The British Virgin Islands have around 60 islands and cays, and only about a dozen or so are inhabited. That leaves dozens of tiny strips of sand, coral outcroppings, and rocky islets where the only footprint in the sand might be yours. For families who want the feeling of being castaways without actually being stranded, a private island picnic is one of the most memorable things you can do here. This article covers four of the most accessible spots in the BVI where you can set up your own beach picnic for the day — each with different logistics, so you can pick the one that fits your group best.
Over 40 of the BVI’s roughly 60 islands remain uninhabited — meaning your private-picnic options go far beyond the handful of named resorts.
A private island picnic in the BVI isn’t just for honeymooners or billionaires. With a rented dinghy or a short water-taxi ride, you can have a full day on your own stretch of sand for the cost of a cooler of food and a boat fee. The caveat: you need to plan ahead for shade, water, and a bathroom plan, especially with kids.
Families with school-age kids
Couples wanting seclusion
Small groups of friends
| Activity | Skill Level | Cost | Duration | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Island Beach Club | Easy | $25–$50/person (ferry + food) | Half to full day | Arrive before 11am to grab a shaded picnic table near the snorkel beach |
| Sandy Spit | Easy | $60–$80 round-trip water taxi | 2–4 hours | Bring an umbrella — there’s zero shade on this tiny cay |
| Saba Rock | Easy | $30–$60/person (ferry + lunch) | Half to full day | Check the restaurant’s open days before you go — it changes seasonally |
| Anegada | Moderate | $70–$90/person round-trip ferry + golf cart rental | Full day | Book the early ferry out and the late ferry back to maximize beach time |
Cooper Island Beach Club: The Easy Half-Day Picnic With Snorkel Add-On
Cooper Island sits about 20 minutes by ferry from Tortola’s East End, and its beach club has become a go-to for families who want a mix of sand time and decent snorkeling without arranging their own boat. The beach faces west, so the water stays calm most mornings — good for kids who aren’t strong swimmers yet.
The Cooper Island ferry departs from Road Town or Trellis Bay — the ferry schedule runs daily but frequencies drop in off-peak months. Round-trip tickets run around $45 per adult, half that for kids under 12. Book ahead if you’re going between December and April.
The ferry drops you at the beach club dock. Walk left along the sand past the restaurant to find more space. If you’re bringing your own picnic, this is where you’ll want to spread out — there are a few palm trees but not enough to shade everyone, so pack a beach umbrella or a pop-up tent.
The coral shelf starts about 50 feet from shore at the southern end of the beach. Snorkeling conditions are generally calmer here than at The Indians, making it a practical choice for families with younger kids. Lily spent two hours floating along the reef edge one morning — the water clarity was good enough to see parrotfish and the occasional turtle from the surface.
The last ferry back to Tortola typically leaves around 4pm. If you didn’t bring lunch, the beach club’s restaurant serves excellent conch fritters and rum punches, but expect resort pricing — a burger runs around $18. If you’re on a budget, skip the restaurant and stick with your cooler.
Sandy Spit: The Classic Deserted Cay Picnic
If your idea of a castaway day involves a tiny circle of sand with nothing on it but you and your cooler, Sandy Spit is your spot. Located off the west coast of Jost Van Dyke, this little cay is maybe 100 feet across — you can walk around the entire thing in 90 seconds. There’s no restaurant, no bar, no shade, and no bathroom, which is exactly why people love it.
Water taxis run from Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke. A round-trip to Sandy Spit typically costs around $60–$80 and takes about 10 minutes. Arrange a pickup time with your driver before they leave you on the cay — cell service can be spotty. If you’re staying on Tortola, you can take the regular ferry to Jost Van Dyke first, then grab a water taxi from there.
Aim to arrive by 9:30am. There’s no natural shade, so bring a beach umbrella, a pop-up tent, or plan to rotate who sits under whatever shade you have. Ethan and Lily took turns holding a beach umbrella over the cooler — not ideal, but it worked. A lightweight beach shade tent would have made a big difference here.
The water around Sandy Spit is clear and shallow — great for beginners. The reef on the east side has a few brain corals and schools of sergeant majors. It’s not the best snorkeling in the BVI, but the isolation makes it feel special. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for the kids.
Leave no trace is the rule here — pack out every bit of trash, including food scraps. Your water taxi will return at the agreed time. If you want to extend the day, some drivers will pick you up later if you call them, but don’t count on cell coverage. Be conservative with your pickup time.
Sandy Spit is exposed — if the wind picks up or a squall rolls in, there’s absolutely no shelter. Check the marine forecast before you go, and keep an eye on the western sky. If clouds start building, it’s time to pack up earlier than planned.
Saba Rock: A Family-Friendly Island With Facilities
Saba Rock is a small island sitting between Virgin Gorda and the Bitter End Yacht Club complex. Unlike Sandy Spit, this one has a fully equipped restaurant, bar, bathrooms, and even a few guest rooms. The vibe is relaxed and the setting feels secluded even though you’re a short water taxi from Virgin Gorda. It’s a good middle-ground for families who want the island feel without giving up cold drinks and flush toilets.
North Sound water taxis depart from the dock near Leverick Bay on Virgin Gorda. The ride takes about 15 minutes. Round-trip tickets run around $30–$40 per person. Check the wind conditions before you go — North Sound can get choppy in the afternoon, which makes the ride less comfortable for kids.
Saba Rock’s restaurant serves lunch daily during peak season, with a menu built around fresh seafood and Caribbean staples. Their current hours and seasonal closures are posted online — check before you go. Michael appreciated that the kitchen was willing to make simple pasta for the kids when the menu was too adventurous.
Saba Rock has kayaks and paddleboards available for guests. The water around the island is calm and clear, ideal for kids to paddle around without current worries. You can also walk the entire island in about 10 minutes — the views of North Sound and the surrounding islands are excellent from the top deck.
The water taxi ride back can be bumpy after 3pm. Aim to catch a ride around 2pm for a calm crossing. If you’re heading back to Virgin Gorda, consider stopping at Leverick Bay for a late-afternoon swim — the pool and beach there are open to the public.
Anegada: The Full-Day Beach Safari
Anegada is different from every other island in the BVI — it’s flat, coral-based, and ringed by some of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean. Getting there takes more effort, but the payoff is a day on beaches that are almost always empty. The island is known for its lobster, its flamingos, and its complete lack of crowds.
The Anegada ferry departs from Road Town. Book the earliest crossing — typically around 8am — to maximize your beach time. Round-trip tickets run around $75 per adult. The ride is on an open-deck ferry that can be wet and windy, so bring a jacket and keep electronics in a dry bag.
Anegada doesn’t have taxis waiting in a line — you need your own wheels. Golf carts rent for around $60–$80 for the day and are the most popular choice for beach hopping. Book ahead if you’re visiting between December and April, as the rental fleet is small. The island has one main road and a network of sand tracks.
Loblolly Bay on the north shore is the most accessible beach with a restaurant (Cow Wreck Beach Bar is a classic). The beaches on the south shore are more secluded but require driving on sand tracks. All beaches on Anegada are public. If you’ve spent time island-hopping in the BVI, you’ll notice Anegada’s vibe is entirely different — slower, quieter, and much less developed.
Anegada is famous for its lobster — many beach bars offer grilled lobster lunches for around $30–$40. Cash is essential here; only a handful of places take cards. Aim to leave the beach by 3:30pm to return the golf cart and catch the 4pm or 5pm ferry back to Tortola. The afternoon crossing tends to be calmer than the morning one.
Pack a full cooler for Anegada — ice, drinks, snacks, and lunch if you don’t want to rely on beach bars. The grocery stores on the island have limited selection and higher prices than Tortola. If you’re bringing a good travel backpack for the day, fill it with reef-safe sunscreen, hats, and extra water before you leave Tortola.
Anegada has no public transportation and very limited cell service outside the ferry dock area. If you get a flat tire on a sand track, you’re walking back. Make sure your rental has a spare tire and that you have the owner’s phone number saved before you lose signal.
Practical Section: Booking, Packing, and Safety Tips for BVI Beach Picnics
A little planning goes a long way when your lunch spot is only reachable by boat. Here are the logistics that matter most.
Booking Water Taxis and Ferries
Water taxis in the BVI don’t run on fixed schedules the way ferries do. For Sandy Spit and Saba Rock, you’ll need to arrange a specific pickup and drop-off time with your driver. Most drivers take cash only, and rates are per boat, not per person. If you’re staying on Tortola or Virgin Gorda, ask your accommodation’s front desk for a recommended water taxi operator — they often have a regular driver they trust.
What to Pack for a Day on a Secluded Beach
The rule with private island picnics is that everything you bring must also leave with you. Pack a cooler with ice packs, sandwiches, fruit, and plenty of water — at least a gallon per person for a full-day trip. A lightweight beach tent or umbrella, reef-safe sunscreen, and a dry bag for electronics are essentials. If you’re bringing a camera to capture the day, a compact drone like the DJI Mini 4K can give you aerial shots of the cay from above — and at under 249 grams, it doesn’t require FAA registration for recreational use in the US.
Weather and Sea Conditions
The best conditions for beach picnics in the BVI are between December and April, when the trade winds are steady and the sea is calm. Hurricane season runs from June through November, and even a tropical wave can cancel ferry service for a day. Check the NOAA marine forecast the morning of your trip. If small-craft advisories are posted, reschedule — the water taxis may still run, but the ride will be uncomfortable and the snorkeling conditions will be poor.
If you’re staying on Tortola and still weighing which side of the island to sleep on, this interactive map of the BVI’s hotels and vacation rentals makes it easier to compare properties against ferry docks, grocery stores, and water-taxi launch points.
Before You Go: BVI Private Island Picnic Questions Answered
Can I bring my own food to any of these islands?
Yes, with one catch: Cooper Island and Saba Rock have restaurants that expect day-trippers to buy food if they’re using the facilities. If you bring your own cooler and sit away from the restaurant area, it’s usually fine — but don’t expect to use their tables or chairs. Sandy Spit and Anegada’s beaches have no such restrictions.
What about bathrooms on the smaller islands?
Sandy Spit has none — plan accordingly. Cooper Island and Saba Rock both have restrooms for customers. On Anegada, the beach bars at Loblolly Bay have bathrooms that are typically open to anyone who buys something, but the more remote beaches don’t have facilities at all.
Is it safe to take kids to these islands?
Generally yes, but the younger the child, the more you need to plan. Sandy Spit’s lack of shade and facilities makes it better suited for kids ages 8 and up who can handle direct sun and understand the leave-no-trace rules. Cooper Island and Saba Rock are both fine for toddlers if you bring sun protection and keep a close eye on the water.
Do I need to tip the water taxi driver?
Yes — 10–15% of the fare is standard for water taxi services in the BVI, especially if the driver helps you load and unload your cooler, chairs, and beach gear. Cash is preferred.
What happens if the weather turns bad while I’m on a deserted cay?
This is the biggest risk with Sandy Spit. Always carry a VHF radio or a satellite communicator if you’re going to a deserted spot. A floating waterproof case for your phone helps, but cell coverage is unreliable. Some visitors bring a Garmin Descent or Fenix watch with GPS and messaging as a backup way to reach help if conditions change suddenly.
Why a Day on Your Own Patch of Sand Still Matters
The BVI has plenty of excellent restaurants, beach bars, and resort pools. But the memory that sticks for most families — ours included — is the day you sat on a beach with no one else in sight, eating sandwiches out of a cooler while the kids floated in water so clear you could see the sand ripples 15 feet below. That kind of quiet doesn’t require a private jet or a billionaire’s budget. It just requires a water taxi, a cooler, and the willingness to be a castaway for a few hours. For more ideas on low-impact ways to explore the BVI, our guide to eco-friendly adventures in the territory has plenty of practical suggestions.
References
Cooper Island Beach Club. “Ferry Schedule & Rates.” Cooper Island Beach Club. ↗
Saba Rock. “Dining & Hours.” Saba Rock Resort. ↗
NOAA. “Marine Forecast – Caribbean.” National Weather Service. ↗
If you’re planning a longer trip through the BVI, you might want to read our full guide on island-hopping from Jost Van Dyke to Virgin Gorda, which covers ferry connections and timing. For a completely different kind of day on the water, our guide to snorkeling the wreck of the RMS Rhone rounds out the top water experiences in the territory. And if you’re curious about the islands’ cultural side, the BVI live music and nightlife scene article covers where to find local bands and beachside jam sessions.
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