Anchored off the coast of Jost Van Dyke in White Bay, the floating Ocean Spa BVI is the first of its kind in the British Virgin Islands. “It’s the only spa that I know of where brightly colored tropical fish swim under your massage table,” says Dale Mapp, the spa’s owner and creator.
(This is the 2nd article in our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)
Ocean Spa BVI in White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Ocean Spa BVI opened for business in the fall of 2018 but it wasn’t without a few bumps in the road. After 25 years in hospitality industry, Dale initially came up with the idea of a floating spa about 10 years ago. He began to research how to make the idea a reality and began building a version of the floating spa in 2009 on a different island. Unfortunately that one never quite got off the ground.
His dream of building a floating spa remained on his mind and after relocating to the British Virgin Islands, he began building a new structure. Then, in 2017 came Hurricane Irma. Dale had to start his structure from scratch – again, but this time he used salvaged wood, metal and other material left in the wake of the devastating hurricane.
Ocean Spa BVI now rocks gently in the beautiful blue water of White Bay and offers massages in the easy ocean breezes and the gentle waves. Enjoy a Champagne Moonlight Couples Massage , a Private Spa Party or one of the other relaxing offerings.
Although the road to get here was not easy, Dale reflects on the trying times with calmness saying, “Beauty comes in many forms, and out of the most dire circumstances. Storms don’t always come to disrupt our lives – they come to clear a path for us also.”
Gift Certificates are available for purchase! Contact Ocean Spa BVI at (284)340-0772 or email them at [email protected] . Check out their website here: Ocean Spa BVI as well as their Facebook page and Instagram too!
Many locally island owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!
In 2012, we wrote an article called “Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke“. We were lucky enough to stay on “The Barefoot Island” for a week that year and wanted to share info on all of the amazing bars on the island. Apparently a lot of people love JVD or want to know more about it, as the article has been one of the most visited articles on our website! Fast forward to 2019. Ivan’s built a new bar in 2014, there was the addition of a new bar on White Bay called Hendo’s Hideout in 2016, and then there was Irma…and Maria. Lots of changes to this beautiful island in the last few years!
We visited the island 6 months after Irma, the strongest hurricane to ever strike the BVI and again in January 2019. Althought there are things that are forever changed on the island of Jost Van Dyke, it is still one of the best beach/beach bar destinations in the Caribbean.
View of Soggy Dollar from the water
Starting on the west side of White Bay, this is what we saw during our latest visit to Jost Van Dyke.
New Picnic/Bar Area for Cruise Ship Visitors
On the far west side of White Bay (next to One Love), a new picnic/bar area has been built to accommodate cruise ship traffic. Although we are told it is locally owned, the architecture is a more modern than the surrounding structures. I’m sure it’s a great place for cruise traffic, but looks a bit out of place.
Seddy’s One Love Bar & Grill
One Love Bar & Grill has rebuilt, is looking good and has retained it’s original character. We didn’t catch Seddy there this trip, but sure enjoyed a rum punch (or two!) Look for the Rum Therapy decal! They are known for their lobster quesadillas and Bushwackers, but we thought they had a pretty bomb rum punch too.
Coco Loco
Next, Coco Loco Beach Bar. Looks like a great place to relax and escape the crowds that tend to congregate farther down on the beach. A good lunch menu, a few beach loungers and highly rated for its friendliness. Try the fish tacos and Coco Loco Whackers.
Gertrude’s Beach Bar & Grill
Gertrude’s Beach Bar is looking good. Rebuilt, colorful and a bunch of beach chairs out front. It is said that Gertrude’s has the best Chicken Roti on island. We will be back to test out that theory, but definitely worth a stop by to pour your own drink, have a chat with Gertrude and to enjoy a quieter pace and the beautiful white sand of White Bay.
Soggy Dollar Bar
The Soggy Dollar Bar. Although nearly wiped out (check out the photo book on the table next to the bar), Soggy Dollar is back. As popular as ever, be sure to check out their signature Painkiller, originated and perfected at the Soggy Dollar in the 1970’s, a Nilla Killa, Raspberry Therapy, or if you’re really feeling, uh, thirsty, a Soggy Man. Apparently the Sandcastle will not be rebuilt next door. In it’s place, a new rum tasting area is being built and will probably be the place to sample and purchase the new Soggy Dollar Rum to take home!
Hendo’s Hideout
We first noticed a new bar emerging on White Bay during a day visit in November 2015. Hendo’s Hideout has now been open for a few years (and fared better than some during the hurricanes). Hendo’s is a beautiful dark wood structure with appealing bright orange beach chairs to to soak up the JVD sunshine. Hendo’s offers a delicious lunch and dinner menu. Try the Rum & Coke Pulled Pork and a Delirious Donkey or Hendo’s Helldiver to wash it down.
Path to Ivan’s
Time to walk over the rocky outcrop towards Ivan’s Stress Free Bar. Much of the path is still there – minus a step or two at the end on Ivan’s side. Be sure to wear shoes or flip flops!
Escape Villa (on the left) and Glass House
Before reaching Ivan’s, we were surprised to see two new buildings. One is Escape Villa and the other is Glass House. Apparently both are luxury, beachfront homes on the west side of Ivan’s and available to rent. Find out more on their websites: Escape Villa and Glass House.
Ivan’s Stress Free Bar
Ivan’s Stress Free Bar sustained an incredible amount of damage. When we visited 6 months after Irma, there was nothing left of the campground and only a temporary structure for a bar. So unfortunate given Ivan had just built a beautiful new 2 story bar in 2014(?) because the old bars foundation was settling and he wanted his customers to be safe. All that is left of the new bar now is the foundation. Ivan has built a smaller bar next to it, but unfortunately we were unable to find out any more about his future plans. Be sure to head down to that side of White Bay when you visit to show Ivan some support. The beach is still beautiful and the drinks are nice and cold.
On the far side of Ivan’s is Pink House Villas – 2 separate villas available to rent. Find their website here.
Time to walk over the hill to Great Harbour. When we stayed on-island, we took this strenuous walk several times. We thought perhaps it would balance the number of calories we were ingesting in rum and great food from the local restaurants. Unfortunately we still gained weight… There are, however, taxis that will pick you up and take you over the hill for about $5 per person.
Great Harbour looks so different since the hurricane(s). The yellow church is still in shambles and the beach lost most of its vegetation. Surprisingly though, the view of the beautiful beach is in my opinion, better, and some of the bars are rightly taking advantage of the “new view”.
Jost Van Dyke Scuba is open again and sells sunscreen. Yep. We left ours in our room on Tortola…
Corsair’s
The first bar heading east is Corsair’s. Owner Vinnie was busy rebuilding the bar when we visited last year, but it is now open and looking good! Corsair’s still offers Wench Juice and a Pirate Sandwich, but don’t overlook the other fantastic breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings – delicious! Vinnie and his bar may have a tough exterior, but he is a genuinely nice guy. Best to call for reservations if you are planning to have dinner here. From your boat, you can dinghy right to shore in front of Corsair’s.
Next, Ali Baba’s. In all honesty, we haven’t spent a lot of time at Ali Baba’s, but apparently there are a lot of people that enjoy the food and hospitality. On the list to visit next trip! If you’ve had a good experience at Ali Baba’s – tell us about it!
Cool Breeze Bar & Restaurant. This is the first time we’ve noticed this restaurant in a prime location on Great Harbour although the reviews date back to 2013. Not sure if it just looks different than before or under a new name, but somehow we’ve missed it on previous visits. During this visit, we stopped by around 10 and thought we’d order a cup of coffee, but the nice young man said that no one was there to serve yet, so we moved on. Island time perhaps?
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar
Foxy’s Tamarind Bar. Part of Foxy’s bar/restaurant made it through the hurricane(s), including a sticker we put up in 2015. He has re-built a new bar out front of the restaurant and the dock was rebuilt as well. The store is open again. Foxy was back playing the guitar and singing a song or two while visitors circled around. Judging by the crowds later in the day, the word is out that Foxy’s is open again for business!
We didn’t personally make it past Great Harbour this trip, but here is some current info on Little Harbour restaurants & bars and Foxy’s Taboo in Diamond Cay.
Sydney’s Peace & Love was the first restaurant to re-open in Little Harbour. This was no little feat as Irma deposited a ferry boat on top of their restaurant! The ribs and lobster are always delicious and you can serve yourself at the honor bar!
When we visited Jost Van Dyke 6 months after the storms, we were devistated to motor in to Little Harbour and find Harris’s Place completely destroyed. Years ago, we had met Cynthia, the owner, on a ferry over to JVD. She said if we didnt already have plans, to come to her place for dinner. We took her up on it and had the loveliest evening, an amazing lobster dinner and incredibly tasty Bushwackers made by Cynthia herself! From what we hear, Cynthia just opened Harris’s Place again. Don’t know if the menu is the same as before, but knowing Cynthia, it’s all good!
Abe’s By the Sea. We’ve not had the chance to visit Abe’s in person yet, but hope to on our next visit. According to the grapevine, Abe’s is open again, although still rebuilding. Once we visit, we’ll be sure to report on the “must try” food and drink and in the meantime, if you’ve been to Abe’s, let us know what you enjoyed about it!
Now over to Diamond Cay. Foxy’s Taboo is open again! According to the news we’ve recieved, Taboo recently opened and had a grand re-opening party on New Years Day this year.
There you have it! Jost Van Dyke has recovered so well, although I’m sure it will take years to repair and refinish some of the things that Irma took away. We hope to spend a week on Jost again soon. Do you have plans to visit?
Today we heard from Jamie Gladman, one of the organizers of the Love City Country Music Festival, who also happens to be the General Manager of Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke. He told us that Soggy Dollar has just launched it’s own radio station called Soggy Dollar Radio.
According to Jamie, the eclectic mix is intended to remind listeners of their time spent at the Soggy long after they’ve returned home. Jamie says, “Give it 5 songs and you’ll be hooked”.
Thanks to FB friend Amber for an update on the new bar on White Bay. The name is apparently Hendo’s Hideout and on their new website, they say “While White Bay is world-renowned for its casual beachside charm and party atmosphere, Hendo’s seeks to bring something a little different to the beach. COMING SOON…January 2016. Come see what the buzz is all about!” They have a new Facebook page too, although there’s not much on it yet. If you happen to be in White Bay in January, give us an update!
A few days ago while enjoying another beautiful day on Jost Van Dyke, we made the trek over the hill from Ivan’s to the beach (and bars!) on the other side of White Bay. As we approached Soggy Dollar, something immediately caught our eye.
There’s a new bar being built on White Bay.
The new building sits very close to Soggy Dollar and is fenced off now during construction.
We were unable to glean any info on the name or type of bar it will be, just that it is a new bar, but it sits right on a prime piece of beautiful White Bay, just like the other great bars on the beach on this island filled with legendary beach bars.
Do you know anything about the new bar? If so, let us know!
It was a challenge to select just 5 of our favorite Scenic Overlooks in the Caribbean – even after narrowing the criteria to those that included water views, but these are 5 of our favorites from our travels to date. Feel free to add some of your favorites in the comments below!
View of Magens Bay, St. Thomas from Drakes Seat.
Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake used this vantage point to keep an eye out for enemy ships.
Overlook of Gustavia, St. Barts – one of the most colorful overlooks in the Caribbean. It’s well worth a short hike on a nice path to enjoy this view.
From this perch high atop Virgin Gorda at Hog Heaven, you can see the entire North Sound including Leverick Bay, Saba Rock, Bitter End Yacht Club, Prickly Pear Island, Necker Island and on a clear day, a very faint sliver of Anegada.
Overlook of Trunk Bay, St. John.
One of the most photographed overlooks in the Caribbean; the sight of Trunk Bay from this spot nearly takes your breath away and gives you a taste of the beauty that lies ahead.
The overlook of White Bay, Jost Van Dyke is absolutely picture perfect. It’s really rather hard to take a bad picture of this beautiful bay!
What are your favorite Caribbean scenic overlooks? Tell us about them!
Lately when we talk about White Bay or Jost Van Dyke, everybody seems to have been there or has it on their “list”. With it’s stunning beauty and a plethora of great beach bars, Jost Van Dyke has been discovered.
But along with its fame comes crowds. Ever been on White Bay on a sunny afternoon in high season? Yep, it can be busy.
We had the pleasure of staying on-island in the White Bay Villas & Seaside Cottages for a week a couple of years ago. One of our favorite memories about being on White Bay early in the day or late in the evening when the day crowds go home? It’s so quiet…
During our week on JVD we got up early every morning and walked White Bay. Being from Colorado originally, we equated being the first to walk the beach in the morning as being the first one down a ski slope in the morning after a fresh dusting of snow. First tracks. Except warmer. Best thing about that? All we could hear was waves gently lapping the shore and seagulls calling…peaceful.
Of course we usually headed back down to the beach later in the day for the party and a Painkiller or two…
Nothing is quite as calming as a pictures of a palm tree next to beautiful blue water, and over the years we’ve amassed a nice collection of these types of pics. So…we thought we’d put some of our favorites together to share with you. Actually, we can’t verify that they are all palm trees – sorry- we’re far from palm experts, but they’re definitely palm looking plants that give us the same tropical feel! Since we couldn’t narrow it down any more than this, this is a sort of Tropical Palm Pictorial Journal. Pull up a glass of rum and enjoy a little tropication!
O.K, these are palm fronds on a palapa (and a small palm to the right), but we’re gonna count it anyway because it’s just super fun to look at and remember. Extra points for the rum punch at Guys Driftwood Boat Bar in St. Maarten.
Hard to believe there could be palm trees on a manmade conch shell island off of Union Island in the Grenadines, but as you can see, there certainly are palms on Happy Island!
Lovely palms and boats at Smathers Beach, Key West.
From Trellis Bay, we headed over to the island of Jost Van Dyke. On our previous sail, the conditions were not favorable the day we were to head to JVD, so we were not able to get there and that made us even more excited to visit this time.
We made our first stop on beautiful little Sandy Cay between Tortola and Jost.
After spending some time in the water we took the hike through the center of the island.
We made our way back to the boat and headed just a short hop north to an even smaller uninhabited island called Sandy Spit.
The snorkeling was excellent and we felt like we had our own private island for just a few hours…
After spending a quiet night moored at East End Harbour, JVD, we began the last day of our trip motoring into White Bay.
We spent the day visiting all of the great beach bars on White Bay from one end to the other – for research purposes, of course, as well as lounging in its crystal clear blue water…
One more Nilla Killa and a few more minutes of sand and sun and we headed back to the boat for a short nap and a sail to Norman Island to spend our last night at the Willie T…
After an excellent dinner aboard the cat prepared by our Chef, our Captain dinghied us over to the Willie T where we spent the rest of the evening having a great time. We made a lot of new friends that probably didn’t remember us the next day and the only problem we had was finding our dinghy after an evening of revelry! Hmmm…and some of us somehow ended up with a Willie T tattoo… ;)
There are a few beaches that we’ve come across in our travels that simply take our breath away and White Bay, Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is definitely one of them.
With powder soft white sand and turquoise blue, clear water set off by lush foliage, it is truly a tropical paradise.
Separated in the middle by a rocky outcropping, it’s well worth the hike to go from one end to the other checking out the people, the scenery and ALL of the bars! (be sure to wear shoes or sandals when crossing the outcropping. There is a cement stairway over the top of it, but there are some sharp rocks to navigate on Ivan’s side)
Getting there: Get to White Bay via boat, taxi over from Great Harbour, or rent a jeep from Great Harbour (the adventurous, non-inebriated, very fit or frugal individuals can walk over the hill from Great Harbour. We hiked it once…)
Beach: beautiful white sand with gradual access. Great for swimming in the quieter areas (watch for boats – White Bay can get very busy with boats, especially in the afternoon), snorkel by the rocks on the east end.
Recommended for: well, anyone that loves a beautiful beach…
Tip: because of the popularity of the beach bars on White Bay (especially Soggy Dollar), it can get very busy in the afternoon. If you like a party, you’ll love to be there at the busy time. If you’d rather experience White Bay when it’s quieter, consider visiting in the early morning, or later in the evening when the day crowds have gone home. Here are a just a few pictures taken during some of the quieter moments…
And top off a perfect beach day with a perfect sunset…
Other Jost Van Dyke posts you might be interested in:
We recently got an email from Facebook friend Angela asking “What is there to do on Jost Van Dyke besides barhopping?”. Well, the bars on Jost Van Dyke are pretty stellar and you can read more about them on our post Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke or Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke Part 2 (after Irma), but, there’s a lot more to experience and explore on the Barefoot Island and here are a few suggestions from our visits there.
1. Check out the Bubbly Pool – on the East end of the island, pass Foxy’s Taboo and take the path to the Bubbly Pool. Dubbed “Nature’s Jacuzzi” the ocean spills over the rocks when the surf is rough and breaks into effervescent bubbles in the pool.
2. Take a drive – or a hike high above the beaches. We rented a jeep in Great Harbour and then took a steep road to the top of the island close to East End Harbour.
The road was paved for a short distance and then became a “not too bad” dirt road which continued to climb and twist through the hills with stunning overlooks of East End Harbour, Diamond Cay, Sandy Spit, Little Harbour, Great Harbour and Tortola. We hiked a bit around Roach Hill – the highest point in the island (1,054 ft) and then because the road was getting steeper and rockier, we turned around and headed back.
3. Rent a dinghy for the day and explore Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit. Sandy Spit
Sandy Cay
We rented a dinghy in Great Harbour and headed out for an island adventure. We went to Sandy Spit first, pulled the dinghy ashore and enjoyed an hour or so of….well just sitting in the sand and enjoying the beauty of this teeny little island. About 15 minutes (via dinghy) from Sandy Spit is another beautiful deserted island called Sandy Cay. Sandy Cay is bigger and has a hiking trail through middle that takes you from the calm side of the island to an overlook of the rougher side.
4. Treat yourself to some Caribbean Lobster. Caribbean Lobster is readily available in the BVI’s and an incredible treat. During our stay on Jost Van Dyke, we ordered Caribbean Lobster for dinner at Harris’ Place in Little Harbour. The service, setting and lobster were wonderful and we’ve heard that it’s equally as good at several other restaurants on island.
5. Hammock Time. If you’re staying on Jost Van Dyke for a while, you should definitely spend some time swaying in the hammocks. You’ll find hammocks all over, including Ivan’s, Hendo’s, Soggy Dollar, Foxy’s and others on the beach in Great Harbour to name a few.. Pair hammock time with your favorite rum drink for some relaxing Rum Therapy…
6. Get in the water. Snorkel, wade and float – just get in that beautiful crystal clear, take your breath away blue, warm water. The water around Jost Van Dyke is excellent for snorkeling and has some of the nicest water around for just enjoying….look at that water – don’t you just want to dive right in?
7. Watch the sun set. We were on Jost for a little more than a week and every single night we were treated to a spectacular sunset – each one just a little different. Whether you’re on the beach, in a hammock or on the deck of your villa – watch the sun disappear behind clouds with unimaginable hues of orange and pink…
8. And our favorite thing to do on Jost Van Dyke…….nothing!! Put your toes in the warm sand as the sun caresses your body, breathe in, breathe out, listen to the sound of the waves lapping the shore and feel that feeling that we don’t often feel in our busy lives – total relaxation….
And….just in case you see everything there is to see, get totally relaxed and still have time to see more – Jost Van Dyke is just a short ferry from Tortola, Virgin Gorda and St. John!
To see more posts on Jost Van Dyke and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory
