If you’ve ever seen a brochure promoting the British Virgin Islands, chances are you have seen a photo of Cane Garden Bay, a picture-perfect crescent beach along the northern coast of Tortola. Located just a 10-minute drive from Road Town, Cane Garden Bay is what many people dream of when they think of the beach. The setting is lovely: There is expansive white sand, a smattering of long-necked coconut palms, and the quaint feel of a seaside village. The atmosphere is fun: There are a half dozen beachfront restaurants, lots of beach chairs, and—on most days—plenty of people. Island-style music spills out from restaurants, bikini-clad patrons sip cocktails in the sun, and youngsters make sandcastles and splash around in the sea.

Cane Garden Bay is well protected from the swells that crash on other north shore beaches, so it is a popular anchorage for yachts. Because of this, there is a defined swimming area, cordoned off by buoys. On days when the waves are very strong—about a dozen days a year—surfers flock to “The Point” at the far eastern end of the bay for the ride of their lives.

Cane Garden Bay is the preferred destination for cruise ship visitors, who are taxied over the mountain and disgorge onto the beach between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you don’t like crowds, you may want to avoid Cane Garden Bay when a ship is in port. (Cruise ship schedules are printed in the local papers. Cruise ship visits tend to begin in October, peak in December and January, and taper off substantially by April.)