The British Virgin Islands are where the dreams come true. They are tropical island beach perfection and the most popular cruising area in the Caribbean. Virgin Gorda combines the best features of all of them, packing enormous variety into its 21 sq km. Dramatic mahogany forests crown the volcanic Gorda Peak, the island’s centre and highest point. The Peak is one of the several National Parks on Gorda and its neighboring cays of Fallen Jerusalem, Prickly Pear, and Saba Rock, and its gorgeous offshore waters. They are sanctuaries for the endangered red-billed topic bird and important sites for brown boobies, noddies, royal terns and pelicans. Photo by: universal.traveler2

On Gorda’s southern tip is The Baths, the most iconic geological wonder in all the BVIs: huge granite boulders are piled haphazardly on a curving beach, some of them forming natural pools which require a ladder to reach. They have also arranged themselves into secret coves that can only be entered on all fours and into a series od eye-popping ‘caves’ and chambers, where shafts of tropic sun pierce waist-deep water to create the most romantic atmosphere in the West Indies. A lot of visitors come to Gorda, just to see The Baths. Photo by: André Pipa

Few islands have as many secluded, luxury resorts as Virgin Gorda, and with the degree of protection offered by the Parks and marine reserves, the island doesn’t even have a complete road system, so you can reach some beaches and coves only by boat. It means you can always find something remote and idyllic. The area around North Sound is brilliant for getting lost among darting shoals of fish, or flocks of colourful birds, in the lap of affordable luxury rarely available to Caribbean visitors. Photo by: André Pipa

When to go: Mid-December to Mid-April. Population: 4,100. How to get there: Flights from Antigua via Tortola or from San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Thomas or St Croix (US Virgin Islands). Photo by: AbilloPR