Fresh, modern & steps from the ocean, Shifting Sands is the perfect vacation apartment. With light airy rooms, floor-to-ceiling glass doors letting in ocean breezes & arches framing the azure ocean just feet away, it’s hard not to fall in love!
Not only will you love kicking back & enjoying the views at this newly renovated gem, but you’ll also love its location in Apple Bay
Our team at Villas of Tortola would love to welcome you!
LIVING AREAS
The main living area is flooded with light and air with high ceilings, fresh white walls and azure ocean views. Dark wood furniture contrasts the bright shell around it creating a chic island vibe. The living space is cool and comfortable with ceiling fans and those huge glass doors you can open to the breezes. You’ll also find a desk & desk chair in the living room (what a place to work from home) and a comfy sofa and chair set with coffee table which is the perfect place to kick back with a book or watch the pelicans diving for their dinner below.
The kitchen is just next to the living room but accessed by an external door on the spacious balcony. It’s fully equipped for self-catering with electric stove & oven, microwave, blender, fridge/freezer, toaster, drip style coffee machine and a very handy washer and dryer. You’ll even have an ocean view while doing the dishes!
BEDROOMS
The bedrooms are either side of the living room and both have the comfort of a teak king bed and choice of AC or ceiling fans.
1) In the first bedroom, you won’t even have to leave your bed to enjoy the views out over the turquoise ocean and have a little private balcony to take them in with a morning coffee. You’ll also enjoy a walk-in closet with plenty of hanging and storage space, which leads through to the bathroom (shared with the second bedroom) with double sinks and large walk-in shower.
2) The second bedroom is equally as comfy and looks out onto the trees at the back of the property.
OUTSIDE
The spacious balcony at Shifting Sands really makes the most of the incredible views of the glimmering water and over to neighbouring islands Sandy Cay and Jost Van Dyke. You’ll also be overlooking Apple Bay beach just feet away and with outdoor dining set and BBQ, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a sundowner and dinner with the ultimate relaxation soundtrack of nothing but the ocean.
Access
Shifting Sands is the upstairs unit of two apartments. Currently, the downstairs unit is empty and not being rented out.
PLEASE NOTE: The beach can be more pebbles than sand at certain times depending on the swell conditions rather than season (impossible for us to predict)
notes
HOUSEKEEPING: Your housekeeper will visit once a week & do a general clean and linens/towels change
AC: There are ceiling fans throughout & AC in both bedrooms
WIFI: There is Wifi
PARKING: There is a parking space in the little driveway just outside
Interaction
PRE-ARRIVAL:
Just after booking, The Villas of Tortola team will email you a short pre-arrival form & our digital island guidebook. We’ll make sure you have everything you need including directions to your villa, recommended car rentals & taxis, check-in options, online provisioning & much, much more. Plus, loads of tips, tricks, suggestions & personal recommendations for all things Tortola. And we’re here to assist with all of this too!
CHECK IN:
Our role is to make sure that the property is always in tip-top condition & that you have the best vacation possible. Tortola is our home, we know our villas inside-out & we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about the property ahead of time.
We’re nearby if you need us for anything but we’re unobtrusive…just contact us by phone, text or email & we’ll be happy to help with any request.
Neighborhood
APPLE BAY (on your doorstop)
Shifting Sands is located in Apple Bay (also known as Capoon’s Bay) in the West End of Tortola. You’ll be right on the beach which is famous for its winter surf. Please note however at certain times of year the tide can sometimes rob the beach of its sand. You’ll also be a few steps away from Nardie’s Beach Bar at Sebastian’s which is a great spot for an informal dinner on the beach (and host a fun Bingo & Karaoke evening on Thursday and Saturday nights which is popular with both locals and tourists). A slightly longer stroll along the flat coastline (10 mins) will take you to Tramonti restaurant (a favourite for brunches with an ocean view) and, built around a 400-year-old sugar mill is the very pretty Sugar Mill Hotel. The restaurant here focusses on fine dining and in season, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh local Anegada lobster.
LONG BAY (0.4 miles away)
At Long Bay you’ll find a mile-long stretch of white sand & turquoise waters & a selection of beachfront refreshment options – 1748 Restaurant, Tropical Fusion, Johnny’s Beach Bar & 1748 Coffee Shop. If you’re feeling energetic there’s Long Bay Beach Resort’s Tennis & Pickleball courts. A day pass will buy you hours of fun! Gym passes also available as well as a spa for a little pampering. You can also purchase a pool pass for the day ($100 pp incl $75 food & beverage credit & access to the pool. Under 12’s are free)
CARROT BAY (0.9 miles away)
A lovely village where you’ll find local fisherman, fruit stalls, North Shore Shell Museum and D’Coal Pot restaurant.
WINDY HILL (1.8 miles away)
Head to Stoutt’s Lookout for a chilled beer with an incredible view over the bay or Bananakeet (Heritage Inn) restaurant for one of the best dinner spots to watch the sunset on island.
SMUGGLER’S COVE (1.3 miles away)
Smuggler’s Cove is idyllic & perfectly sheltered by its vibrant reef which provides sensational snorkeling & is home to Patricia’s laid-back beach bar. *cruise ship passengers sometimes come here so look online for the “BVI cruise ship schedule” to avoid the busier days.
SOPER’S HOLE MARINA (2.4 miles away)
Here you’ll find a great selection of restaurants (Omar’s Coffee House, Admiral’s Pub & Pusser’s Landing), a well-stocked grocery store, boat charter companies, shops, Driftwood Spa & more. West End Ferry Terminal is opposite (where you can catch ferries & water taxis to fellow British Virgin Island Jost Van Dyke and US Virgin Islands St John & St Thomas). Enquire with Soper’s Hole Marina & Lighthouse Marina for dock space if you have a boat.
CANE GARDEN BAY (3.1 miles away)
The buzziest beach on island, you’ll find a whole variety of Restaurants & Bars (Indigo Beach House, Elms, Paradise Bar, Myett’s plus many more) lining the water. You’ll also find a small grocery store, a white sand beach with calm swimming & options for watersports & Callwood’s Rum Distillery. *all these amenities mean that the cruise ship passengers come here, so look online for the “BVI cruise ship schedule” to avoid the busier days.
Transit
TERRANCE B. LETTSOME AIRPORT (EIS) (17.5 miles away)
is on Beef Island in the East End of Tortola (connected by bridge). It’s the only airport on Tortola and where you’ll fly into.
WEST END FERRY HARBOUR (2.5 miles away)
The closest place to catch a ferry to connect you to the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas & St John) and fellow BVI Jost Van Dyke
ROAD TOWN FERRY TERMINAL
Here you can catch ferries to the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas) and fellow British Virgin Islands (Anegada & Virgin Gorda)
SOPER’S HOLE MARINA, LIGHTHOUSE MARINA & NANNY CAY MARINA
Arriving by boat & looking for dock space? Try these marinas nearby.
Although there are ferries to connect you to other islands, the public transport in Tortola is basically non-existent and there’s so much to go and see but taxis add up quickly. Tortola is only 14 miles long by 3 miles at its widest, but it’s a mountainous island and the roads can be quite rugged. We can help you to reserve a 4WD SUV or direct you to recommended local car rental companies who understand that good 4WD vehicles are mandatory to explore with confidence. They can offer delivery to your port of entry or villa (we can help organise you a taxi to take you to the property) & carry a selection of cars & jeeps. Jerry’s Car Rental is our favourite and the easiest car rental company to work with online.
RATES
January 4-April 25 2026 [5nt minimum]
$500/nt (1-4 guests)
April 26-September 30 2026 [5nt minimum]
$380/nt (1-4 guests)
October 1-December 17 2026 [5nt minimum]
$420/nt (1-4 guests)
December 18-January 3 2027 [7nt minimum]
$550/nt (1-4 guests)
Please add on 10% Hotel Tax & 3% Service Fee
$300 Refundable Damage Deposit
