Virgin Gorda (Spanish Town) Cruise Port
Spanish Town, British Virgin Islands · Caribbean
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Spanish Town — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysA tender call at a small yacht harbour, with the Caribbean's most photographed granite boulders a ten-minute bus ride south.
At a glance
Port summary
Virgin Gorda has no cruise berth. Ships anchor in St Thomas Bay and tender passengers into the dock at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, which is a working marina rather than a terminal: a chandlery, a supermarket, a handful of boutiques and restaurants, a tourist board desk, two bank ATMs and a taxi rank in the forecourt. Spanish Town, which everyone on the island calls The Valley, spreads out around it and is flat and easily walked, but it is a village and half an hour covers it. The reason to be here is The Baths, the field of house-sized granite boulders on the south coast about three miles away, where the trail between the rocks leads through sea caves and tidal pools to the sand at Devil's Bay. Open-sided safari buses run there from the rank, drivers wait or come back for you, and the National Parks Trust charges a small entry fee at the gate. Everything else on the island is a compromise on time: Gorda Peak is fifteen minutes north, Savannah Bay is a quiet beach on the way, and North Sound at the far end needs a road taxi to Gun Creek and then a boat. Currency is the US dollar, driving is on the left, and most of what you will spend money on is cash only.
Cruise dock
Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour Tender Dock
The tender landing for Virgin Gorda, on the north side of the marina at Spanish Town. It is a working dock shared with ferries, charter yachts and local boats rather than a cruise facility, with the taxi rank, tourist board office, ATMs and shops all within a minute of the pontoon. Ships anchor in St Thomas Bay about a kilometre offshore.
Latitude: 18.44871, Longitude: -64.43638
See dock on port map →Getting to Spanish Town
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
The US dollar is the official currency, so there is nothing to change. Draw cash at the Yacht Harbour ATMs before you leave The Valley and keep small notes: the park fee, the safari bus and the beach bars all want them.
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Inside the Caribbean collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Spanish Town cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedThe Baths and Devil's Bay by safari bus
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€90$101
Do it yourself
€26$29
Save ≈ €64Save ≈ $72 (71% off)
Tenders land inside Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and the taxi rank is a minute away in the forecourt. Open-sided safari buses run to The Baths in about ten minutes at a government-set fare of roughly US$4-6 per person each way depending on how many share the vehicle, and drivers will fix a return pick-up time before you leave. Entry to The Baths is US$3 for adults and US$2 for children, cash at the gate or bought online in advance from the National Parks Trust, and the same ticket covers Devil's Bay, Spring Bay and Stoney Bay. Bring water shoes with grip: the trail to Devil's Bay is a wet scramble over granite with ladders and rope handrails.
See the DIY plan →
Half-day sail and snorkel from Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour
≈ 4 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€175$196
Do it yourself
€75$84
Save ≈ €100Save ≈ $112 (57% off)
You do not need a taxi for this one. Dive BVI operates from a desk inside Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, a two-minute walk from where the tenders land, and sells seats on its boats to snorkellers as well as divers: a morning two-tank dive and an afternoon one-tank dive-and-snorkel, plus a full-day Underwater Safari that leaves at 09:00 and returns at 17:00 and is too long for most port calls. Aristocat runs shared sailing catamarans from the same marina to The Baths and North Sound. Reckon on about €65 for a snorkel seat and from roughly €135 for a two-tank dive; check-in is 15 minutes before departure and missed departures are charged in full.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
8 plansThe Baths & Devil's Bay
House-sized granite boulders, sea caves and tidal pools — the BVI's one-of-a-kind natural wonder, done independently.
Spring Bay & the Quiet Boulders
The same granite giants and clear water as The Baths — no gate, no ladders, and hardly anyone there.
Half-day Sail & Snorkel
See the boulders and reefs from the water — a catamaran or dive-boat straight from the marina, no crowds.
Island Drive: Copper Mine & Gorda Peak
A roofless Cornish engine house on a copper-stained cliff, ridge-top overlooks and empty bays — Virgin Gorda's story on wheels.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Spanish Town?
- Spanish Town is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Spanish Town?
- Walking into Spanish Town from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Spanish Town centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Ferry, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Spanish Town?
- Plan for at least 3.5 hours ashore to see Spanish Town independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Spanish Town and are cards accepted?
- Spanish Town uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Spanish Town cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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