Hi Teresa.........you can take a day trip on the limnos,which is a motorboat,very comfortable ,drinks,lunch included for around 90 dollars per person.It is a fun trip.....you will spend 2-3 hours at the baths,also go to Normand island and snorkel there....you may save a few bucks on this trip...email me for further info,have fun,Ted [email protected]

Teresa - look into the tours carefully - call them to confirm the details of their tour because from what I remember - one of them drops anchor and has you swimming in to The Baths - one brings you to shore - that factor may be of concern to your spouse. I think Limnos is the one to bring you to shore, if I'm not mistaken. I would have suggested taking the ferry - we loved the time it provided us to spend at The Baths, but there is a little hike down a rugged little path from the taxi's drop off point down to the shore where The Baths are- so that might not work either.

ENJOY!!

Lisa

We paid (for 2) 125.00 PP, then a 20.00 PP because we were going to the BVI....then your trip may take you to a restaurant for lunch, another 50.00 or so and then there's a tip. Add that up and it comes up to about $330.00 for 2.

I loved going to the Baths...wanted to see it, but once is enough. Much rather go to Jost Van Dyke.

I already responded about getting to The Baths - but I didn't respond to your title question: is Baths day sail worth $500 for our family of 4?

My answer: YES!

It is a full day of beauty no matter how you get there! The boat ride (whether it be by ferry or charter) is a beautiful one - passing many islands, - some pretty close!

The Baths themselves are one of the most magnificent things I've ever experienced - I say experience - because you don't just look & see - you are there- immersed in the surreal beauty of it all - it is quite frankly, something you will never forget as long as you live - it is that beautiful!!!

Worth every penny!

ENJOY!!

Lisa

Not knowing what your husbands disability is that limits his hiking capabilities I want to make it clear what the Baths on Virgin Gorda entail. You will need to use your hands, butt and legs to hike and crawl around and through the giant boulders. They are a magnificent sight and present a striking opposition to traditional caribbean images of sand, beaches and palm trees (although those are present among the boulders). There are caves to crouch through, ropes to hold while climbing, and wooden stairs to climb.

As for worth $500, I would say is it worth the $700-800 it will cost with British customs, lunch, and gratuity for the crew?. . . . . yes, they are a really interesting sight, AND the Baths will not be your only destination for the day. Keep in mind you will be seeing the entire British Virgin Island chain up and down the Sir Francis Drake passage. Likely you will be stopping at Norman Island or Marina Cay, and maybe even Jost.

-Josh

YES<YES<YES !!!!! We have been to The Baths twice and my teenage girls have said both times that it was the highlight of their trip!

I've got to say that I believe a day on the water in the Caribbean has got to be worth two on the land so as to if its worth the price. That's a no brainer. I would assume at the price you quoted you are getting a private boat? If not I would shop the deal and see if you can get a private boat for your family. In either case as the commercial says just do it you wont regret it. Also keep in mind that you are leaving the US territory and going to England as far as customs is concerned so you will need passports for everyone, including your children. I hate to bring this up as much as the passport thing has been thrashed here but it worth mentioning.
Good luck and enjoy your sail.
Jay

Do the Linmos charter. they are good, fast and enjoyable. Alcohol is included too. Let the boys have a drink or two.

Limnos takes you to shore, and you have to walk down a fairly rugged path to get to the beach. The path isn't particularly long, but someone with a disability may have a problem getting to the beach. there are shops, a bar, and a lovely restaurant up top, so if you don't want to go down the path, you can comfortably occupy yourself while you wait for your party.

From the beach, taking the path through The Baths is a fairly physical endeavor, because you're climbing up, over, around, and through huge boulders. Most physically fit people really like it - it's kind of like an obstacle course, but if you don't regularly do physical activity, it can be a strain. When I did Limnos, they recommended snorkeling at Norman instead of The Baths, because it's not easy carrying your equipment through the path.

Norman Island snorkeling is from the boat, and you can snorkel into some caves. It's a different adventure than most other snorkeling.

Is it worth the $500? Most people budget some type of boat/sailing excursion into their trip to the Virgin Islands - after all, that's what this area is famous for. This outting, in my opinion, offers enough variety to interest everyone, and the trip includes your lunch (saving you approx $10 per person since you'd probably be eating lunch anyway so that effectively lowers the cost of the excursion!). The boat is also large enough so the teens won't have to be underfoot all day, and may be able to congregate with other teens if there are some on the boat.

Hope this helps you make your decision.

Yes...it's worth it!! We usually plan one adventure with our family....cost wise & all....so if that's one that you are thinking of....YES.

how did you find the liminos charter? we would like to charter a private boat to go to the baths, either from st thomas or from tortola....any suggestions?thanks. we are 2 families traveling together.

I'm with the others who say that it is worth the expense, but worry about someone with a disability getting down to the Baths via the path, or swimming in - and also the limited experience once inside the baths since you would need to climb/crawl/pull/crouch, etc.

However, I think one can sit on the beach outside of the baths (to the left if facing the sea) and still enjoy a beautiful view of the boulders and that beach is simply amazing!

I have visited by both private charter and by public ferry. I liked the private charter because we were able to cover both Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke in one day - with plenty of time for each and we avoided the crowds.

Yes!!! So worth it! Kids will especially enjoy it. It is truly a surreal area - -you have to see it to believe it.

Ok, now you have me afraid to go. I am not exactly physically fit, but not handicapped either. Lets just say I am on the chunky side. I love to swim and snorkel, but an obstacle course with hanging ladders???? How small are the areas to crawl thru? I was really looking forward to going to the Baths, but doing boot camp on vacation is just not my cup of tea. I would love you honest replys.

Thanks

Tammy,

The baths are full of people who are of various sizes and shapes, you'll see. It isn't as "boot campish" as it sounds. You don't HAVE to climb and crawl. You can choose a more tame path around...but you won't see as much and you won't get into some of the "rooms". Just explore and do what you feel that you can do. There will be others doing the same thing. I've seen people climb up onto a boulder and then change their minds about going any farther, so they just stand up there and then turn around to come back down.

There are some "rooms" where, depending on the tide, you may have to swim down through a low crevice to get in. To me, that is the most adventurous thing to try. You don't know what might be in the water on the other side. For this reason, I like to take my snorkel mask into the Baths with me. If the tide is out, however, you might just be able to crawl into these rooms through the hole - and, of course, the room may not have any water inside. You don't HAVE to go into these rooms. The baths aren't like some kind of course that you have to follow. You can choose different plaths to get around inside.

That is what is so interesting to me about the Baths - it seems to be a different experience every time. For the best adventure, I recommend entering from the side that is on the far left (if you face the sea). I seem to find more adventure coming in from that side. There's a beaten path that everyone seems to take (most enter from the right side - into that room that you see pictured everywhere with the sun coming in through the top)....but you can explore well beyond that, if you dare.

You'll be fine.

First, the daysail: I went with spouse and two kids on the New Horizons II daysail for about the same price, and everybody loved it. We might have wanted to spend more time at the Baths, but seeing the other stops - Marina Cay, a snorkeling spot I can't remember the name of, and Jost Van Dyke - made it worth leaving the Baths. Service was great, people were nice, all in all a very good day. We never would have seen the other places had we not gone on this trip.
Also, this isn't quite the same as a disability, but my daughter had swimmer's ear and couldn't put her head under water. (Yeah, it sucked.) The two crew members were very helpful in figuring out ways she could snorkel (sort of) and get to the shore from the boat at the Baths.

Second, the Baths (for TammyC): Bluwater is right, there's nothing to be concerned about. I'm not the fittest person you'll meet, either, but I didn't have any problems. As you're going along, there will be a stretch or two that might have you wondering whether you're up to it, but each of these stretches is really short, so you really don't have time to get worn out - you just do it and you're done! Definitely worth it.

We have been on two trips. First with Limnos and we were taxied to the Baths. Went another time with New Horizons and swam in.

If it's your first time I would suggest the walk down and through the Baths. I think it gives you a better impression of the Baths.

Thanks for your info, I just booked a trip. Any other trips about the tour or any tips from when you were in St. Thomas?

Is the trip to the Baths possible by just taking the ferry, starting at St. T.? Any idea on how long this would take? Do the ferry's have any food or drinks available? My thought is to take the ferry ride if it could be done as a somewhat fun, relaxing ride, bringing along a cooler of drinks and snacks, then enjoy the Baths for a few hours and ferry back? Is this a practicle way of experiencing the Baths?