Hilly and dry, the islands lie 50 miles (80km) east of Puerto Rico, 1100 miles (1770km) southeast of Miami and immediately east and north of the US Virgin Islands. Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke are the principal islands; most of the other 40 odd islets are uninhabited. Taken together, they're a little smaller than Washington, DC. Three quarters of the British Virgin Islands' population lives on Tortola, which is 14 miles (23km) long and 2 miles (3km) wide.

Dense subtropical forests cover most of the islands' inland hills, but there are also arid stretches dominated by succulents, palm and coastal mangrove swamps, where baby fish find their swimming fins and crabs scuttle about. Indigenous forest flora includes mahogany, bulletwood, fig, tree ferns and the elephant ear vine, which slithers along the ground until it finds a sturdy tree to climb. Mango, papaya, coconut and breadfruit trees are found in abundance. The mammee apple is native to this part of the Caribbean and is prized for its sweet brown-skinned fruit.

Common animals are lizards, rats and donkeys. The nocturnal bo-peep frog is found exclusively on Virgin Gorda and Tortola and has a call that seems impossibly loud for such a little tacker. Virgin Gorda is home to a tiny gecko with the distinction of having a name (

The weather is reliably balmy with daily highs year round between 70-80°F (22-27°C). Trade winds keep humidity low and Caribbean currents keep waters warm. Rainfall is unlikely to dampen a visit, with the wettest months, September through November, averaging only about five days of rain each. The islands are prone to hurricanes between July and October, so keep an eye on weather reports if you're visiting during these months.

The British Virgin Islands are not a cheap getaway destination: food is pricey because most of it is imported, and accommodation is simply in short supply. The majority of visitors to the islands sleep on chartered yachts, and if that's the holiday you're looking for, expect to spend at least US$250 a day. Travelers willing to stay on land, yet enjoy fine dining and some nightlife, need about US$175 a day. Budget travelers can squeeze by on less than US$100 a day if they stay at cheaper guesthouses or camping grounds. Coming in the low season will reduce room prices and charter rental fees, sometimes by as much as half.

The local currency is the US dollar, since the British Virgin Islands decided it was easier to cuddle up with the same currency as its bustling US neighbor. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are widely accepted on Tortola and the other large islands, except on Anegada, where it's best to bring cash. Banking and exchange facilities are concentrated in Road Town on Tortola.

There's a 7% hotel accommodations tax plus a 10% service charge. Tipping is less institutionalised than in US destinations, but no one is going to look sideways at 10% for good service.

The peak tourist season is December to May, but this has more to do with the weather in North America and Europe than it does with the reliably balmy Virgin Islands weather. It's therefore best to visit outside this period, when you can expect room rates to be about two-thirds of those charged during the busier months. An additional draw is that the calmer weather between April and August tends to keep the waters clearer for diving.