A fairly large, mountainous and very sparsely populated island northwest of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke is said to have taken its name from a Dutch pirate (the first part of the name is pronounced
yost). It offers two good harbors, a couple of nice beaches (Great Harbour and White Bay) and a handful of choices for overnight accommodations. The island is a popular stop on the yachting circuit. The Soggy Dollar and Foxy's Tamarind bars are favorite places to drop in. Small ferries run between Jost Van Dyke and Tortola's West End several times a day.
Just off of Jost Van Dyke sits Sandy Cay, a tiny uninhabited islet that has a gorgeous white-sand beach. It's the epitome of a deserted island—especially nice if you happen to have it to yourself.