Driving ourselves to Smugglers Cove

[sallysue66]

Hello.  How is the drive to Smugglers Cove Beach?  We are used to the roads on St John and St Thomas USVI.  Does Tortola compare to that?  We are considering a NCL cruise with a 6am-2pm stop in Tortola.  Thanks.

[blue_water]

The drive to SC is not bad. You will definitely want a 4x4, not for traction, but for ground clearance as the “road” between the Long Bay Resort and SC is unpaved.

 

The best route is the North Shore road (Sir Francis Drake Highway) to Zion Hill Road. Then a left on the South Shore road (Rte 1) to Belmont. You will pass Sebastian’s restaurant and hotel, go over a small hill into Long Bay, and continue on to Smuggler’s. You don’t have to deal with the steepest roads that way and you will find it very similar to driving STT…
A very nice day! 👍

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tortola+Cruise+Ship+Pier,+De+Castro+Street,+Road+Town,+British+Virgin+Islands/Smuggler's+Cove,+British+Virgin+Islands/@18.3942168,-64.7027263,14.95z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x8c0576acfe77f291:0x115ffa1119c98d05!2m2!1d-64.6139924!2d18.4229083!3m4!1m2!1d-64.6816006!2d18.395356!3s0x8c05731ac0880a45:0xe5752623501ec641!1m5!1m1!1s0x8c057325c1b1fd99:0xd40509ac03d8b138!2m2!1d-64.7006379!2d18.3954232!3e0?entry=ttu

[blue_water]

Driving the North Shore is also very scenic with the nearby islands.
 

Nigel and other vendors should be there, hopefully. And I hope that Miss Patricia is back there with her delicious daiquiris and cheeseburgers! 

[sallysue66]

thank you blue_water!

[blue_water]

I see Google maps highlights the route up Joe’s Hill Road and along Ridge Road. That is the steeper option and not as scenic as the south shore route IMHO…

But if you have time you could drive the north shore road past Zion Hill, past the Sugar Mill Resort, up Windy Hill Road and stop at the Bananakeet bar halfway up for their signature drink the “Bananakeet”. Or Stoutt’s for a drink. Or continue down into Cane Garden Bay to see how the rest of your cruise mates live ☺️…