Jost Van Dyke is one of the smallest British Virgin Islands, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit. Considering it’s just 3sq miles (8 km²), this island packs a big punch when it comes to attractions. We’ve put together what we think are the top things to do in Jost Van Dyke, and trust us, each one is going to make your time on this little island unforgettable.
Named after a 17th-century Dutch pirate who used the island’s natural harbours as a hideout. Today, this tiny dot in the ocean is somehow home to two of the most famous bars in the Caribbean (maybe in the world?!) and attracts sailors from around the globe every year – but what is there to do here? We promise you, there are some pretty great things to do in Jost Van Dyke. So, let’s get into it.
By Lauren & Jack · Updated September 2025 · Based on spending around 1 year in the BVI
1. Spend the day at White Bay
White Bay is one of our favourite beaches in the BVI. If you closed your eyes and imagined the perfect beach, you’d probably get something pretty close to White Bay, which is why it’s first on our list of things to do in Jost Van Dyke. Located on the south side of the island, this is the most popular beach on the island, and maybe in the entire BVI.
This long stretch of pristine white sand with Gatorade blue waters is picture-perfect. It’s backed by palm trees and steep green hills and dotted with a few bars, restaurants and places to stay. With plenty of seating, sun loungers, umbrellas and shaded areas, you can easily spend the entire day on this beach.
It can get pretty busy here during high season as it’s one of the most popular anchorages in the region, and plenty of boats make day trips from St Thomas and St John, so be prepared for that. However, only the areas around the bars get crowded, so you can head to one of the many spots of empty sand and lay out a towel instead.
⛵️ From Tortola – On this full day charter on a 48 ft yacht, you get to visit the gorgeous White Bay, as well go island hopping to Norman Island, Willy T’s floating bar and witness a BVI sunset.
⛵️ From St John – On this full day sail on a 55′ catamaran, you enjoy breakfast aboard and snorkelling at one of St John’s prime snorkelling spots, before heading heading to White Bay and Soggy Dollar Bar. Open bar, fees, taxes and customs and snorkelling gear is included.
⛵️ From St Thomas – This full day charter from St Thomas stops at several of the must-see spots in Jost Van Dyke, including White Bay, as well as the Bubbly Pool, Foxy’s Bar, Sandy Cay and hidden spots only accessible by private boat. Snorkelling gear, snacks and open bar included.
2. Stroll along Great Harbour
If you arrive in Jost Van Dyke via ferry, you’ll dock in Great Harbour, and you’ll instantly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. One of the best experiences we’ve had in the BVI was grabbing breakfast at Tipsy Shark and strolling along Great Harbour. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, the cool thing about Great Harbour is the road that runs along the harbour between the ocean and the bars, restaurants, shops and houses that line the beach is completely sand – it’s literally on the beach. We like to spend the morning strolling along here, the temperature is cool, and it’s usually incredibly peaceful.
Along Great Harbour, there are great spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a few stores, great for picking up souvenirs from your trip to Jost. We think an early morning stroll along Great Harbour with a stop for breakfast is the perfect way to start a day exploring Jost.
3. Sink a Painkiller at Soggy Dollar Bar
The first of the famous bars on Jost we’re going to talk about is Soggy Dollar Bar. Home to Soggy Dollar Bar Radio and the birthplace of the Painkiller rum cocktail. Honestly, this is a must-do thing when you visit the BVI. We can vouch for how good their painkillers are.
We love how Soggy Dollar Bar got its name. With no dock around, visitors would have to anchor and swim ashore. On their way, their money got wet and they had to pay for their drinks with soggy dollars! It’s come a long way since the Painkiller was invented back in the 1970s. It used to be a tiny 6-seat beach bar. Now, there’s a bar, restaurant and coffee shop!
Unsurprisingly, it gets pretty lively here, and you can even watch the goings on at Soggy Dollar Bar via their live webcam.
Top Tip: If you’re looking to visit Soggy Dollar Bar from Tortola, St Thomas or St John, we have listed the best rated boat charters to White Bay here.
4. Take a dip at Bubbly Pool
Our next recommendation is a natural hidden gem. Located just past Foxy’s Taboo on the east end of Jost, Bubbly Pool is a cool rock formation that creates a natural jacuzzi. As the waves crash through the rocks, they create a bubbling-like experience in the pool – it’s pretty cool.
For the jacuzzi-like experience, it’s best to visit on a day when the Atlantic is a bit choppy. On a calm day, it’s more of a peaceful natural pool, which is still great for relaxing, but not quite as exciting or impressive.
💦 Leaving from St Thomas or St John, this 5-star full day tour takes you to the Bubbly Pool, as well Foxy’s Bar, Sandy Cay, hidden spots only accessible by private boat, and Soggy Dollar Bar on the world-famous White Bay. Snorkelling gear, snacks and open bar included.
5. Grab food at Hendo’s Hideout
Just down the beach from Soggy Dollar Bar, you’ll find Hendo’s Hideout which is a great spot for a bite to eat. Again, it gets pretty lively here, they have live sports playing on multiple TVs with a beach volleyball court and cornhole too.
We stopped here for lunch, and it was the perfect place to escape the early afternoon sun. Although it was busy, the service was great, we enjoyed our lunch, and the bar was very well stocked.
6. Go deserted island hopping
A few hours or a day of island hopping is another of the great things to do on Jost Van Dyke. Just off the east end of Jost, you’ll find three tiny uninhabited areas that are easily reached by boat.
Little Jost is just 163 acres in size and boasts no development except the tiny B-Line Beach Bar. However, there are some pretty incredible beaches and plenty of snorkelling and diving opportunities around the surrounding reef systems.
Sandy Spit, the smallest of the three, is like something out of a movie. It’s essentially a sandbank that has a few coconut palms, trees, grass and bushes in the centre that are surrounded by pristine white sand, sensational waters and a reef system that protects it. It’s located in ‘spitting’ distance, hence the name, from Jost Van Dyke, and we think it’s one of the best beaches in the BVI.
Lastly, Sandy Cay. This National Park was once owned by the Rockefeller estate, but today it’s a protected haven for the wildlife that call it home. On the 13.57-acre island, you’ll find a big sandy beach, some dry coastal woodland, a salt pond, mangrove wetlands and cliffs. It’s where hawksbill, green, and leatherback turtles come to nest. Plus, you can find laughing gulls, bridled terns and red-billed tropicbirds hanging out here too.
⛵️ To visit the beautiful Sandy Cay, this 5-star full day tour is a great option as it also takes you to several of the other must-see spots in Jost Van Dyke, including the Bubbly Pool, Foxy’s Bar, hidden spots only accessible by private boat, and Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay. Snorkelling gear, snacks and open bar is included.
7. Visit the Famous Foxy’s Bar
The second world-renowned bar on Jost in Foxy’s. If you’re in the BVI (or anywhere close) on New Year’s Eve (Old Year’s Night as they call it in the Caribbean), then Foxy’s is the place to be. It’s consistently ranked as one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve in the entire world!
Anyway, besides New Year, Foxy’s makes it to the list of things to do in Jost Van Dyke because it’s an institution. Foxy first started his bar in 1968 to welcome the many sailors visiting the island, now he’s been doing it for over 5 decades. Grab a bite, grab a drink, shop in Foxy’s Boutique – do whatever you like, but you have to visit Foxy’s.
There’s also Foxy’s Taboo, located on the east end of the island in Diamond Cay National Park. Foxy’s Taboo is a great spot to stop if you’re heading to or from Bubbly Pool.
🎒 This 5-star full day excursion takes you to Foxy’s Bar, as well as Bubbly Pool, Sandy Cay, hidden spots only accessible by private boat, and Soggy Dollar Bar on the world-famous White Bay. Snorkelling gear, snacks and open bar included.
8. Relax at a Floating Spa
Fancy something a little different? If you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Jost Van Dyke, you can head to the BVI’s only floating spa, Ocean Spa BVI, which is anchored just off White Bay. Built using debris from the catastrophic hurricane Irma, Ocean Spa BVI. With windows beneath the massage tables, you can see beneath the ocean as you get a relaxing massage from either the owner, Mapp, or one of his team.
They offer a simple menu with a choice of 60-minute or 90-minute massages, both with a complimentary healing seawater foot soak and a local rum cocktail. We think this is such a unique experience and a must-do if you’re looking for some solitude and to take some time to relax on your vacation.
9. Hike Majohnny Hill
Everything else we’ve mentioend so far has been pretty chill, but Jost Van Dyke is a mountainous island, so it’d be wrong for us to miss off climbing its highest peak, Majohnny Hill. Rising 1,054 feet above sea level, it’s a pretty arduous hike but is definitely worth it for the 360-degree views you get across the BVI and USVI.
If you don’t fancy the hike but still want the views, you can rent 4x4s on the island because the hike does follow a steep but dusty road. For the views alone, this is one of the best things to do in Jost Van Dyke if you’re feeling adventurous and energetic.
Top Tip: If you prefer a guided hike to Jost’s Majohnny Hill, you can book this with Hike BVI.
Is it worth visiting Jost Van Dyke?
100%! Jost Van Dyke is the least developed of the inhabited islands in the BVI. Stepping off the boat here feels like stepping back in time. Less than 300 people live here, there aren’t many roads, there are only a handful of bars and restaurants, the beaches are pristine and the water is sensational. Whether you want a lively day partying on White Bay or you’re looking for a more relaxed day of exploring, you’ll be fine on Jost.
Is Jost Van Dyke walkable?
Jost isn’t particularly walkable. It is if you’re fit and can handle walking very steep hill in the Caribbean heat, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Either get a taxi or rent a 4×4, you’ll have a much more enjoyable time.
Where to Stay on Jost Van Dyke
To explore the best things to do in Jost Van Dyke, here are our top 3 recommendations for where to stay:
🏡 Almost Heaven Villa – Nestled in the hillside between White Bay and the restaurants and nightlife of Great Harbour.
🏡 Ocean View Villas – 1 and 2 bedroom villas, Suzuki Jeep comes with the house, 5 minutes from Soggy Dollar Beach Bar & Foxy’s Bar, free laundry and room service.
🏡 Great House Villa – Plunge pool outdoor dining, stunning views, dinghy and double kayaks available to discover surrounding inlets and beaches.
How to get to Jost Van Dyke from Tortola
New Horizon Ferry runs a daily crossing between West End Tortola and Great Harbour. It costs $40 each way and runs multiple times per day with the first boat leaving Tortola at 8 am.
You can leave Tortola at 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm or 6 pm.
You can return from Jost at 7 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2 pm or 5 pm.
However, some people prefer to take a private charter (either for the day, like this one, or their entire vacation) and include Jost Van Dyke as a stop on their excursion.
⛵️ On this 5-star full day charter, head out from Tortola on a luxury 48 ft yacht and go island hopping to Jost Van Dyke, visiting the world-renowned White Bay, as well Norman Island and Willy T’s legendary floating bar and restaurant! This charter includes snorkelling equipment, inflatables, snacks, and drinks.
How to get to Jost Van Dyke from St Thomas
You can hop on a 50-minute ferry from Red Hook that will stop at St John before going onwards to Jost Van Dyke. The ferry leaves Red Hook at 7:30 am and returns from Jost Van Dyke at 3:30 pm.
It costs $120 for a round trip or $100 one-way. This doesn’t include any taxes you’ll have to pay for entering the BVI.
However, most people opt to take a private charter (either for the day or their entire vacation) and include Jost Van Dyke as a stop on their excursion.
⛵️ This full day tour from St Thomas stops at several of the must-see spots in Jost Van Dyke, including the Bubbly Pool, Foxy’s Bar, Sandy Cay, hidden spots only accessible by private boat, and Soggy Dollar Bar on the world-famous White Bay. Snorkelling gear, snacks and open bar included.
🚤 If you’d prefer to island hop from St Thomas, this 37′ powerboat full day excursion is fully customisable. You could visit 5-6 islands in one day, such as Jost Van Dyke, St John, Virgin Gorda, Sandy Cay, Cooper Island and Norman Island. This private charter has a 5-star rating, and the boat is beautifully sleek.
How to get to Jost Van Dyke from St John
There is a ferry that leaves Cruz Bay, St John at 8:00 am and returns from Jost Van Dyke at 3:30 pm. The crossing takes around 35 minutes and costs $120 for a round-trip or $100 one-way.
You can take day charters from St John that will stop at Jost Van Dyke, and this is most people’s preferred option, especially if you’re part of a group. And don’t worry, you can fit several of the best things to do in Jost Van Dyke into just one day.
⛵️ This 5-star full day tour takes you from St John to Jost Van Dyke on a 55′ catamaran. Enjoy breakfast aboard and snorkelling at one of St John’s prime snorkelling spots, before heading heading to White Bay and Soggy Dollar Bar. Open bar, fees, taxes and customs and snorkelling gear is included.
🚤 If you’d prefer a powerboat to island hop from St John, this 35′ powerboat half or full day excursion takes you to 4 islands in the BVI, including Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Norman Island. This private charter has a 5-star rating, and the boat is absolutely gorgeous.
More of our BVI travel guides
Since November 2022, we’ve spent almost a year exploring the British Virgin Islands. In that time, we’ve documented our experiences and put together travel guides to help you plan the perfect vacation.
The best things to do in Tortola
Tortola restaurants we recommend
The beaches in Tortola you have to visit
What we recommend doing when you visit Tortola on a cruise
The complete guide to Cane Garden Bay
Our top things to do in Virgin Gorda
Places we love to eat in Virgin Gorda
How to get to Virgin Gorda
Everything you need to know about The Baths in Virgin Gorda
The must-do things to do in Anegada
Our favourite beaches in the BVI
Where we suggest staying in the BVI
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