Tortola
Best months:
October to April
LAST UPDATED 15/05/2009
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Introduction

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Paradise Found. Photo by Belize.

Tortola is the largest and most inhabited of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), however don't worry it still maintains that cool, laid back Caribbean atmosphere.  BVI is part of the Lesser Antilles chain, which separates the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Tortola itself, is only about 5 km wide, and the highest peak is Mount Sage, which reaches 543 metres and lies about 100 km east of Puerto Rico. Tortola is composed of a long chain of steep hills down to white sandt beaches. The island is covered with mango, palm and banana trees, and development has been limited, so the beaches remain idealic and uncrowded. Its name is commonly thought to be from the Spanish tórtola menaing “turtle dove”. However, the real story is that it was originally named Tor Tholen by Dutch settlers, but was later changed by the British  to Tortola.  Yet "the land of turtle Doves" seems much more apt.

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