Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes

After the tipping point back at Puerto Plata in Dominican Republic, now heading back towards the port of arrival at Bridgetown in Barbados, stopping at the remaining islands we did not pass by when heading north. This is the turn of the capital city of the British Virgin Islands, Road Town in the principal and largest island, Tortola. As exotic as it sound just by the name, we were not wrong. It’s sometimes incredible to see such exotic and exuberant nature and paradise beaches in so little piece of land.

Yet again another place first sighted by Christopher Columbus in his second voyage in 1493 who named the archipelago Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (Saint Ursula and her 11000 Virgins), shortened to Las Vírgenes (The Virgins) after the legend of 5th century Christian martyr Saint Ursula. The name of Tortola comes itself from the Spanish for the bird turtledove. Nevertheless there was never a Spanish settlement here, but Dutch first then British, who they do still belong to the Kingdom. So in this case, like it was back at Sint Maarten, we are not visiting a new country as such, but an overseas territory.

Being dropped off at Road Town is nice spot because you can reach anywhere else in the island of Tortola at easy convenience, and because of the very reduced size and short distances, you can potentially visit the entire island in the time you are given since arrival until departure of your cruise, which is generally from the early morning until 18.00pm. Well enough for either reaching the north coast and enjoy what this island is more famous, the white sandy beaches; having a great snorkelling time in the crystalline waters or taking the speed boat towards Virgen Gorda Island in order to admire one of the greatest beaches on earth, The Baths.

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