The ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola is how most travelers reach the British Virgin Islands. There is no commercial jet service into the BVI from the mainland United States, so the usual route is a flight into St. Thomas, a taxi to the water, and an hour on a fast ferry across Sir Francis Drake Channel. It is simple once you have done it. The first time, it helps to know which dock, which island and which paperwork.
This guide covers the two departure points on St. Thomas, the routes to Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, what customs asks for, and how to time the whole thing around your flight.
The Short Version
- Going to Road Town, Tortola: take the ferry from the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. The crossing is about an hour.
- Going to West End, Tortola, or starting from the East End: take the ferry from Red Hook. The crossing to West End is about 35 minutes.
- Bring your passport. The BVI is a separate country, and you clear customs and immigration on both sides.
- Fill out the BVI arrival form online before you travel.
- Book a flight that lands with time to spare, or stay the night on St. Thomas and take a morning boat.
| Route | Leaves from | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas to Road Town, Tortola | Charlotte Amalie | About 60 minutes |
| St. Thomas to West End, Tortola | Red Hook | About 35 minutes |
| St. Thomas to Road Town via West End | Red Hook | About 45 to 55 minutes |
| St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda | Charlotte Amalie | About 90 minutes, limited days |
Charlotte Amalie to Road Town
If your plans start in Road Town, which is where most charter bases, the main harbor and the island’s largest selection of restaurants sit, the downtown route is the one to use. Ferries leave from the Edward Wilmoth Blyden IV Marine Terminal on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, in the center of town, and arrive in Road Town about an hour later.
Road Town Fast Ferry, Native Son and Smith’s Ferry all run the route, and they tend to rotate days rather than all sailing daily. A typical schedule has a few departures spread across the morning and afternoon. Because operators and times shift through the year, book or confirm with the ferry company a few days out rather than relying on a schedule you saved months ago.
Plan to arrive at the terminal at least an hour before departure. You buy or collect your ticket, pay the departure fee and clear U.S. outbound processing before boarding, and the line moves at the pace of whoever is in front of you.
Red Hook to West End and Road Town
Red Hook sits on the far east end of St. Thomas, about 40 minutes from Charlotte Amalie by taxi. From here the crossing is shorter: roughly 35 minutes to West End, Tortola, and 45 to 55 minutes to Road Town, depending on whether the boat stops at West End first.
Red Hook makes sense if you are staying on the East End, if your villa or charter is on Tortola’s west side, or if it happens to be the departure that fits your flight. If you are already in Charlotte Amalie, the downtown terminal is usually the easier trip, since the time saved on the water is spent in a taxi getting to Red Hook.
Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke
Direct ferries from Charlotte Amalie to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, run only on limited days of the week, and the crossing is about 90 minutes. On other days, the usual approach is to ferry to Road Town and connect to Virgin Gorda from there.
Jost Van Dyke is most often reached by connecting through West End, Tortola, or by private water taxi. If Jost is the goal, check the connecting schedule before you book the first leg, because the last boats of the day leave earlier than people expect.
Passports, Customs and Fees
This is the part that catches first-timers. St. Thomas is U.S. territory. Tortola is not. That means:
- A valid passport is required for everyone traveling between the USVI and the BVI, including U.S. citizens.
- The BVI asks arriving visitors to complete an online immigration and customs form ahead of travel, choosing sea arrival and entering your ferry details.
- Expect fees on both ends. St. Thomas charges a fee on ferry departures, the BVI collects an environmental and tourism levy on arrival, and there is a departure tax when you leave the BVI. Amounts change, so check current figures with your ferry company.
- Customs on arrival can take anywhere from 10 minutes to the better part of an hour, depending on how many boats come in at once.
Keep your passport in your carry bag rather than your checked luggage. You will need it at least three times before you reach your hotel or boat.
Getting from the Airport to the Ferry
Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is on the west side of St. Thomas. The Charlotte Amalie waterfront is about 15 minutes away by taxi, and Red Hook is closer to 40 minutes or more in traffic. Taxis on St. Thomas charge set per-person rates by destination plus a small fee per bag, with no meter, so ask your driver to confirm the fare before you go.
The honest problem is timing. Between landing, collecting bags, the taxi, buying tickets and processing, you need a comfortable margin before the ferry leaves. The last afternoon boats are the ones people miss, and a missed last ferry means finding a room on St. Thomas anyway, at the last minute.
Why Most People Stay the Night First
Plenty of BVI regulars plan it the same way: fly into St. Thomas, spend one night, and take a morning ferry. The trip stops being a race against a flight delay. You arrive in the BVI rested, with the whole day ahead, instead of clearing customs at dusk.
That is exactly what a stopover at The Mary Anne is for. We are a six-room boutique hotel on Blackbeard’s Hill in historic Charlotte Amalie, about 15 minutes from the airport and minutes from the downtown ferry terminal. Land, swim in the rooftop pool as the harbor lights come on, have dinner in town, and be at the dock in the morning.
Heading to St. John instead? See our guide to the St. Thomas to St. John ferry, and if you are still deciding between the two territories, USVI vs BVI walks through the differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola?
About an hour from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town, and about 35 minutes from Red Hook to West End. Allow extra time for customs on arrival.
Do I need a passport to take the ferry to the BVI?
Yes. The British Virgin Islands is a separate country, so a valid passport is required, including for U.S. citizens. You do not need one to travel within the BVI once you have arrived.
Where does the Tortola ferry leave from in St. Thomas?
Ferries to Road Town leave from the Edward Wilmoth Blyden IV Marine Terminal on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. Ferries to West End leave from the Red Hook terminal on the East End.
Can I fly into St. Thomas and take the ferry the same day?
Often, yes, if your flight lands early enough to reach the terminal well before the last departure. If your flight lands mid-afternoon or later, or you are traveling in peak season, staying one night on St. Thomas and taking a morning ferry is the safer plan.
Is there a ferry from St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda?
Direct service from Charlotte Amalie runs on limited days only, with a crossing of about 90 minutes. On other days, take the ferry to Road Town and connect to Virgin Gorda from there.