One of the main reasons that people come to the British Virgin Islands is for its beautiful beaches. They range from merely stunning to truly spectacular. You can stand in the soft white sand and wiggle your toes as the warm Caribbean Sea washes over your feet, gently reminding you that you're in the tropics. You can lie in a hammock strung between two coconut palms and doze off, fanned by the ever-present trade winds. Somehow, watching the sun slowly dip beneath the horizon is more exciting when you're on a beach, and maybe you'll witness the elusive green flash.

There are beaches where you can walk for miles all alone, as well as beaches studded with quaint bars and restaurants where you can enjoy tropical rum drinks, feast on local seafood and dance the night away.

So, where are these beaches and what do they have to offer? Let's have a look, island by island. And remember, in the British Virgin Islands, all the beaches belong to everyone. There are no restricted beaches, although some may be difficult to get to.

Tortola - West

Tortola is the largest and most populated island. Fortunately, it's also blessed with some of the finest beaches in the region. Some are secluded and accessible only by a difficult trek through trails down a mountainside, while others are ringed with beach bars, restaurants and a variety of attractions. There are beaches to please just about every personality.

Most of Tortola's beaches lie along the northern coast, while the southern side of Tortola contains most of the harbours, marinas and population centres.

Since most people arrive on Tortola through the West End ferry terminal, the airport on the eastern end, or Road Town in the middle, it's best to consider the beaches from these perspectives. The western end of the island contains Soper's Hole, the main port of entry for those arriving by sea. Visitors may stay at one of several marinas, hotels or guesthouses on this part of the island.

There are several wonderful beaches along the north coast. The westernmost beach is at Smuggler's Cove, historically one of the more isolated and little-known beaches in the BVI. It was the setting for the movie The Old Man and the Sea. The beach lies in a beautiful crescent-shaped bay backed by lush green hills and a fascinating salt pond just over the sand berm on the eastern end. Just off shore is a shallow coral reef teeming with colourful fish and sea creatures that's perfect for snorkelling, except for occasional periods in the winter when the surf's up.

Just over the hill to the east is Long Bay Beach, a long straight beach quite befitting its name. Behind most of this beach is the upscale Long Bay Resort. It's a popular beach, and despite the resort, you can stroll along and find your own little private nook. During parts of the winter, the north swell creates large waves on the beach. At this time snorkelling gives way to surfing. If you're not a surfer, you can still enjoy the show as the experts take to the waves with their acrobatic performances.

The long straight beaches of Carrot Bay and Apple Bay are located just around the corner, or over the hill to the east, if you're driving. The beaches vary from soft sand to rounded granite rocks that were once collected for ship ballast. These beaches are the surfers' paradise of the BVI. The winter surf attracts the pros from surrounding islands, Puerto Rico and beyond. Occasional competitions showcase the professionals, who put on quite a show for the visitors. This stretch of beach offers hotels, restaurants and bars ranging from the very elegant Sugar Mill to the ramshackle collection known as Bomba's Surfside Shack. Along the southern coast, the only beach of any significance is at Fort Recovery, a small, secluded resort.

Tortola - Central

Perhaps the best-known and most popular beach in all the BVI lies in the middle of Tortola's northern coast: Cane Garden Bay. A gorgeous, soft sand beach stretches the entire length of the bay, with an offshore reef that breaks the largest waves. The central portion of the beach contains the area's best-known bars and restaurants. This is the beach for the active-minded, with water sports toys available to rent for the energetic at heart. Lots of beach chairs are available for those whose idea of strenuous is a good book and a piņa colada. There is live music for dancing, boutiques and gift shops for the souvenir hunter and frequent events intended to draw a crowd.

The ambience on the beach over the hill to the east could not be more different. Brewers Bay is quiet and serene, just the kind of place for those who want to get away from the action. It's a long, wide beach that gently slopes down to the sea. There's a reef in the middle of the bay that offers good snorkelling. Behind the central portion of the beach is the Brewers Bay Campground, offering the cheapest accommodations on the island, and there are two small beach bars. While the beach is usually very quiet with few people present, Sunday afternoons can find the beach packed with revellers, live music and lots of barbeques.

The other beaches along this section of the north coast are isolated and generally difficult to access. With names like Shark Bay, Trunk Bay and Cooten Bay, they are uninhabited and offer no services for visitors. Historically, they were accessible only by boat or a tough hike down a steep slope. However, if you are truly adventurous, fit and really want to find total seclusion on a beautiful beach, one of these might be just the ticket. That said, keep in mind that developers in recent years have been eyeing these same beaches, so accessibility is increasing.

There's not much on the southwestern coast in the middle of Tortola, just a few small pockets of sand scattered along the coast. West of Road Town, the resorts at Prospect Reef and Nanny Cay maintain small beaches for public use. To the east, Brandywine Bay was substantially enlarged by the government to create a beach for the public.

Tortola - East

The northeastern coast contains several fabulous beaches, with the most popular being the one at Josiah's Bay. Long a favourite of the locals, this beach hosts several surfing competitions during the winter season. While the surf breaking on the beach is spectacular to watch, it can present dangerous conditions to the inexperienced swimmer. Strong undertows often accompany the high surf, and so caution and local advice should be heeded during such times. The soft sand is ideal for beach volleyball, beach football and a variety of beach sports. The beach is undeveloped except for two small beach bar/restaurants.

Lambert Bay is to the east and equally spectacular. Unlike Josiah's Bay, Lambert contains a resort development whose amenities are open to the public. So it's a nice place to enjoy a good meal and do a bit of beach combing and swimming.

Little Bay lives up to its name. It's small but exquisite. There are rarely more than a few people on this beach, most of whom live in the surrounding houses or rent one of the few accommodations available nearby. Its combination of beauty and solitude make it a special place to visit.

Beef Island

Joined to Tortola by a bridge, Beef Island is the site of the T. B. Lettsome Airport. There are three or four beaches worth visiting, however. The largest is Long Bay Beach, with a wide and rather steep soft-sand beach. The area is undeveloped and offers no services. There are rarely more than a few people on the beach, so it's generally a good place to go for privacy.

Trellis Bay is ringed by a lovely beach. While not very wide, it offers plenty of spots to get away from the crowds. The bay is usually filled with luxury charter yachts and does offer a variety of services to the visitor. Since it's sheltered from winter seas, the waves lapping the shore are small and perfect for small children or anyone preferring calm water.

The beach at Well Bay is small and generally not crowded, but can become so on weekends when it's occasionally used for private parties. Though there are no services, the beach is sheltered and protected from large waves, so it's great for lovers of calm water.

There's a lovely beach at Bluff Bay on the south side of the island. Accessible by a walking trail from the main road, the area is uninhabited. If you're looking for a really secluded beach, this could be it. Snorkelling offshore is excellent on a beautiful shallow coral reef.

Virgin Gorda and Surrounding Islands

Virgin Gorda boasts world-class, breathtaking beaches, which practically encircle the island. No matter where you are, you'll find a beach only a few steps away. Virtually every resort offers a stretch of spectacular, soft white sand and a stunning view.

The flat portion of the island west of Spanish Town contains the world-famous Baths. An incredible geologic formation of granite boulders as big as houses, The Baths are located right on the beach. In fact, there are several beaches with names like Spring Bay and Devil's Bay along this coast. All are strewn with boulders and little nooks and crannies where you can escape into your own world of privacy.

West of Spanish Town, the island rises over 1,000 feet to the summit at Gorda Peak. From there you can view nearly all the beaches on Virgin Gorda and make your selection.

Little Dix Bay contains a beautiful beach sheltered behind a protective coral reef. The Little Dix Bay Resort, nestled in the tropical vegetation behind the beach, offers world-class accommodations and fine dining. All the amenities you could hope for are available at this resort.

The remainder of the northern coast is one long beach with occasional rocky headlands that act as natural separations. One of the more spectacular shorelines is Savannah Bay. This gorgeous beach is popular but never crowded. Yachts sometimes anchor behind the offshore coral reef. Snorkelling is excellent on the entire reef.

This coast is home to mostly private dwellings and few developments. Along the way, there are small beaches between outcrops of granite boulders. Perhaps the best is Long Bay Beach at the very eastern end of the coast. It is a stunning beach with a magnificent view of the islands and the sunset. Best of all, you are likely to have the entire beach all to yourself.

The eastern end of Virgin Gorda contains North Sound. This is a large natural harbour enclosed by Virgin Gorda and several smaller islands. There are plenty of beaches in this area.

The Leverick Bay Resort has a small beach partly enclosed by the marina. Along the shoreline in both directions are little pockets of sandy shoreline most people describe as cute, and which are accessible only by boat.

The largest resort in the BVI is the Bitter End Yacht Club. Much of the shoreline along the hotel is a sandy beach, with the best part being the eastern end. This is not your quiet, secluded type of beach. The resort caters to families and the sports minded. There are lots of water sports available, and human activity abounds.

Adjacent to the Bitter End is Biras Creek. A small, quiet upscale resort, Biras Creek offers two beautiful beaches. One is along the south coast and usually has big waves breaking on the shore, while the other is in protected Deep Bay.

The surrounding islands, Mosquito, Prickly Pear and Eustatia, all contain beaches worth visiting. They vary in size from long and wide to very tiny pockets of sand tucked among the rocks. The islands are presently uninhabited or very sparsely inhabited, with access available only by boat.

North of Virgin Gorda lie about a half dozen islands and rocks collectively known as The Dogs. All are uninhabited and accessible only by boat. However, they do contain a number of small sand beaches. Some are popular with the yachting crowd, while others are used by Virgin Gorda hotels to give their guests a Robinson Crusoe-type experience. If you find one that is unoccupied, you'll really feel like you're lost on your own desert island.

Jost Van Dyke and Surrounding Islands

The two best beaches on Jost Van Dyke are found in Great Harbour and White Bay, with the latter clearly the most spectacular. Its long straight beach is steep and postcard perfect. There is good snorkelling on the offshore coral reef and some bars and restaurants to add local flavour.

Great Harbour is the commercial centre of the island. The wide beach extends the entire length of the bay and is a popular weekend playground for visitors and residents alike. The harbour is a favourite anchorage of the yachting crowd because it's sheltered from ocean waves and there are abundant amenities.

Just east are the twin islands of Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit, accessible only by boat or yacht. Over the years these islands have graced many magazine covers. They are uninhabited and ringed by spectacular white soft sand beaches and swaying palms, which lend that magic feeling of being in paradise.

Anegada

Anegada has been described as one gigantic beach with a few rocks, trees and human settlements sprinkled in the middle. With the exception of a few miles of mangrove forest on the southeastern coast, the entire island is surrounded by one long unbroken beach. If you're hardy, you can walk the entire beach end to end. If you want to do some serious beach combing, then this is your island.

Other Islands

There are a few additional islands with beaches worth noting, which vary in size, accessibility and privacy.

Peter Island has several nice beaches, with perhaps the most famous being Deadman's Bay. It's a spectacular, wide crescent beach bordered by tall coconut palms and home to the upscale Peter Island Resort. On the opposite side of the island is the long straight White Bay Beach, which is great for beach combing or relaxing. There are a few smaller beaches along the coast, accessible only by boat.

Cooper Island has a great beach in Manchioneel Bay, with soft sand and lots of swaying palms. The Cooper Island Beach Club is a perfect place to sip a cocktail while you enjoy the sunset.

Salt Island was once a bustling little community centred on the Settlement. There is only one individual living there now, and he's often away. There's an interesting beach at the Settlement. Although there isn't much sand, the snorkelling is great on the shallow reef. It's also a good place to look for "sea glass," the colourful pieces of old bottles eroded smooth by the waves.

There are all sizes and shapes of beaches in the BVI, both crowded and deserted, and found on both inhabited and uninhabited islands. Once you have sampled a few of them, you'll agree that the best beach is the one you are sitting on.

Check out our sightseeing suggestions for British Virgin Islands, island-by-island using the links above.

To get to the BVI's call American Airlines at 1-800-433-7300, book your trip on aa.com, or for travel information, visit www.EagleLatitudes.com.

Book your stay direct and save - using our BVI hotel guide.