Tortola is the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Like much of the BVI, Tortola was "discovered" by the Spanish, settled by the Dutch, and then taken over by the British. The first Europeans to live on Tortola were mostly pirates such as Captain Kidd and Blackbeard, who used the numerous islands of the BVI to hide their ships and booty.
Today, Tortola is a tourist haven, and Road Town is the largest settlement. Compared to the other islands of the BVI, Tortola is like a major metropolis. However, although the roads of Tortola are busy and there is lots of shopping, the island is still much quieter than St. Thomas.
An island tour such as the one we took from the Arabella sailing ship is a great way to get an overview of Tortola. Join me on the open-air van as we explore the island of Tortola.
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