Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the four main British Virgin Islands — barely four square miles, fewer than 300 residents, and one of the most famous beach-bar scenes in the Caribbean. The headline attraction is White Bay, a postcard stretch of sand fronted by turquoise water and home to the original Soggy Dollar Bar — birthplace of the Painkiller cocktail.
The bar earned its name the hard way: White Bay has no dock. Boats anchor just off the beach, and guests swim ashore — arriving with a pocket of wet, “soggy” dollars to pay for the first round. Getting there is half the fun, but how you do it depends entirely on where you’re starting from and how much you want to spend.
Quick cost comparison — the easy answer
Short on time? Here’s the at-a-glance answer — roughly what each option runs, all-in per person for a day trip. Use the toggle below for the full breakdown by origin.
| Option | From USVI | From BVI (Tortola) |
|---|---|---|
| Public ferry | ≈ $110–$130 pp (ticket + $30 customs) | $40 round trip ($30 one way) |
| Group / shared charter | ≈ $200–$350 pp + $85 pp customs | ≈ $120–$250 pp |
| Private charter | $1,500–$3,000+ boat + $85 pp customs | $800–$2,500 boat (no customs) |
| Water taxi (one way) | ≈ $200–$350 pp + $85 pp customs | ≈ $60–$120 / trip |
Estimates for planning only. Ferry tickets, charter rates, and BVI customs surcharges vary by season, operator, and whether you travel on a weekend or public holiday. Water taxi prices are one-way — best if you’re staying overnight on Jost Van Dyke rather than doing a same-day round trip. Always confirm the all-in total with your operator before booking.
A private boat picks you up at Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) or Cruz Bay (St. John) and runs you straight to Jost Van Dyke. The captain handles your BVI customs paperwork and clears the group at Great Harbour or West End, Tortola — you stay on the boat or step off into the clearance office. Most day charters combine JVD with a second stop (Sandy Spit, Diamond Cay, the Indians).
- Door-to-door, your own schedule, multiple stops
- Captain manages all customs paperwork
- Anchor right off White Bay — swim straight to the Soggy Dollar
- Highest fixed cost; only economical with 6+ people
Book a per-seat spot on a scheduled group boat out of St. Thomas or St. John. You get most of the private-charter experience — anchoring off White Bay, a captain who handles customs — at a per-person price. As a private boat clearing into the BVI, it carries the same $85-per-person customs fee as a private charter; many trips bundle that fee (plus lunch and drinks) into one rate, so check whether your quote already includes it.
- Far cheaper than a private boat for 2–4 people
- Social atmosphere; no boat to rent or captain to tip alone
- Fixed departure time and itinerary
- Shares the boat with strangers
Inter-Island Boat Services runs the Red Hook (St. Thomas) ↔ Cruz Bay (St. John) ↔ Jost Van Dyke route. Direct USVI→JVD sailings only run a few days a week, so check the schedule — otherwise you ferry to West End, Tortola, clear BVI customs there, and connect onward. Ferries land at Great Harbour, not White Bay, so you’ll grab an open-air taxi over the hill to the Soggy Dollar (see below).
- By far the lowest cost for 1–2 people
- Limited direct sailings; may require a Tortola connection
- You handle your own customs forms and lines
- Lands at Great Harbour — extra taxi/walk to White Bay
An on-demand private fast boat — pricier than the ferry, cheaper than a full-day private charter, and you set the pickup time. The price above is one way, so a water taxi makes the most sense if you’re staying overnight on Jost Van Dyke rather than doing a same-day round trip. Like any private boat clearing into the BVI, it carries the $85-per-person customs fee — confirm whether your quote already includes it.
- Depart when you want — no fixed ferry timetable
- Cheaper than chartering a whole boat for the day
- Per-person cost climbs for small groups
Planning a BVI day trip from the USVI?
Post your trip on CharterBid and get quotes with BVI customs fees already factored in — or browse the charter guide for operators and routes.
Great Harbour vs. White Bay — don’t mix them up
This trips up first-timers constantly. Public ferries land at Great Harbour, the island’s main settlement and the location of the customs and immigration office. The Soggy Dollar Bar is at White Bay, a separate cove on the other side of a hill. To get between them:
- Open-air taxi over the hill — about $5–$10 per person, the easy choice in the midday heat.
- Walk — roughly 15–20 minutes up and over the ridge. Doable, but bring water.
If you arrive by private charter or a boat that anchors off White Bay directly, you skip Great Harbour entirely and swim straight to the bar. That convenience is a big part of why charters are popular despite the cost.
Every bar on Jost Van Dyke (and where to find it)
The Soggy Dollar gets the headlines, but Jost Van Dyke is a legendary bar-hopping island. Here’s the full lineup, grouped by where it sits relative to Great Harbour (the ferry dock and main settlement) and White Bay (the beach just west, over the hill).
Many Jost Van Dyke bars and restaurants close for part of hurricane season (roughly August–October), and dates vary year to year. The Soggy Dollar Bar will be closed from August 26, reopening October 7. If you’re visiting in late summer or early fall, confirm a bar is open before planning your day around it.
White Bay — just west of Great Harbour, over the hill
This is the famous beach. All of these are walkable along the sand, west of the Great Harbour ferry dock (a $5–$10 taxi or a 15–20 minute walk over the ridge).
| Bar | Where on White Bay | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Soggy Dollar Bar | Center of White Bay | Birthplace of the Painkiller; swim-up beach bar |
| Hendo’s Hideout | West end of White Bay | Upscale beach club, frozen cocktails, food |
| Gertrude’s Beach Bar | Center of White Bay | Laid-back, friendly, cheaper rounds |
| Coco Loco | White Bay beach | Casual beach drinks and bites |
| Ivan’s Stress Free Bar | Quiet east end of White Bay | Honor-system bar, campground, mellow vibe |
Great Harbour — the main settlement and ferry dock
Where the New Horizon ferry lands and customs is located. These bars line the beachfront within a short walk of the dock.
| Bar | Where in Great Harbour | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Foxy’s Tamarind Bar | East end of Great Harbour | Island institution; live music, Old Year’s Night, calypso |
| Corsairs Beach Bar | East end, near Foxy’s | Pirate-themed, full menu, strong cocktails |
| Ali Baba’s | Center beachfront | Fresh lobster, conch, beach swing seats |
| Rudy’s Mariners Rendezvous | West end of Great Harbour | Sunset spot, local seafood |
Little Harbour & East End — east of Great Harbour
Around the headland east of Great Harbour, reachable by boat or road taxi. Quieter, with a few of the island’s best-loved seafood spots — plus Foxy’s second outpost near the Bubbly Pool.
| Bar | Where it is | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney’s Peace and Love | Little Harbour | Honor bar, lobster dinners, hanging-mug tradition |
| Harris’ Place | Little Harbour | Monday-night lobster, family-run |
| Abe’s by the Sea | Little Harbour | Pig roasts, fresh fish, mooring balls |
| Foxy’s Taboo | Diamond Cay / East End | Gateway to the Bubbly Pool; lunch and drinks |
Bars open and close seasonally and some keep irregular hours — especially mid-week and in the off-season. Call ahead or VHF a bar before planning your day around it.
A note on BVI customs fees (USVI travelers)
Because Jost Van Dyke is in the British Virgin Islands, anyone coming from the USVI clears international customs. The fees are simpler than most guides make them sound for a single day:
- Any private boat — private charter, group charter, or water taxi: a flat $85 per person bundled “BVI fees” line item (customs, environmental levy, the boat’s prorated cruising permit). Some group trips fold it into their per-seat price — always confirm.
- Scheduled passenger ferry: a flat $30 per person, paid at the BVI terminal on arrival, on top of your ticket.
- Weekends & BVI public holidays: customs overtime adds roughly $10–$30 per person.
Fees are charged per person regardless of age, and everyone needs a passport. For the full breakdown, see our BVI customs & entry fees guide.
What to bring
- Passport for every traveler if coming from the USVI (cards work for sea travel only).
- Cash in small bills — for the Soggy Dollar, taxis over the hill, and customs fees. ATMs on JVD are scarce.
- A dry bag — you may be swimming ashore. Protect your phone, cash, and passport.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for the swim-in.
- An early start — first ferries and the best anchoring spots go quickly, and customs lines build mid-morning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get to Jost Van Dyke?
From the BVI, the New Horizon Ferry out of West End, Tortola — $30 one way / $40 round trip, no customs. From the USVI, the public ferry at roughly $110–$130 per person all-in (ticket plus the $30 BVI customs fee).
Do I need a passport for Jost Van Dyke?
Yes, if you’re traveling from the US Virgin Islands — JVD is part of the British Virgin Islands, so you’ll clear BVI customs on the way in and US customs on the way back. If you’re already in the BVI, no passport check is needed to reach JVD.
How do you actually get to the Soggy Dollar Bar?
It’s on White Bay with no dock — boats anchor off the beach and you swim in. Ferry passengers land at Great Harbour and take a short open-air taxi (about $5–$10) or walk 15–20 minutes over the hill to White Bay.
How long is the trip?
About 25–30 minutes on the ferry from West End, Tortola. From the USVI, plan on 45–90 minutes of boat time plus 30–60 minutes for customs clearance.
How far is Jost Van Dyke from St. Thomas?
Jost Van Dyke sits just a few miles off the coast of St. John and roughly 10–12 nautical miles from St. Thomas. By boat it’s about 45–90 minutes depending on your departure point, plus customs clearance time.
What is the Soggy Dollar Bar known for?
It’s the birthplace of the Painkiller — rum, cream of coconut, pineapple and orange juice, dusted with fresh nutmeg. The bar sits on White Bay with no dock, so guests swim ashore from anchored boats and pay with wet, “soggy” dollars — hence the name.
What else is there to do on Jost Van Dyke?
Beyond the Soggy Dollar and White Bay, don’t miss Foxy’s Bar in Great Harbour, the Bubbly Pool natural rock jacuzzi on the north shore, and nearby Sandy Spit and Sandy Cay for snorkeling — both an easy hop by charter or dinghy.
Check ferry schedules & plan your day
See live USVI/BVI ferry schedules and the car-barge timetable on the VIslandGuide ferry tool before you go.
Ferry Schedules →