The archipelago of the British Virgin Islands has enjoyed a lengthy renown as being on of the most beautiful collections of isles and cays anywhere in the world. Each of the more than 60 separate landfalls nestled among the surrounding deep blue Caribbean waters has its own distinct texture and character. As a visitor to BVI, you'll discover a friendly reception, incomparable beauty, and endless adventure.

History

The archaeological record in the British Virgin Islands shows evidence of human habitation in the area as early as 1,500 BC. The native Arawak people inhabited these lands for many centuries before the Carib tribes landed here. The Virgin Islands came by our name thanks to Spanish explorer Christopher Columbers — the first European visitor to these isles — who referred to them as "Santa Úrsula y las Once Mil Virgenes." This was subsequently shortened to simply "The Virgin Islands."

Today, BVI is a British overseas territory that's home to more than 30,000 people who've settled here from all over the world.

Historical Sites

Thanks to our millennnia spanning history of the British Virgin Islands, this part of the world is brimming with stories — from the sea, the shores, and the mountain tops. Tales of piracy, the dawn of global trade and early settlers live o in the forts, mines, museums, churches, burial sites and plantation estates around the islands. Shore to shore across the islands, you'll find a myriad of opportunities to dig into the past. Pay a visit to the scenes of our antiquity, and gain an invaluable perspective on our role within the Caribbean.