Yes, you need some kind of ID as you go through customs in Tortola, I forget what you need as of July 06 since I automatically bring my passport but check through this Board for updates on IDs.
The Baths are "worth" going to, IMHO, depending on what you need to see: the snorkling, always big with us, is worthless and despite the pictures, you cannot snorkle in between the rocks, its only about 5 inches depth of water above white sand. The cove is very crowded with party boats which makes it worthless anyway, and there is no coral and few fish. There are two beaches, small and nice, one is accessible by swimming really. The rocks are very cool if you like geological sites, one of only 3 such batholiths in the world so if you are a geo buff, its worth the trip. We went via Limnos Charters from STJ, which we were very happy with.

I'm not a geo buff at all, but I thought the Baths were completely awesome and unique. We snorkeled plenty in St. John, so Virgin Gorda and the Baths was a great little hiking adventure over/under/between the granite rocks. The two times we were there, we didn't see huge crowds - - perhaps cruise schedules affect that. I know Limnos as well as New Horizons II has trips here, as well as the ferry. If you have time in your vacation, I would definitely put it down as a "must do." Yes, you need a passport (or I think drivers license and birth certificate will also work) as it is part of the British Virgin Islands. You'll want to see Jost Van Dyke too, while you're on the way!

I always enjoy the adventure of the Baths. We found a "room" in the formation that we had to access by swimming through an opening under the water - very cool. I guess this could affected by the tide. We also like the climbing and using the climbing rope to get up and over. Whne visiting The Baths, get away from the beaten path and really explore the inside.

How crowded it is depends on when you go...I've been in January, and yes it was pretty crowded walking through the Baths, and there were plenty of boats anchored at the beach. But I've also been in September, and we were almost the only people there. It is definitely worth going to. No, the snorkeling isn't great there, but there is no reason to snorkel there in my opinion...enjoy the huge boulders, lay on the beach and take in the scenery! It's unreal.

Ok, now I feel bad, as though I've misled First Timer about the Baths. Must be another hot flash clouding my writing. Its just that from the pictures I expected to be able to float around the rocks but as Bluwater points out, must be the tides because we saw almost no water between the rocks. When we were there it was VERY, VERY crowded, which we knew could happen but it did make walking around on the paths almost unpleasant and to avoid someone, I ended up stepping badly, slipping and breaking a toe. Some visitors were quite obese and would go so far, decide they couldn't fit between the next set of rocks or didn't want to climb up, and tried to turn around, making the rest of the masses scramble to get out of their way. I did however love the rock formations themselves but would only go back during a higher tide and maybe late in the day from my own boat to avoid the masses. I would also bring alot of extra cash and go to the restaurant at the top of the park and buy a good drink and enjoy the amazing scenery there. Now that view was something I had forgotten about in my last email!

To be more positive, I was stunned that the Limnos people suggested we leave our daypacks just parked by a small rock or tree, that they would be fine while we hiked around. We left no valuables but were still very pleasantly surprised to come back and find our packs untouched- honesty rules I guess in the Baths! So yes, Go First Timer and ignore my somewhat negative comments. Just wear good, non slip sandles so you go home with unbroken toes!

Thank you Karrieb and everyone else for the great information. I have never been to the Virgin Islands. I am leaving for St. Thomas July 31 for a week and this message board has been a great help!

Karrieb, a.k.a. Crabby Karrie - - Very funny! Aren't you the one who came into a "sum of money" and was deciding where to go on a spur-of-the-moment vacation? And, of course, decided to stay in beloved STJ yet again? If so - - why so crabby? 🙂 You're a lucky duck! At any rate, I can see why you weren't all so pleased with sweaty, obese people and a broken toe!

Hey LLBL, don't mess with a woman having hot (warm) flashes- NOTHING makes us happy then. Now leave me alone while I go back to fantasizing about my return trip in November where I will NOT be crabby at all-LOL!!!
PS- my breaking news- the "sum" is actually going to cover what I'm going to lose from my paycheck while I take a couple of weeks "off" to join a medical mission in a yet to be named developing country to work in a rural clinic offering medical services for the poor! I am so excited!! Maybe the Dominican Republic? Vietnam???

Good for you with your good deeds! You deserve a trip again to STJ!

FYI I am a woman as well. Know about the hot flashes certainly 😉

Boy, could we get going on this one but alas, wrong message board!

First Timer: One small bit of advice...if you have never been to this area, don't bite off too much in a vacation. I personally feel that a guided tour of the Baths is a good idea if you have never been. Pirate's Penny/Stormy Petrel do a great job of walking you though the place with choices for the adventurous and the less adventurous. Also they give you an overview of the BVI for your NEXT trip down!

Agree with you East Ender. We had so many ideas on what we wanted to do....but there's just not enough time. That's why there's always a good reason to go back.

We liked the Baths, although if I went to the islands again, I think I would put that on the back burner and do something else instead.

We liked the snorkeling alot. The mate that was on our boat, snorkled with us and showed us things we would never have noticed without her. I think the Baths are beautiful and there's definely some good snorkeling there (at least the day we were there).

It's just an interesting place to visit.

good advise, st/pet & pi/penn do excellent job. way to go for first trip but check BVI cruise ship schedules, that's where baths gets bulk of its traffic.

papabou

I just got back from my 9 day/ 8 night trip to STJ. We sailed on Stormy Petrel to the Baths and it was amazing. I will post a few pics once I get them uploaded. The 2 captains did a awesome job of touring us thru the rocks. We crawled thru spots where some wouldnt be of chlosterphobia, and we jumped off rocks into deep waters. I would definately reccommend Stormy Petrel or Pirates Penny.