Introduction

This Sparked Travel guide draws inspiration from the literary classic, Treasure Island. The tale follows the young Jim Hawkins as he adventures in search of the lucrative buried treasure of the notorious pirate, Captain Flint. The adventure sparks when Hawkins finds a map locked away in an old sea captain’s chest. After consulting Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, the three come to the conclusion that this map leads to buried treasure. With riches in mind, the group hastily gather a crew and set sail for Treasure Island. As their journey unfolds, Hawkins finds himself in the midst of the classic tricks and treachery of pirates. Hawkins discovers some of the crew members that they had hired were in fact associates of the pirate, Captain Flint and they had every intention of betraying their employers. The young Hawkins and crew successfully lay anchor near the tropical paradise. Things quickly go awry with constant power struggles, betrayal, and mutiny amongst the crew. Eventually, the protagonists win out with the help of a castaway and make their way off the island with the treasures they had dreamt of.    

Just like all fictional novels, the author often draws from the world that surrounds them. In this case, many argue that the British Virgin Islands are what inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Treasure Island. These remote islands in the Caribbean are near perfect to serve as inspiration for such a setting with lush green jungles, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters. Follow along as we set sail to adventure these islands and set foot on the remote Treasure Island!

Tortola

Our pirate adventure leads us to Tortola which is the largest of the British Virgin Islands. Tortola is the most developed island and home to the capital city of Road Town making it the perfect location to not only explore Tortola but to serve as a launch pad to the other islands. Typically, the best way to get to Tortola is to fly to nearby Puerto Rico, transfer planes and enjoy the short flight to Tortola’s airport. I would suggest renting a car in Tortola as it gives travelers more freedom during their adventure but just remember that drivers in the British Virgin Islands drive on the left side of the road! The drive from the airport to Tortola takes about 20 minutes and once you arrive, travelers are greeted by a quaint port town. Travelers should make time to walk Tortola Pier Park which has many shops and local eateries. At the center of the city, you will find the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens which provides insight on the island’s rich biodiversity and a chance to escape the tropical sun underneath the many palm trees. 

The following day, adventurers will get to explore the main island and really start to understand why these islands were a pirate’s paradise. Just a short drive from Road Town, you will make your way to the remote Smuggler’s Cove. This spot is perfect for enjoying Tortola’s white sandy beaches and crystal waters. The tranquil waters of Smuggler’s Cove allows beach goers to easily snorkel. Be sure to keep an eye out for any sparkle in the waters; could be that long lost buried treasure! As you relax on the sand you will notice just how picturesque this location is; a true pirate’s paradise. 

The next stop on the day’s itinerary will take travelers to Sopers Hole. This marina has true Caribbean charm with vibrant colored buildings and powdered white yachts rocking in the waters. The people of the British Virgin Islands have put in a lot of effort to restore this marina as it was hit hard in 2017 by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Now, Sopers hole is a great spot to spend some time shopping the local markets and grabbing a bite to eat. There are also many charter companies offering their services to visitors. As you walk along the docks it might be tempting to take a night charter out onto the ocean waters and watch the glittering stars. The same ones sailors have been using for centuries to navigate their way across the waters. 

Virgin Gorda

This wouldn’t be a Treasure Island adventure without a little bit of island hopping. This day excursion takes us to the third largest island in the BVI and home to one of the most instagrammable sites on the islands. Virgin Gorda is a short 30 minute ferry ride (30 dollars round trip) from Road Town and the schedule can be found here. You will have to scroll down to “Ferries within the BVI” and the first one is the Virgin Gorda ferry which is operated by Speedy’s. Once you arrive at the Virgin Gorda dock you will have to find transport to the Bath’s National Park but if you are feeling up to it, travelers could walk there as it is only two miles from the docks. Bath’s National Park might be one of the most unique natural wonders Earth has to offer. It may appear to be just another white sandy beach but you will quickly begin to notice the giant smooth rock formations jutting out from the shore. These rock formations may seem as if they appeared out of nowhere but were actually formed by molten rock which were eventually shaped and smoothed from years of weathering. As you explore, you will find that these rocks actually formed caverns with secret ocean pools making perfect pirate grottos fit for treasures. One could easily spend hours in this park exploring the oceanside chambers but don’t forget to catch the ferry back to Tortola!

Norman Island

The final destination on our travel guide is the largest uninhabited island of the BVI and possibly the most significant to our Treasure Island adventure. Norman Island (said to be named after a pirate), is rumored to be the actual inspiration of the Treasure Island novel and the arguments are quite compelling. Norman island has a rich history of piracy tales, most notably in the 1700s when crew members of a Spanish ship mutinied, stealing a large portion of the ship’s cargo. They then fled to Norman Island where they hid their loot (seeing any similarities?). The people of nearby Tortola actually caught wind of this incident and flocked to Norman Island where they uncovered the spoils. The island also has an intricate system of caves nestled on the ocean shore perfect for stashing treasures. Many snorkelers and divers find themselves here swimming among the coral reefs and tropical fish with hopes they might find some hidden treasure from the past. 

Getting to Norman Island can be somewhat tricky but there is a ferry that will take you directly to the one restaurant on Norman Island. This ferry departs from Hannah Bay on Tortola and arrives at Pirates Bight; visitors just have to call ahead to find the schedule as it is subject to change. This information can be found on the ferry website shared earlier! Now, if travelers want more peace of mind and flexibility when traveling to Norman Island, I would suggest splurging and hiring a private charter. They will take you directly to the snorkeling sites and often provide the gear needed. The charter will of course drop you back off on Tortola where we started our journey. Although you might not come away with any hidden treasure, travelers will surely take away memories from this great adventure. Be sure to share any thoughts below in the comment section!