Chill Caribbean culture, idyllic beaches, wild mountainous interiors and balmy temperatures make the Virgin Islands one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. Made up of over one hundred islands, cays, islets, reefs and rocks, the islands attract in excess of two million visitors a year for the fishing, sailing , and spectacular snorkelling and diving . Natural attractions aside, the colonial legacy, which has seen many flags flying over the islands in the past three hundred years (Dutch, French, Danish, British and Spanish to name a few), has left some charming historic architecture, particularly in the towns of the United States Virgin Islands, together with atmospheric ruins of sugar plantations and a culture that is something of a melting pot.

 

A territory of the USA, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) can, with their international cuisine, mini-shopping malls and American-style amenities, initially seem rather too much like its big brother with the added advantage of duty-free shopping. But further exploration reveals the strong roots of West Indian culture, no more so than at Carnival time when the streets of St Thomas are overtaken with colourful costume-parades, bands and food stalls selling delicious creole food. The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are less touched by tourism and the majority of visitors are yachters - the calm waters, gentle breezes, deep bays and short distances between anchorages have long made the BVI a sailing paradise.

The mainstay of the economy in the Virgin Islands is tourism, though the USVI have a lucrative sideline in the Hess Oil Refinery and a reasonable manufacturing industry, while the BVI receive significant income from licence fees paid by foreign companies taking advantage of the BVI's tax exemptions.