"Epic" Paddling Trip from Anegada to St. John
"Epic" Paddling Trip from Anegada to St. John
For experienced paddlers only! This "epic" 9-day trip will begin with a ferry ride to Anegada, where we will spend the first two days kayaking and exploring this remote island. Then it's a long, open-water crossing to the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. Next, we head down the chain of islands that run between Virgin Gorda and St. John, with stops at Cooper Island, Peter Island and Norman Island, finishing on St. John.
photo by Steve SimonsenSample Itinerary for the 9-Day "Complete Virgins" Tour
Day 1: Meet up with your guide and the rest of the group from Arawak Expeditions at the ferry dock in Road Town, Tortola. Together, we'll take the ferry to Anegada, where we will then head to our campsite on the western end of the island (Pomato Point). Once we're set up at the camp, we'll go for a short afternoon paddle to a nearby snorkel site, then return to camp for a fabulous sunset and cocktail hour.
Day 2: We spend the day paddling and exploring Anegada. We'll round the western end of the island and head along the North Shore to Cow Wreck Bay, where we stop for lunch and snorkeling. Then we'll have some free time in the afternoon to snorkel, fish and explore this part of the island, before returning to our campsite.
kayakers on the North shore of AnegadaDay 3: This is our big day of paddling! We'll get an early start and paddle south, towards the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. This is a 15 mile, open water crossing and although we can make lots of stops out on the water, there is no place for us to get out of the boats until we arrive at the North Sound. This crossing should take us about 5 hours, which means we should arrive at Prickly Pear Island around noon. We'll stop here for lunch, then spend the afternoon snorkeling and resting on this beautiful beach. There is a restaurant nearby where we will have dinner.
Day 4: We'll paddle south, along the shoreline of Virgin Gorda, making a stop at the world-famous Baths. These magnificent boulders (some the size of a house) form pools at the water's edge, thus their name. We'll have lunch here, then paddle on to tiny Cooper Island where we will stay in charming cottages for the night.
Day 5: From Cooper, we paddle to nearby Salt Island, where we will snorkel the famous shipwreck, the RMS Rhone. This British Mail Steamer sank during a fierce hurricane in 1867, with 123 crew and passengers aboard. The gravesites of many of those who perished are nearby on the hill at Salt Island. The shallowest part of the wreck is in only 20 feet of water and can be easily seen with snorkel gear. After this, we'll get back in the kayaks and head to Peter Island, where we will camp.
sunrise on Peter IslandDay 6: After a leisurely breakfast, we set out from camp to Pelican Island and the Indians. Here we experience some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Virgin Islands. From Pelican Island we paddle to Norman Island, the island upon which Robert Louis Stevenson allegedly based his novel "Treasure Island." Anchored in the bay at Norman Island there is a ship, the William Thornton, which has been turned into a floating bar and restaurant. We'll stop here for lunch and a cold drink before returning to our campsite on Peter Island.
Day 7: We break down camp at sunrise and have a quick breakfast before crossing the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the West End of Tortola. At the West End, we break for a couple of hours for rest, sightseeing and lunch, then head on to Jost Van Dyke, where we stay at an established campground in White Bay.
Day 8: After another leisurely breakfast, we will kayak East to Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit. These are the idyllic uninhabited sandy islands one thinks of when one pictures a "virgin island." We will spend the day here snorkeling and playing in the surf before returning to camp on Jost Van Dyke.
kayaks at Sandy CayDay 9: From Jost Van Dyke, we will cross from British Waters to U.S. Waters. Before finishing at Cruz Bay, St. John, we'll stop for lunch at Lovango Cay, Henley Cay, or one of St. John's beautiful north shore beaches. Once back in Cruz Bay (usually between 2-4pm), we clear customs, unpack the kayaks and head to our respective accommodations
- length of trip: 9 days
- accommodations: mostly camping, but one night in cottages
- included: most meals (meals in restaurants are not included), all equipment, kayaks, paddles, PFDs, etc.
- departs from: Tortola, BVI
- price: $1995/person
- dates of tour: April 19-27, 2008
