Discover The Baths of Virgin Gorda Full Day Adventure - Westin St. John
Description
Join us aboard our 45' express cruiser for an unforgettable tour of the British Virgin Islands, and one of the most famous destinations in the Caribbean. We start the day with continental breakfast as we cruise to The World Famous Baths of Virgin Gorda. Formed over millions of years, the Batholiths are a series of interconnected boulder formations creating grottos to wander through, and crystal clear waters to explore. Looking for an exceptional lunch on your exceptional trip - look no farther than Top of the Baths! After lunch, we head to the Treasure Caves of Norman Island for some amazing snorkeling. Legend has it that this is the setting of Robert Louis Stevenson's book "Treasure Island." The Caves are a gorgeous snorkel with friendly fish and three different caves to snorkel in and explore. Upon departure it’s time for Happy Hour. Enjoy complementary open bar after snorkeling as we cruise through Sir Francis Drakes Passage and along the coast of St. John. Passport Required
Tour Options
Itinerary
Formed over millions of years, the Batholiths or “Baths” are a series of interconnecting boulder formations creating unique grottos to wander through, and crystal clear waters to explore and relax in. They are truly one of the wonders of the Caribbean, and a must see.
Excited for a lunch at the “Baths”? Well look no farther than Top of the Baths! They will provide an exceptional lunch on your exceptional trip.
Legend has it that the Caves are place where Henry Creque, a local fisherman, discovered what many believe to be gold doubloons from a pilfered Spanish galleon, “Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.” It is widely believed to be the setting of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, “Treasure Island”. The Caves are a gorgeous snorkel with friendly fish and three different caves to snorkel through and explore.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A valid passport is required for this trip
- Our boats are barefoot vessels, but shoes are required to clear customs
- Please check in 30 minutes prior to departure
- For accessibility questions and concerns, please call our office for specifics.
Reviews(108)
Our experience on the St. John Discover the Baths of Virgin Gorda tour was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. This trip was especially meaningful for us because we were celebrating the 10th anniversary of getting married at The Baths, and it was our first time returning as part of a guided tour. Siera was an incredible host who made everyone feel welcome from the moment we boarded. Her warm, friendly personality set the tone for the entire day and made every guest feel like they were in great hands. Elijah was equally fantastic. He was funny, engaging, and incredibly informative throughout the trip. His professionalism, knowledge of the area, and ability to keep everyone entertained made the experience even more enjoyable. Our captain also deserves special recognition. We greatly appreciated his flexibility with our departure plans, which meant a lot to us on such a special anniversary. His professionalism and focus on providing a great guest experience were evident throughout the day. The entire excursion was exceptionally well organized. Breakfast was delicious, the boat was comfortable, and the open bar was managed responsibly, creating a fun atmosphere while ensuring everyone stayed safe and comfortable. Lunch at the top of The Baths was as good as always, and the snorkeling stop at the caves was perfectly planned. f you’re considering a visit to Virgin Gorda and The Baths, we cannot recommend Cruz Bay Watersports highly enough. Thank you for helping us celebrate such a meaningful milestone and for giving us memories we’ll treasure for years to come.
The process to book was easy. The staff were all very nice and helpful. The crew on the ship were also great. The captain chose great music for the trip. We were on the boat Island Time. This trip took us to some beautiful spots. I would advise wearing shoes with good traction on them for climbing down the rocks to get to the Baths. I would also take water due to the heat when you are hiking.
A Mixed Bag Experience. Please DO NOT go on this experience if you are elderly or have issues with mobility. 1. The Boat ride out to where the location is was fun...but the music track ended up repeating- a small annoyance...but still an annoyance. 2. The Hike down to the Baths was very rushed- luckily my 14 year old and I had on hiking sandals and we are both in good health. 3. The young man leading our group pretty much sprinted down the rocks and then was annoyed that he had to go back to help elderly and mobility impaired patrons who here having issues navigating the rocks/places without hand rails...some spots have hand rails and wooden stairs...some are just rounded rocks. 4. On our tour there were 2 dads with teen boys (and the dads had done this excursion before)- and they led us on the rest of tour to the beach- because our guide was grabbing people who lagged behind. We had an incredible swim at the beach and hiked ourselves into the caves. Freaking BEAUTIFUL. After our extended solo photo shoots in the cave- the elderly individuals finally made it to the cave where there is just a rope to hold- my daughter grabbed their bags and the young men helped the elderly guests navigate the terrain. 5. Our mini-group exited the caves once everyone was safe and with our "Rush Rush guide). We walked up to the lunch restaurant. Our mini group was able to finish lunch but then the guides rushed us out of there and many of the elderly people who had just sat down had to just put their lunches in to-go containers- freaking awful. 6. The Captain took us all to the snorkel location and advised we could swim into the rock caves- our mini group jumped right in...the waves were very choppy- and again physical strength was needed to navigate the rough waves and avoid hitting the rocks... 7. Just as we started to really enjoy the swim and sea life we were rushed back onto the boat...which sucked- we asked one of the elderly individuals how long we were in the water (she had stayed on the boat finishing her now cold lunch)- and she told us we were in the water for 25 minutes. 8. Drinks on the way to customs...delicious. IF YOU GO- HERE ARE THE TIPS 1. Wear shoes you can comfortably hike in and get wet. 2. Wear your bathing suit and some shorts so that you can jump in the water once you get down the the beach. 3. If you are not a strong swimmer stay out of the water down at that beach at the Baths...the water is rough. 4. This is a strenuous hike...bring water. 5. Know your physical limits/constraints- if you are easily winded be careful...this is NOT the excursion for you. A Final note: My mom is 70, walks 2 miles every day even though she has MS. While she gets around well for her age and condition I would never have attempted this sort of excursion with her.
Thank you for sharing your experience on our Discover the Baths tour, Frances. We appreciate your honest feedback and will absolutely be sharing with our operations team to improve for your next experience. The Baths of Virgin Gorda is an active tour and we sincerely apologize that you did not feel well prepared for the excursion. For a more relaxed tour I highly recommend our Discover Jost Van Dyke and we would love to have you back on board to show you the best of the BVIs and Cruz Bay Watersports!
Incredible!! Captain & Crew were total experts and very enthusiastic!! Super knowledgeable and made our experience so much fun!!! We would highly recommend!!
Thank you for the incredibly kind words for our team and stellar recommendation, Stacey! We can't wait for your next trip out with Cruz Bay Watersports!
It’s not worth the money. All they provide you with is a really mediocre continental breakfast. And it’s really odd how they go about the open bar. They only start giving you drinks from the “open bar” once you’ve finished snorkeling, which isn’t until 5 hours into the excursion. Then we had an incident where the guy from the crew lectured us about taking a beer from the fridge without asking while other people were given the liberty freely. The crew was nice for the most part but the excursion is simply not worth the money and they have a really deceiving claim about it being an “open bar”.
Thank you for the feedback, Victor. The safety of our guests is always our top priority, which is why the open bar begins after the hike through the Baths and snorkeling portion of the excursion. While the walk through the Baths is not extensive, it does involve climbing ladders, uneven rocks, and swimming, so we intentionally wait until those activities are completed before opening bar service. We’re sorry if there was any confusion regarding that policy. As for the cooler, the crew does try to keep beverage service organized and safe for all guests onboard. We do hope you still enjoyed your day on the water along with the beautiful Virgin Gorda Baths and snorkeling. If you’re looking for a more customizable experience next time, please feel free to reach out directly for private charter options.
We were instructed to check in by 7:30 am. First employee didn’t show up until 7:40 am. Breakfast was hardly anything. They ran out of food before everyone got through the line. At our first stop for the hike, they told us we only needed cash and medications. I would have brought sunscreen, bug spray, a towel, and our insulated water bottle. It was a hot day, and we had no water. We also should have been told that we would be walking through water so that we could have worn appropriate footwear. Lunch was good, but it took a long time for everyone to get served. Snorkeling at caves was OK, not spectacular. Trip back was fine with open bar. Staff was friendly, and it was fun to engage with the other guests.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that parts of the day did not meet your expectations, particularly the early check-in delay, limited breakfast, and lack of clarity around what to bring for the hike portion. We understand how important it is to have clear pre-trip instructions so guests can come prepared and comfortable for all conditions. We also appreciate your feedback regarding timing during meal service and the snorkeling stop, and we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the crew, lunch, open bar, and the overall atmosphere onboard. Your comments will be shared with our operations team so we can review communication, guest preparation instructions, and onboard flow. We appreciate you helping us improve, and we’re sorry again that the experience wasn’t what you had anticipated.
Amazing trip to Virgin Gorda Baths and snorkeling! We boarded at the Ritz Carlton hotel in St Thomas, enjoyed a scenic trip on “Island Time” straight to Virgin Gorda; we sailed between St John and Tortola. Wonderful guided tour and hike thru the National Park, safely navigating caves and boulders and ladders. Enjoyed a terrific lunch and drink at “Top of the Baths” open air restaurant and bar. Then back onto Island Time for a special snorkeling spot next to Norman Island, BVI. 3 caves, amazing underwater terrain, lots of bright-colored fish, and a few turtles. Open bar and beautiful return trip back to St Thomas, after stopping at US Customs in Cruz Bay, St .John, USVI. Crew did a superb job speeding us thru customs, and agents were very professional and attentive to detail. We highly recommend this trip for couples and families.
Sounds like an incredible day start to finish, Allan—The Baths, a great lunch, and snorkeling at Norman Island is hard to beat. Glad the crew made everything smooth, especially through customs. Appreciate the recommendation!
A very good hike and snorkeling combined day trip. Very well done. Cruz Bay Watersports has headquarters at the St John’s Westin Site. The accommodations and staff at the Westin are excellent and extremely helpful.
Sounds like a perfect combo day, James. We’re so glad you enjoyed the hike and snorkeling and that everything came together smoothly. And yes—the team over at the Westin is fantastic, we’re lucky to work alongside them.
We were celebrating my 50th birthday. We knew the weather outlook wasn't optimal and were waiting for the cancellation text. To our surprise, it was a go. We had our raincoats and layers. Aside from confusion on finding the offsite parking lot, we never let weather (pouring rain, thunder and lightning) get in the way of a good time! Positive side, we had the place almost to ourselves and no sunscreen needed. Capt Remi, Elijah, Kelly and Izzy were a strong and knowledgeable crew. Highly recommend CBW. Danielle & Justin DeForest
Happy 50th! We’re honored you chose to celebrate with us. Sounds like you came prepared and made the absolute best of a very “eventful” weather day. Sometimes Mother Nature keeps things interesting, but having the place to yourselves is definitely a silver lining. We’ll be sure to pass the shoutout along to Capt. Remi, Elijah, Kelly, and Izzy—they’ll love hearing it.
It was a rainy day but the crew still made it enjoyable. We had Kelly, Izzy and Isaiah. Snorkeling got canceled due to the storms but we received a partial refund. I will definitely book this tour again on our next visit.
Thank you for the great review—and for having such a positive attitude, even when Mother Nature had other plans. We’re so glad Kelly, Izzy, and Isaiah were able to keep things fun despite the weather. We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to have you back for round two on a sunnier day.
