If you are visiting Virgin Gorda on your Caribbean cruise and fancy combining getting both adventure and beach time and some AMAZING instagram opportunities, then an excursion to The Baths at Virgin Gorda is a must!
We visited on a Marella cruise and it was easily one of my favourite ports.
What are the Baths at Virgin Gorda?
The Baths are a group of enormous granite boulders formed over thousands and thousands of years, which have formed sheltered sea pools on the edge of the beach on Virgin Gorda’s coast.
The boulders dotted along the coastline at Southern tip of Virgin Gorda make for an astonishing site – from a distance away their size is almost hard to determine – only once you reach the Baths do you realise just how huge they are!
Though it would appear as those they’ve been placed around the beaches by giant, cosmic hands, they’ve truly been formed by huge chunks of granite that have been eroded over time into mammoth piles of boulders.
How to get to The Baths at Virgin Gorda
We visited Virgin Gorda on our Marella Celebration Caribbean cruise – Virgin Gorda is a tender port so you will be dropped off at a small jetty – large open sided taxi buses were picking up nearby and shuttling people to and from the Baths (a return ticket should cost you less than US$10 per person) – they run as long as the ship is in port so you needn’t worry about getting back again as they are pretty regular.
Top tip – get on to one of the earliest tenders if possible – the Baths can get very crowded.
Should I follow signs for Devil’s Bay or the Baths?
Both! When we visited we actually went to Devil’s Bay first – it’s not a very big beach but gives you some space to sit and enjoy the view. I’d also recommend following the path at the far left end of the beach – you’ll find a smaller beach that was completely deserted when we went!
What about the Baths themselves?
As a general rule, follow the crowd! If you’re not particularly firm on your feet or have issues with ducking and crawling, the Baths might not be right for you. As well as piles framing some secluded beaches, the huge boulders also form some incredible tunnels and arches that you can clamber through. Be warned – it’s quite the scramble – be ready to duck, crawl and get your feet wet.
I’d strongly recommend taking some water shoes with you – flip flops alone aren’t going to cut it for this beach visit. It’s also worth doing the route through the baths in shorts or a bathing suit – long pants are going to get wet!
The good news is, at the end of your clambering there’s a beach bar with cold rum punch at the ready! There’s also a beach where you can set down your towel and take a well earned break.
It’s also worth taking your snorkelling gear if you have some – there are some amazing reefs if you swim out from the beach at the Baths – take your GoPro or a waterproof phone case and get ready to snap some video of parrotfish, angelfish and even rays gliding amongst the coral.
Are there restrooms at the Baths at Virgin Gorda?
It really is an adventure though, and there’s a little beach bar at the end of your path – there are restroom facilities here and in the restaurant at the top of The Baths but not on the main Devil’s Bay beach.
Is there a restaurant at the Baths at Virgin Gorda?
There is a facility at the top of the baths with a restaurant, bar, pool, and collection of duty free shops.
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Wow, this looks beautiful! The colour of the water is amazing.
Char | charlotterick.com x