The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the northeastern Caribbean, consisting of around 60 islands and cays of which only about 16 are inhabited. The four main islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada. The territory is one of the premier sailing destinations in the world, and much of its infrastructure — marinas, anchorages, beach bars — is oriented around the boat.
The sailing is the thing. The Sir Francis Drake Channel, sheltered by islands on both sides, offers reliable trade winds and dozens of anchorages within a short sail of each other. Bareboat charters are available from Road Town on Tortola and from a handful of other marinas; you don't need to be an expert, and many people arrive knowing almost nothing about sailing and leave with a tan and a new skill. For non-sailors, ferries connect the main islands frequently enough to island-hop comfortably.
The BVI is noticeably quieter and more expensive than many Caribbean destinations, which suits its visitors well. The beaches are excellent — Cane Garden Bay and Brewer's Bay on Tortola, White Bay on Jost Van Dyke, the long north coast of Anegada — and the snorkelling and diving are among the best in the eastern Caribbean, particularly around Anegada's reef and the wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island.
North America > British Virgin Islands
