On Tortola, we rode a tour bus to sugar plantation ruins, visited a historic rum distillery, and then swam at Cane Garden Bay Beach.
Road Town
First, our cruise ship arrived in the harbor of Tortola’s largest town of Road Town.
We walked down the pier and then to a shop and restaurant area near the cruise port.
Look for signs for restrooms located here if you need to use them before going on a tour.
Next, we left on the bus tour stopping first at a nearby vendor market in Road Town.
Up in the Mountains
Next, the bus driver drove us up into the mountains. If you are not good with heights don’t look out. I am not bothered by heights and loved the view of Road Town and the cruise ship far below. The early morning mist still hung in the area giving the view a magical quality.
Mount Healthy National Park
Our first stop was the remains of a former sugarcane mill. This 18th-century windmill was once used for grinding the sugarcane, farmed from the steep slopes on the north shore of Tortola.
It was part of a thriving 250-acre plantation. Enslaved Africans cultivated the sugarcane on the terraced slopes and processed it into sugar, which was then shipped to Britain for sale.
Mount Healthy National Park windmill is the last remaining windmill in the British Virgin Islands.
The large arched apertures are accented by cut stone blocks. These functional openings were used for carrying the sugar cane into the mill for grinding and the crushed cane (bagasse) out.
The circular walls of the windmill were often six or more feet at the base, tapering up to three feet at the top to a truncated cone.
Address: C9W5+6PJ, Unnamed Road, Leonards, British Virgin Islands
Sky World Food Theatre
Next, we stopped at the former Sky World Food Theatre which is a high point on the island with 360-degree views from the top of the building.
The mist had mostly cleared and from here we could see distant islands, nearby homes, and villages.
My husband came across a lizard crawling on the side of the building.
Purple wildflowers thrived up here.
NOTE: Cows come by the lookout so watch where you walk.
Address: C9J5+7QG, Leonards, British Virgin Islands
Guava Stop
After leaving the lookout one of the tourist guides came across a guava tree and my son was able to taste fresh guava.
Callwood Rum Distillery
It is the oldest distillery in the Caribbean in operation for over 200 years.
Here we toured the white stone distillery which includes historic equipment and lots of wooden barrels.
They provided a tasting for a small fee. Be aware, it is strong.
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Address:
Cane Garden Bay, British Virgin Islands
Cane Garden Bay Beach
Next, we spent a few hours at Cane Garden Bay Beach. It is clear water surrounded by lush mountains. (Main blog photo)
Chairs are $10. If you don’t buy one know that the tide can come in up to the chairs so make sure to put your beach towel near the forest canopy.
Nearby are restaurants and bars so it is easy to find reasonably priced food and drinks.
My son enjoyed rushing into the waves. We constructed sandcastles on the beach.
Then we headed back to the pier.
Shopping
Lastly, we shopped at the stores near the cruise port. There was a wide variety of stores here so worth browsing before you head back to the cruise ship.
Final Thoughts
I think doing a tour of the island is well worth it. Especially with the mountain driving and confusing roads and there is not a lot in Road Town to see. Again, people drive on the left.
The beach was well worth the tour and we enjoyed our time here.’
Leaving Tortola
If you are on a cruise ship it is worth finding a window or lounge chair and looking out as you leave the British Virgin Islands.
This is a scenic area with lots of mountains and nearby islands to view.
MORE CRUISING
U.S. Virgin Islands: Exploring Charlotte Amalie
Cruising into Charlotte Amalie you come into a crystal blue bay fringed by green mountains dotted with island homes.
Taking a Norwegian Escape Cruise
Cruise out of Port Canaveral on the Norwegian Escape and visit Caribbean Islands and onboard activities like a ropes course, mini-golf, and water park.
Seeing Stingrays at Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private oasis, was our first port. It is filled with a variety of island activities including stingray encounters, glass-bottom boat viewing, snorkeling or just hanging out on the beach and swimming in the pristine Caribbean Sea.
Touring Grand Turk
Grand Turk is known for diving with a 7,000-foot drop-off within yards of the shoreline and snorkeling among the coral. For us, we will explore this tiny island on a tram stopping in Cockburn Town and feeding the wild donkeys. Also, just so you know, they drive on the left side of the road since it is a former British colony.
