Best time to go

• During spring: the big event in the British Virgin Islands in the spring is the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. Ideal conditions bring competitors from across the globe to race in warm waters under perfect blue skies. With temperatures in the high-20s°C (low 80s°F), the spectacle of some of the world’s greatest maritime racing yachts streaming through the Sir Francis Drake Channel and around the outer islands is spectacular.

• During summer: the temperatures range from 28 – 32°C (82 – 89°F). From the Summer Sizzle BVI fashion show in July to the Emancipation Festival in August, there are plenty of celebrations to join in with on the various islands. If you just want to lie back, relax, and soak up the sun you’ll find the beaches are quiet and the water is gloriously warm, just right for snorkelling, diving and swimming.

• During autumn: there is very little variation in the temperatures during the various seasons in the BVI, so you’ll find the autumn months merge seamlessly from summer through to winter with the thermometer hovering at around 28°C (80°F). The winds are a little brisker and lower the humidity even further, so this is a great time for exploring the islands. Expect the occasional rain shower, but these are usually very brief and quickly followed by blue skies and sunshine once again.

• During winter: from December through to April is the high season in the British Virgin Islands. Rental villas are in high demand as travellers come to these sunny islands to soak up the atmosphere, the stunning surroundings, and the culture. This is the driest time of the year, but temperatures are still in the high 20s°C (80 - 86°F), and the sea is at its warmest for swimming. Keep a lookout for loggerhead turtles and migratory whales passing by the shore.