When thinking of a seaside place far from the chaos of metropolises, the collective imagination fills with white beaches, blazing sun, fun, relaxation, social life, and comfort. All these prerogatives seem to come alive in the Virgin Islands, an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea divided into United States Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands.
What better moment than the spring holidays to treat yourself to a Caribbean seaside vacation, perhaps to the Virgin Islands that tantalize the traveler’s palate already with a name that seems to symbolize an unspoiled place. Although this was not the reason for naming these islands, these places feature truly breathtaking landscapes.
The Virgin Islands are almost all volcanic in origin, having formed following an eruption twenty-five million years ago. The climate is dry and temperatures range from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. They were discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to America and have been under the rule of several states over time. They were named Virgin Islands by Columbus, who called them so in honor of the followers of Saint Ursula, the Virgin. At the beginning of the 20th century, the United States purchased some islands from Denmark. Other islands are currently under the territorial control of the British Crown, so although from a naturalistic point of view the islands are very similar to each other, administratively they are divided into American and British. The Virgin Islands are located southeast of Florida and form the first ring of the Leeward Islands.
The United States Virgin Islands are composed of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. St. Thomas, where some cruises stop, has an international airport. St. John is the most luxurious island, home to duty-free shopping and both night and day entertainment venues. Here is the legendary Magens Beach, renowned for its incredible beauty. St. John hosts the National Park that further protects the already pristine nature. Finally, St. Croix, the largest and equally beautiful of the United States Virgin Islands.
Tortola is the largest island of the British Virgin Islands. Followed by the smaller Beef Island, which has an airport where numerous charter flights land and take off. Virgin Gorda is considered one of the most beautiful of the British Virgin Islands. It consists solely of beaches and hills. Anegada stands out for its coral nature rather than volcanic like the others. Its seabeds have numerous shipwrecks plundered by buccaneers. The island of Jost Van Dyke, named after a pirate originating from the Netherlands, features enchanting beaches and extraordinary nature. There are other small islands, all beautiful, where it is easy to spend a fabulous stay. All the Virgin Islands, whether British or American, are chosen precisely by those wanting to spend a few days in perfect relaxation, far from the monotony and anxieties of everyday life.
