How To Get To The British Virgin Islands
Looking for the easiest way to get to your BVI charter? Here’s exactly how to get from your home airport to your yacht—by flying via St Thomas, flying direct to Tortola or Virgin Gorda, or using ferries and private water taxis.
The Virgin Islands’ Major Airports:
- Via Cyril E. King Airport, St Thomas (STT) – USVI
- Terrence B. Lettsome Airport, Beef Island, Tortola (EIS) – BVI
- Taddy Bay Airport, Virgin Gorda (VIJ) – BVI
- Auguste George Airport, Anegada (NGD) – BVI
NOTE: There is regular service from San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) to Virgin Gorda (VIJ) with regional airlines such as Cape Air and Tradewind Aviation. Charter operators also serve Anegada (NGD).
Pro Tip:
Inquire with us right now and ask for a crewed yacht with St Thomas (USVI) pickup and dropoff! Get direct flights to St Thomas Airport and avoid reading this comprehensive and extremely informative article on how to get to your charter in the British Virgin Islands – this is by far the easiest way (the catch – limited availability).
1. Most Popular Option: Fly to St Thomas (STT) + Ferry/Water Taxi to the BVI
For most guests, the simplest and least expensive option is to fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St Thomas and then take a ferry to Tortola or the outer islands.
STT is a larger international airport with more nonstop flights and lower fares than flying directly into Tortola. The arrival process is usually smoother, and the onward journey to the BVI is very well established.
From STT, you take a taxi (around 20–30 minutes) to Red Hook on the east end of St Thomas. From there, you either board a scheduled ferry or a pre-booked private water taxi. Ferries are cheaper but run on fixed schedules; private water taxis give you more flexibility and are especially convenient for groups, lots of luggage, or delayed flights.
Once you reach the BVI, you clear customs (usually at West End or Road Town), and then continue directly to your hotel or charter yacht.
Pro Tip:
Most travelers fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands before about 2 p.m. and then continue to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) by ferry or private water taxi.
You can also fly directly into the BVI via Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (EIS – Tortola) or Virgin Gorda (VIJ), and depart from either EIS or STT at the end of your trip.
If your charter ends on a busy day (especially Saturday) and you’re relying on a ferry back to STT, avoid tight same-day flight connections. Ferries and customs can be delayed, so many guests choose to stay overnight and fly out the next morning.
There are ferry services from St Thomas to these ports in the BVI:
- Road Town and West End, Tortola
- Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke
- Spanish Town in Virgin Gorda
Ferries are the lowest-cost way to get from St Thomas to the BVI (unless you are a large group, when sharing the cost of a water taxi might be more affordable).
After you land at STT, you’ll take a taxi (about 20–30 minutes) to either Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie, then board a scheduled ferry to Road Town or West End on Tortola (and from there on to Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke if needed).
Crossings take 45–75 minutes, and return tickets typically fall somewhere around $100–$140 per person once you include taxes and port fees.
Exact times and prices change by season and operator, so we always recommend checking the latest schedule—or simply asking us to confirm it for your dates.
When we recommend the ferry:
- You’re solo or a couple and cost matters more than convenience
- Your flight arrives earlier in the day, leaving time to clear immigration and get to the dock
- You don’t mind a bit of queueing and moving with the crowd
When you book your charter with us, we’ll point you to the right ferry route for your marina and timing, and flag any “tight” connections that might be risky.
NOTE: All vessels-even superyacht charter- and passengers must clear Customs and Immigration immediately upon arrival, and a valid passport and boat registration papers will be required. The U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are, in essence, different countries, so transfer between them is considered international travel.
Main ferry operators on this route include:
- Road Town Fast Ferry – direct, fast runs between Charlotte Amalie / Red Hook ↔ Road Town
- Native Son Ferry – long-running USVI–BVI operator serving Charlotte Amalie / Red Hook ↔ Road Town / West End
- Smith’s Ferry Service – routes within the BVI and to/from St Thomas, Virgin Gorda, Anegada
- Speedy’s – the main operator for Virgin Gorda ↔ Tortola / Beef Island, with a weekly service to St Thomas
- Aquatic Rentals – newer fast ferries linking Red Hook ↔ West End / Road Town
A private water taxi is the smoothest way to arrive in the BVI from St Thomas—and what we recommend for families and groups.
The flow is simple: you land at STT, meet your driver, transfer by taxi to the marina (most often Red Hook), and step straight onto your private boat. From there, you go directly to the closest BVI port to your yacht or hotel (often West End or Nanny Cay), while the captain handles customs and immigration formalities for you. You stay on board with a drink in hand instead of standing in line.
Water taxis do cost more than ferry tickets, but for 6–10 guests, the per-person difference is surprisingly worth it once you factor in time saved, flexibility, and zero stress about “missing the last ferry.”
When we recommend a private water taxi:
- You’re a group or traveling with kids and luggage
- Your flight arrives later in the day or you want maximum flexibility
- You’d rather start your holiday on a private boat than in a ferry queue
We work regularly with vetted operators (including The Last Mile, tested by several of our brokers) and will match you with the boat that best fits your arrival time, group size, and budget.
For a detailed comparison of operators, sample pricing, and example routes, we’re preparing a separate guide: Best Private Water Taxis from St Thomas to the BVI.
Pro Tips:
Go to https://vi-bvi-water-taxi.com and inquire; you’ll be contacted by multiple companies.
When booking a private water taxi, get a quote to the closest point on land, which you can get – West End instead of Road Town. You will need a land taxi anyway – this saves you hundreds of $$ and time!
2. Easiest Option: Flying Directly to the BVI
If you’d rather skip the USVI and ferries, you can fly straight into the BVI.
The main airport is Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (EIS) on Beef Island, connected by bridge to Tortola. EIS is served by regional flights from Caribbean hubs such as San Juan and others like Miami and Antigua, depending on season and airline.
This option is usually more expensive than flying to STT, but it can be very convenient if the schedules line up for you.
Alternatively you can fly into Virgin Gorda
If your yacht starts or ends in Virgin Gorda, flying directly to Taddy Bay Airport (VIJ) can save you time on the water.
Most flights into VIJ are small regional planes, often connecting via San Juan (SJU). The airport is small and relaxed, but schedules are more limited than Tortola, so this works best when your yacht is based in Virgin Gorda and we’ve aligned the timing.
3. Most Luxurious Option: Fly Private Jet to the BVI
For guests who value maximum comfort, privacy, and flexibility, private charter flights are a great complement to a luxury crewed yacht charter.
You can fly directly to EIS (Tortola), VIJ (Virgin Gorda), NGD (Anegada), or STT (St Thomas) on your own schedule, often connecting from a major airport closer to home. This lets you avoid crowded terminals and tight connections and tailor your arrival exactly to your embarkation time.
As a rough guide, midsize and super-midsize jets typically range from $4,200–$8,100 per flight hour, and heavy jets from $7,200–$17,800 per flight hour. When you charter a yacht with us, we can introduce you to trusted private aviation partners and help you coordinate flights with your boarding time.
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