Fly Into Scrub Island for an Out-Of-The-Way Caribbean Vacation

Are you looking for an out-of-the-way place for a tropical vacation? If you are, you might want to consider Scrub Island for your next holiday. While the name may not sound glamorous, Scrub Island is a luxury getaway that’s full of amenities, outdoor activities and amazing tropical views. Let’s take a look at the history of this unique British Virgin Island and why you may want to make it your next Caribbean destination.

Scrub Island History

Scrub Island has an amazing history that goes back thousands of years. It was initially inhabited by the Arawak and Ciboney tribes, who called the islands in the Caribbean Sea home. These tribes were primarily hunters and gatherers. They also grew cassava and maize. It’s believed that by the time the Europeans found the islands, the Arawak and Ciboney tribes had been driven out of the area by rival tribes. The tribal people are believed to have migrated to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and even Cuba.

By the time Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, the island was mostly uninhabited and untouched, with only a few bits of pottery left behind by the previous inhabitants. At that time, the island was only used as a pit stop for explorers who were sailing to the new lands. Of course, it’s important to note that even after Columbus discovered the island, which was known as the Lesser Antilles, it still remained uninhabited.

Eventually, the island was discovered by pirates, privateers and buccaneers, who used it as a safe haven. These seafarers would drop their anchors near the island to rest and scrub the barnacles off their ships, which is how the island got its name.

After the pirates left the island’s waters, Scrub Island remained uninhabited despite its close proximity to Beef Island.

Today, the distance between Beef Island and Scrub Island is a 10-minute ferry ride. However, the island didn’t have a year-round population until 2010, when the Scrub Island Resort was constructed.

Traveling to Scrub Island

Because of Scrub Island’s small size, it does not have its own airport. This means that the closest airport is Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TUPJ) on Beef Island. In fact, Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TUPJ) is the main airport for the British Virgin Islands. It’s owned and operated by the BVI Airport Authority. The airport is 16 feet above sea level and has one runway. Runway 07/25 is 4,645 feet long and 98 feet wide. The airport terminal encompasses 46,000 square feet, and it’s served by Winair, Cape Air, Caribbean Airlines, American and Air Sunshine, as well as a few other local airlines and charter companies. Travelers can enjoy grabbing some food from We Are BVI Restaurant and Sports Bar, Dip and Lik Cafe or Joelles Cafe.

To help ensure that each guest’s stay is as convenient and relaxing as possible, staff from the Scrub Island Resort meet all guests inside the terminal. Then, they drive the guests to the Trellis Bay Dock, where everyone boards a ferry to Scrub Island and the luxurious resort.

Staying at Scrub Island

The Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina offers an array of room types, including standard rooms, suites and luxury villas, and all of the accommodations offer amazing views. The standard guest rooms include a king bed, walk-in showers, a mini-fridge, coffee, tea and room service, as well as TVs and wireless Internet. The suites offer one or two bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a refrigerator, bottled water, a stove, a microwave, and a dishwasher, as well as a washer and dryer.

The luxury villas come with a host of amenities, including soaking tubs, rain showers, living rooms, dining areas and kitchens. If desired, private chefs are also available. Each villa also includes an infinity pool or a plunge pool.

Where to Eat on Scrub Island

Visitors will find several dining options on the island, including Cardamom & Company, Donnovan’s Reef and the One Shoe Beach Bar. Guests can also order grocery delivery from the resort’s provisions store.

At Cardamom & Company, guests can enjoy a breakfast buffet with bagels, eggs, sausage, bacon, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, pancakes and waffles. The dinner menu includes crab cakes, plantain fritters, lobster bisque, salads, lamb, duck breast, sea scallops, sushi and lobster rolls.

Donnovan’s Reef is known for its amazing homemade soups and salads. They also offer shrimp nachos, chicken wings, smash burgers, salad wraps, fish sandwiches and delicious chicken roti.

The Beach Bar is known for its Cajun wings, Caesar wraps, burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches.

The grocery delivery service allows guests to order an assortment of groceries, wine and liquor. Grocery options include cheese, coffee creamer, butter, eggs, yogurt, bread, bagels, hamburger buns, French rolls, English muffins, flour, pancake mix, bacon, hamburger, beef tenderloin, chicken, steaks, shrimp, turkey and an assortment of vegetables and fruit, including apples, asparagus, avocados, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and corn, as well as many other items. This can help ensure that guests eat the food they love while controlling dining costs.

Scrub Island Adventures

Scrub Island is a private island that is owned by the Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, and there are plenty of things to do and experience. Some guests prefer to lounge on the beach while enjoying the ocean view. Other guests prefer to rent boats for sailing or visit other islands in the archipelago.

Have Fun on the Water

While you’re on Scrub Island, you can enjoy a variety of water sports, including swimming, snorkeling, diving and sailing. In fact, the water around the island is so calm that even beginners can learn how to pilot a boat.

The resort even has a partnership with Up ‘n’ Under Watersports to provide guests with even more water adventures. Up ‘n’ Under Watersports helps guests learn how to paddleboard, kayak, eFoil or play aquaDARTs.

Go on an Island Fishing Trip

Do you like fishing? A fishing charter can take you to North Drop, which is renowned for its Blue Marlin. Of course, if Blue Marlin fishing isn’t your style, you can also go bonefishing, mahi-mahi fishing, tuna fishing or wahoo fishing.

Hike the Island

The resort encompasses 230 acres. Get a great evening workout by hiking to the top of Big Scrub and then watching the sunset, or hike around the island in the morning or afternoon and enjoy the views of the water, plant life and wildlife.

Relax and Destress at the Resort Spa

While you’re at the resort, you may choose to visit the on-island Ixora Spa, which offers a selection of wellness treatments inspired by Ayurvedic traditions. Guests can begin with an optional consultation designed to assess the individual’s balance and wellness goals. This consultation can be followed by treatments such as the Abhyanga full-body massage using herbal oils or the Shirodhara scalp treatment, known for its deeply calming effects.

If you have joint or muscle pain, the spa may recommend the Herbal Poultice Massage, which includes warmed massage oil and heated herbal poultices that are applied directly to sore joints and muscles. Poultices typically include lemongrass, peppermint, marigolds, lavender and basil leaves, which are chosen for their wellness properties as well as their aromatics.

The spa also offers acupuncture and yoga, as well as a few targeted health and wellness packages, including the Purify Me detox package, the Relax Me destress package and the Balance Me rejuvenation package. Guests can even opt for the three-day Ixora Wellness 360 package that includes a consultation on your first day, Hatha yoga and a head massage on the second day, and a herbal poultice massage and foot reflexology. Each session is two hours for a total of six hours across three days.

If you’re interested in an out-of-the-way vacation in the British Virgin Islands, you might schedule your next stay on Scrub Island. There are plenty of outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and fishing, as well as plenty of places to eat. You can even practice your own culinary skills and order your own groceries. It all starts when you book a flight into Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TUPJ) on a commercial flight or in your own jet and ferry over to the island. From there, you can sun yourself on the beach, enjoy drinks at the outdoor bar and hike a 400-foot mountain for the best sunset views on Scrub Island. Not to mention, you can also sail or take a ferry to many of the other British Virgin Islands.