Are You Ready To Learn British Virgin Island’s Best Kept Secret, Peter Island?

Take A Dive Into Paradise For A Whirlwind Beach Getaway  

Photography courtesy of PeterIsland.com

Ah, the Caribbean—where the sun kisses the sea and every worry can seem to melt away. Among the jewels of this paradise, the British Virgin Islands stand tall, offering a blend of luxury and serenity that’s hard to match elsewhere. Picture this: Sixty islands nestled in crystal-clear waters, beckoning travelers with promises of pristine beaches, top-notch snorkeling, and a rum selection that rivals the sunset views. Join us as Julia McCurley visits Peter Island Resort and swims her way around paradise for a memorable anniversary trip of a lifetime.

It’s a fact that the British Virgin Islands can range from unparalleled luxury to complete isolation. The BVIs are the place to relax in the Caribbean if you want something exclusive, but without the exclusivity hoopla. It’s the quiet luxury getaway for the rich and famous who want to remain under the radar. Worth noting, though, that there is more sophistication and wealth in the air here than in some other Caribbean islands, making this destination a pricey one in the high season. 

With numerous BVI options, our favorites include Peter Island and its 5-star Peter Island Resort. We discovered Peter Island in a travel article (remember when airplanes had in-flight magazines?) before we married in 2005. With the entire island devoted to the resort, we were immediately sold on the idea that this is the place to celebrate our honeymoon. It couldn’t have been more perfect, starting with the welcome from the staff as we were ferried over from Tortola to the beautifully appointed bar at the check-in station, to our beachfront suite on Deadman’s Bay, complete with our own hammock. A tiki-roofed bar and restaurant, just steps down the beach, is a favorite hangout for visitors, as well as a more formal restaurant and bar offering additional choices. The staff outnumbered the guests on the island nearly two to one, so the service was incredible. After our fantastic stay, we visited the resort several more times, the last in 2015.  

Unfortunately, like many of its sister islands in the BVI, the resort was heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2019. Due to the need to ship 100 percent of the required building materials off the island, recovery and reconstruction have taken years. Finally, in December 2024, the re-imagined Peter Island Resort reopened to the public. So, having missed our chance to visit to celebrate our 15th anniversary, we jetted off to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and explore the new Peter Island.

I am happy to report that the resort met and exceeded our expectations. While the hurricane destroyed many of the original structures on the island, the owners took the opportunity to update its functionality without losing its charm. Gone was the tiki beach bar, replaced by an incredible new restaurant and bar, still right on the beach. The former check-in area and restaurant by the pier has been updated with new docks and the Peter Island Yacht Club, which caters to the island’s busy day sailor traffic from adventurers who sail from island to island across the Caribbean (and the docks can handle super-yachts of up to 200 feet). 

The resort has been reduced to just 52 rooms, yet it still offers the best service we have experienced in the region, with an even greater staff-to-guest ratio. Nearly all the rooms are situated along Deadman’s Beach, offering amazing sunrise views over the emerald waters.

After being greeted with ginger-infused lemonade as we checked in, we were delighted to find that the solid rock walls of the original beachfront suites we stayed in on our honeymoon had survived the hurricane’s wrath. Restored to the original style, we spent our anniversary in one of the same suites, with the same views and beach access (and yes, they replaced the hammock). With our king-sized bed, sitting area, beachside patio, and spa-like bathroom, we relaxed in luxury as we took in the breathtaking views.

Of course, no five-star island resort would be complete without a spa, and Peter Island’s spa is spectacular. Set off by itself for privacy, it’s a short golf-cart ride from the main resort, and the massage, sauna, and spa pool areas are all available for guests. With incredible views just above the beach, it features a secluded outdoor hot tub with its own beach access. And for those a little more adventurous after dinner, there is a nightly sunset walk across some of the undeveloped part of the island, where you can watch the sun set gracefully in the Caribbean at the end of the day.

Staying on a private island means there’s no shortage of places to swim and sunbathe. Five dreamy, white-sand beaches stitch together the island’s coastline, including secluded Honeymoon Beach (which you can reserve entirely) and Deadman’s Beach, where you can take advantage of complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear. Only 300 of the island’s 1,800 acres are developed within the resort. There are secluded corners and intimate coves at every turn, and the staff, while always readily available, is happy to give you complete privacy.

Day trips are available to Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and the US Virgin Islands for those who wish to venture off the island. To feel like a local, you can bar hop by boat and visit the famous Soggy Dollar swim-up bar, or Wily-T’s floating bar, with clothing-optional diving from the top deck. You are within a short boat ride from Richard Branson’s Necker Island, where you can reportedly get a private tour if you find the right operator. We experienced much of this on a day trip with new friends who also hail from Lake Travis and happened to be at the resort at the same time. Speaking of coincidences, we also ran into a couple from New Hampshire whom we met there ten years ago. They are regulars like us and abandon their castle in New England for a week in the BVI almost every year. It was great to make new friends and run into old ones, which is common at Peter Island.

Okay, the best-kept secret of the BVI is out…Peter Island is back, and it’s better than ever. Just thirty minutes by ferry from Tortola, Peter Island Resort feels worlds away from the bustle of the more crowded Caribbean Islands. Savor solitude, quiet, and calm at this tropical island destination where world-class service and white-sand beaches combine to create the ultimate sun-soaked escape. We might see you there again enjoying a rum-infused drink on a hammock…