’re a “pickler” at Pineapple Beach Club, an adults-only all-inclusive resort with six courts. For a family option, its sister property St James’s Club & Villas has three floodlit courts, plus six pools and a kids’ club. At each location you can sign up for free group coaching sessions or book a private lesson (£37 for a one-hour private lesson for up to four; guestseliteislandholidays.co.uk).