153 sq km (59 sq miles).
Population:32,680 (2014).
Population density:213.6 per sq km.
Capital:Road Town, Tortola.
Government:British Overseas Territory.
Head of state:HM Queen Elizabeth II since 1952, represented locally by Governor John Duncan since 2014.
Head of government:Premier Orlando Smith since 2011.
Electricity:110 volts AC, 60Hz. North American-style plugs with two flat pins (with or without a third grounding pin) are used; some sockets may not accept plugs with a third pin however.
Sloping hills of green, lush mountainous terrain, extensive coral reefs and famous shipwrecks sum up the thrills and spills of the British Virgin Islands. With myriad nautical pursuits on offer, the 50 idyllic islands are a slice of paradise, though for travellers who prefer to watch the sea rather than get into it, there is the breathtaking chance of spotting dolphins and whales criss-crossing the surface.
Norman Island, was supposedly the location that Robert Louis Stevenson based Treasure Island on. Today's visitors might not stumble across swashbuckling pirates or half-concealed treasure troves, but they will find a highly prized booty of soft sand and gentle, teal waters.
Paradise does come at a cost. Overall, the British Virgin Islands are quite an expensive destination. But, for some, this is the necessary price of saving a Caribbean gem from over-commercialisation. If this is the intention, the British Virgin Islands are, for now, a resounding success.
