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BACKPACK AND SNORKEL TRAVEL GUIDE FOR A CRUISE TO Tortola - Tortola PURPLE GUIDE
This Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guide (Tortola Purple Guide) provides information about the best things to do on a cruise to Tortola and ensures that you will be Making Memorable Moments on a relaxing vacation in Tortola.
The information on this page and much more (google maps locations, more reviews, website links, etc.) is available in our Cruising the Caribbean Guide.
Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands and the language is English and the US dollar is the official currency.
General Information (see our Travel Guide)
We decided to make this a beach day as Road Town, where Tortola’s cruise port is located, is not known for its beauty.
Tortola was devastated by hurricane Irma in 2017, but was nicely rebuilt from what we saw.
Although often stated incorrectly, Christopher Columbus originally named the island Santa Ana. Later on, Dutch colonists called it “Ter Tholen” after a Dutch island. After the British took over, the name evolved into “Tortola”.
The population is about 24,000 people.
Brewers Bay
As usual, we wanted to snorkel, swim and sunbathe. Our two top contenders were Cane Garden Bay and Brewers Bay. We decided for Brewers Bay as it seems to attract fewer visitors and apparently has the best snorkeling on Tortola. Brewers Bay is just North of Cane Garden Bay.
To get to Brewers Bay, the taxi has to go down a winding steep road. As a reward, you will find an almost white sand beach with turquoise water, forested hills, few people and very few buildings. There were pelicans fishing and there was good snorkeling by the rocks to the South.
Are you interested in more white sand beaches and turquoise water destinations?
Check out my reviews of other Caribbean islands and Rudy's Cruise Guide.
Please also check out the Backpack & Snorkel Store for detailed travel guides.
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