Idyllic Escape to Jost Van Dyke

White Bay Beach on Jost Van Dyle (Photo by Gerry Barker)

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

Exploring new places is always high on our travel list, and on our recent cruise on Crystal Serenity, we had the opportunity to tick another box on our Caribbean Islands checklist -- Jost Van Dyke.

Named for a Dutch settler -- some might say a pirate -- it's one of the four main islands that comprise the British Virgin islands. Only three square miles in size, with a population of just over 300, it's nonetheless a popular destination for its sparkling waters, sandy beaches and bars.

Our shore excursion would start in Road Town, the capital of Tortola, where we boarded a boat for the 5-mile, 40-minute trek over to Jost Van Dyke. From there, we took a short bus ride over winding roads to White Bay Beach, where lounge chairs and cold, Carib beer was waiting for us.

It was a picture perfect, postcard kind of day. Trade winds kept the palm trees swaying as guests soaked up sun and surf on the aptly-named beach, with its sugary, white sands. Among the bars that line the beach is the famed Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the "Painkiller." 

Ready for a Caribbean escape? Take a look:

Photos/Videos by Gerry Barker