The Baths / Devil's Bay
The Baths Virgin Gorda · Devil's Bay NPS
18°23.80'N 64°26.30'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m on NPS mooring buoy in 4–10m. Alarm radius is set relative to the mooring buoy pickup position. Moorings are permanent — swinging is limited. If using anchored position (not recommended/prohibited), increase radius to 90m. Open south — in southerly swell, mooring buoys can surge.
About This Anchorage
The Baths at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda are the most iconic attraction in the entire BVI — a surreal landscape of enormous granite boulders (some the size of houses) tumbled at the water's edge, forming sea caves, grottos, and cathedral-like chambers filled with filtered turquoise light. The formation was created by ancient magmatic intrusion — the same geological process that created the granite of the Azores. Swimming through the boulder passages into Devil's Bay (a hidden sand beach surrounded by granite walls) is a transcendent Caribbean experience. The BVI National Parks Trust manages the area as a strict marine park: anchoring is absolutely prohibited, mooring buoys are mandatory, and a day-use fee applies. The site is now so popular that it is best visited before 09:00 or after 15:00 to avoid day-tripper crowds from Spanish Town and charter boats. The snorkelling around the boulder bases is exceptional.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SW · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- NPS mooring buoys: $30/night (day use) or as part of Annual NPS Mooring Permit ($150/year foreign vessels)
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- National Parks Trust Annual Mooring Permit $150/year for foreign vessels covers all NPS mooring areas. Day rate $30/night per mooring.
Restrictions: ANCHORING STRICTLY PROHIBITED — NPS marine park; mooring buoys mandatory; NPS day-use fee applies; no diving (snorkelling only) near the boulders; dinghy and kayak access to The Baths; no jet skis in mooring field.
Hazards
- !ANCHORING PROHIBITED — NPS wardens patrol; significant fines for anchoring in the marine park
- !Mooring field fills completely by mid-morning in peak season — arrive before 09:00 or after 15:00
- !Open to south and southwest — in southerly swell, mooring buoys surge significantly; uncomfortable in SE wind
- !Day-tripper crowds at peak times (10:00–15:00) — swimming through the boulder passages requires patience
- !Dinghy landing at The Baths beach is surf-affected in any S or SW swell — exercise caution landing
- !Coral heads on approach from the south — use chart; entry from the north (past Spring Bay) is safer
Skipper's Tips
- →Arrive before 08:30 — secure a mooring buoy before the day-tripper boats from Spanish Town arrive; the experience at low-crowd times is extraordinary
- →The walking trail from The Baths through the boulder passage to Devil's Bay takes 20–30 minutes and is the highlight of the BVI for many sailors
- →Snorkel around the base of the boulders — the marine life in the crevices is exceptional; visibility often exceeds 25m
- →After visiting The Baths, sail 0.5nm north to Spring Bay (mooring buoys, calm water) for a quieter lunch anchorage
- →The Top of The Baths restaurant serves excellent lunches — worth climbing the steps from the beach landing
Facilities
Top of The Baths restaurant at the site entrance (ashore, accessible via dinghy landing and trail). Bath & Turtle restaurant in Spanish Town (3nm N). No fuel or water at the mooring field.
Nearest provisions: Spanish Town (The Valley), Virgin Gorda (3nm N) (3nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. The Baths is open year-round but Dec–Apr is best (calmest seas, lowest swell). Avoid visiting in June–September (hurricane season) and when any south or southwest swell is running.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
In Anegada waters, the Horseshoe Reef leaves no margin for anchor drag. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — essential in these waters.
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