Tortola British Virgin Islands Cruise Port

British Virgin Islands (Tortola) in detail

Tortola is one of the British Virgin Islands, part of the Leeward Islands, in the eastern Caribbean. Friendly little Road Town is the capital of Tortola (meaning 'Turtle Dove'), largest of this archipelago of over 50 beach-fringed islands and cays to the east of Puerto Rico.

Tortola is mountainous and volcanic in origin, well known for its Sage Mountain National Park, covered with primeval rainforest. As well as sampling the beautiful beaches, visit Apple Bay's Sugar MilI and try rum drinks that pack a real 'punch' at Pusser's Company Store.Inhabited first by the Arawak and then by Carib peoples, they were settled by the Dutch from 1648 but in 1672 they became a British colony.

During the 17th century the Virgin Islands were frequented by buccaneers and pirates. Though the islands remain a British Dependency, the official currency was changed to the U.S. dollar to reflect its trade relationships with the USA and Puerto Rico.