Tortola, British Virgin Islands Cruise Port Guide

Tortola is the largest island among the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Although there are 50 islands in the chain, there are only 15 that are inhabited.  Tortola (Spanish for Turtle Dove) is part of the Lesser Antilles chain which separates the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Tortola is the commercial and governmental capital of the British Virgin Islands, and about 80% of the BVI population lives on Tortola. That being said, the island still has a relatively small population of about 30,000 people. The majority of the British Virgin Islands are mountainous, and the climate and vegetation are drier than other Caribbean isles. Streams and waterfalls are practically nonexistent in Tortola and, except in the mountains, there are cactus and succulents rather than some of the more lush environments of other islands. Because of so little runoff from streams, the water clarity around the island is much better than other places in the Caribbean. The islands around Tortola create a type of natural sea barrier, making the water calm most of the time. This water clarity, steady winds and calm seas make Tortola an ideal destination for divers, snorkelers and yachting. East of Tortola is Beef Island, and the two islands are connected by the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) is the main commercial airport that serves Tortola and the other British Virgin Islands. Credit: WorldAtlas.com The other inhabited islands in the BVI are close enough for a day trip from Tortola. Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, Marina Cay, Peter Island and Virgin Gorda are all within reach if you have a full day in port. Sage Mountain National Park in Tortola is the tallest peak at 1,716 feet and this part of the island has some of the characteristics of a rainforest. Road Town is Tortola's only urban center. In the 1960s, the island became an offshore financial center. This completely reversed Tortola's fortunes. It became quite prosperous and now has one of the highest per capita incomes in the Caribbean.

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Good To Know

While Tortola does not have some of the scary animal populations like bears or lions, they do have some plants that you need to stay away from. Most visitors will not go around plucking leaves off trees to consume them, but it is still good to know that Oleander and Elephant Ears on Tortola can be dangerous if you were to eat them. It is also imperative that you heed the warnings for the Manchineel, or poison apple tree. All parts of the tree, leaves, bark, and fruit are toxic. Sap from the tree is caustic and will burn through your skin. If it happens to be raining, do not stand under one of these trees either.  Even if you don’t touch the tree itself, sap is washed off the leaves by rainwater and will cause blisters if drops hit your bare skin. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon died after being struck by an arrow that had been poisoned with manchineel sap.

Credit: express.co.uk article 'The World's Most Dangerous Tree Can Kill You'

With as toxic as the Manchineel is, you might wonder why they are allowed to flourish in the Caribbean. The tree provides excellent natural windbreaks and the roots of the tree stabilize the sand to help prevent beach erosion. So although there can be some very unpleasant repercussions from contact with the manchineel tree, your best defense on the island is awareness. Trees might be marked with a sign, a red X or a red band around the tree about three feet from the ground. The best rule of thumb is that if you don’t know for sure, don’t touch it!