Caribbean Leeward Islands

Caribbean Archipelago Exploration with Scuba

Get ready for an unforgettable summer experience unlike any other and join the AQ Minerva Voyage, a thrilling sailing and exploration adventure. Discover over 10 stunning islands as we embark on an action-packed journey from the British Virgin Islands to Antigua and back.

Picture yourself sailing across the Eastern Caribbean’s Leeward Islands, which boast remarkable destinations like Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Barths. With balmy trade winds, lush rainforests, and picturesque pink sandy beaches.

Prepare for a world of cultural and geological wonders, where customs, currencies, and languages change as frequently as the breathtaking landscapes. Whether living aboard a 50-ft monohull or a 46-ft catamaran, the Minerva experience focuses on sailing and island exploration. But don’t worry, there will also be plenty of opportunities for thrilling activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, and wakeboarding in the incredible turquoise waters. On land, get ready for an exhilarating Caribbean hiking experience, including conquering The Quill—an awe-inspiring extinct volcano on the island of Nevis.

So, if you’re up for a summer camp experience like no other, join us on the AQ Minerva Voyage and create memories that will last a lifetime!

  • Appropriate Age

    14 - 18

  • Student Groups

    Grouped aboard by closest age

  • Students & Staff

    10 students & 2 staff per vessel

  • Vessel Type & Fleet Size

    Typically Catamaran / 1-2 vessels

  • Flotilla Grouping

    This program follows a unique itinerary exclusive to Minerva that begins and ends with our larger fleet in the BVI

Share this adventure

Activities

Sailing
Scuba
Marine Biology
Watersports
Service
Island Exploration
Requirements
  • PADI Open Water (If diving)
  • Ages 14 and up

The Adventure

It all starts here
ActionQuest Minerva Map

ARRIVING TO ACTIONQUEST IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Your adventure begins! The majority of the students in our international summer camp will be flying to St. Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands. For students flying via STT, ActionQuest’s professional staff meet them and assist with the beautiful ferry ride to Tortola then on to the entire camp which awaits you in West End, Tortola. There you will go through the formal check in process and make your way to your new comfortable and clean floating home. For those flying directly into the BVI (EIS), students are met by an airport representative.

Students then get to spend the rest of the first day of this Caribbean summer camp preparing for life aboard and getting to know one another while the sun sets behind the dock.

 

Learn To Sail Keelboat Summer Camp Bvi
Minerva Activities

Sailing

Passage Making

Minerva is an outdoor adventure summer camp that is for students wanting to expand their sailing experience to real blue water passage making!

It’s going to seem like we’ve crammed two weeks’ worth of information into those first 4 days, but time will fly by as you absorb it all. Station drills, man overboard drills, fire drills… it’s now time for you and your team to put it all to the test with the first of many sailing passages: a 24-hr voyage from the BVI to the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.

As we turn our bow to the southeast, the rhythm of the trip shifts. With the fundamental knowledge in place, we now embark on the next phase of the expedition, our days alternating between those spent ashore exploring and those on passage, voyaging between six and thirty-six hours to reach a new destination.

Summer Keelboat International Summer Camp For High Schoolers
Minerva Activities

Sailing (Cont.)

Keelboat Sailing

The majority of the Minerva sail training aims to teach every aspect of keelboat cruising.  The training is a combination of on-the-water practical experience along with in depth theory lessons in a classroom environment.  The practical days on the water find our students trading time at the helm, trimming the sails, helping navigate the course, or helping with the engineering of the ships systems; they truly are full time crew members aboard a 40-50 ft. sailing yacht.

Teen Sailing Adventure Caribbean Leeward Islands
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration

Saba & Statia

These two Dutch islands provide you with yet another culturally diverse backdrop on your adventure through the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.  During your time in Statia you’ll snorkel the ruins of Oranjestad’s sunken harbor in search of the elusive blue bead.  At Saba, you’ll test yourself by tackling the 2,855 ft. (1,064 stone steps) tall Mt. Scenery and spend the day learning how to blow glass while visiting the quaint town called The Bottom.

> Next stop: Nevis
Eastern Caribbean Summer Program Sailing Camp For Teens
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

Nevis

After your exciting passage from Statia, you’ll make landfall at the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton.  Here on Nevis you’ll have the chance to explore the capital city Charlestown, hike through a volcanic rainforest to “The Source”, bike tour its hilly and quaint roads, take a horseback tour along its sandy coast or simply enjoy a little personal time on the beach.

> Next stop: Antigua
Antigua Summer Camp British East Indies Teens Sailing 17 768x461Antigua Summer Camp British East Indies Teens Sailing 17
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

Antigua

In Antigua, you’ll arrive at the very British Nelson’s Dockyard.  This is one of the world’s only fully restored Victorian era dockyards, which provides an amazing backdrop to your time spent in Antigua.  While here, you’ll enjoy a steel drum and reggae concert at Shirley Heights, walk the historic ramparts of English Harbor and enjoy the crystal blue waters.

> Next stop: St. Barths
St Barths Surf Camp For Teens Abroad Sailing Scuba Diving Eastern Caribbean
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

St. Barths

Surf day!  Although you will certainly enjoy a cup of French espresso in Gustavia, the real adventure begins as we pack a couple of jeeps with surfboards and hit the waves for a day of surfing on St. Barth’s north shore.  Being another of the Lesser Antilles French islands, you’ll pause at lunchtime for a beach picnic of freshly baked baguette and stinky cheese before paddling back out to catch another wave.

> Next stop: Back to the BVI

Watch AQ Sailing For Yourself

Whether a novice or a seasoned sailor, you will advance your sailing skills on the world’s most beautiful waters under the guidance of ActionQuest’s incredible staff on this outdoor Caribbean adventure camp…

Duo Sunset
Adventure Summer Camps Teens Sailing Diving
Teen Summer Camp Adventure Sailing Scuba
Lifeworks Forum Teen Growth Leadership AdventureLifeworks Forum Teen Growth Leadership Adventure 17
Minerva Activities

Life Aboard AQ

Lifeworks Forum

It’s amazing how much you can learn about yourself when you are living in close quarters with a bunch of strangers…

Beyond all the exciting activities, it is this personal growth that we find equally important, and at AQ we highlight this growth through an element of all AQ outdoor adventure summer camps called the Lifeworks Forum. Held at intervals throughout the voyage, the forum is designed to complement the learning that takes place through the everyday interaction aboard. Students have the opportunity to participate in – and lead – discussions on topics like personal responsibility, values, integrity, communication and goals. Of all the skills that students take from their voyages, it is the life skills that can carry them the farthest. At AQ, we feel that while building one’s life, it is important to be sure it is based on a foundation of compassion and personal integrity.

Actionquest Job Wheel Responsibility Camp Leadership TrainingLive Aboard Sailboat Camp High School Sailing School Summer
Minerva Activities

Life Aboard AQ

The Job Wheel

At ActionQuest, there are no passengers, only shipmates. Being a shipmate means that you will share the day to day responsibility of running a 50 ft. sailing vessel! While the staff are there to teach and help, your daily job will be assigned by using the famous “AQ job wheel”. Have you ever been the head chef for 12 people? You will with AQ! Each day, the wheel turns and you will get a new job, and at the end of the trip, you can truly say that you were involved in every aspect of making your adventure happen.

ActionQuest brochure icon

"*" indicates required fields

Get Our Free Brochure

Full of detailed information about our adventures, staff, and FAQs for you to access anytime.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Best Summer Of Your Childs Life

Time To Say Goodbye

There’s always a mix of emotions on departure day. The excitement to go home is always overwhelmed by the realization that the Adventure is over and that it’s time to say goodbye to the people you’ve grown so close to over the last few weeks. Day 1 will simultaneously seem like the day before and a lifetime ago as you and your crew take a private ferry for the last leg of your journey together.

“ActionQuest has taught me so many lessons but the one I am most thankful for is that even though it can be hard looking at the positive side it is much more rewarding than focusing on the negative. I wouldn't change my AQ experience for anything. I was challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone but it was so rewarding. ”

Anna B. / Leawood, KS
ActionQuest Minerva Map

ARRIVING TO ACTIONQUEST IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Your adventure begins! The majority of the students in our international summer camp will be flying to St. Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands. For students flying via STT, ActionQuest’s professional staff meet them and assist with the beautiful ferry ride to Tortola then on to the entire camp which awaits you in West End, Tortola. There you will go through the formal check in process and make your way to your new comfortable and clean floating home. For those flying directly into the BVI (EIS), students are met by an airport representative.

Students then get to spend the rest of the first day of this Caribbean summer camp preparing for life aboard and getting to know one another while the sun sets behind the dock.

 

Teen Sailing Adventure Caribbean Leeward Islands
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration

Saba & Statia

These two Dutch islands provide you with yet another culturally diverse backdrop on your adventure through the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.  During your time in Statia you’ll snorkel the ruins of Oranjestad’s sunken harbor in search of the elusive blue bead.  At Saba, you’ll test yourself by tackling the 2,855 ft. (1,064 stone steps) tall Mt. Scenery and spend the day learning how to blow glass while visiting the quaint town called The Bottom.

> Next stop: Nevis
Eastern Caribbean Summer Program Sailing Camp For Teens
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

Nevis

After your exciting passage from Statia, you’ll make landfall at the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton.  Here on Nevis you’ll have the chance to explore the capital city Charlestown, hike through a volcanic rainforest to “The Source”, bike tour its hilly and quaint roads, take a horseback tour along its sandy coast or simply enjoy a little personal time on the beach.

> Next stop: Antigua
Antigua Summer Camp British East Indies Teens Sailing 17 768x461Antigua Summer Camp British East Indies Teens Sailing 17
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

Antigua

In Antigua, you’ll arrive at the very British Nelson’s Dockyard.  This is one of the world’s only fully restored Victorian era dockyards, which provides an amazing backdrop to your time spent in Antigua.  While here, you’ll enjoy a steel drum and reggae concert at Shirley Heights, walk the historic ramparts of English Harbor and enjoy the crystal blue waters.

> Next stop: St. Barths
St Barths Surf Camp For Teens Abroad Sailing Scuba Diving Eastern Caribbean
Minerva Activities

Island Exploration (Cont.)

St. Barths

Surf day!  Although you will certainly enjoy a cup of French espresso in Gustavia, the real adventure begins as we pack a couple of jeeps with surfboards and hit the waves for a day of surfing on St. Barth’s north shore.  Being another of the Lesser Antilles French islands, you’ll pause at lunchtime for a beach picnic of freshly baked baguette and stinky cheese before paddling back out to catch another wave.

> Next stop: Back to the BVI
Learn To Sail Keelboat Summer Camp Bvi
Minerva Activities

Sailing

Passage Making

Minerva is an outdoor adventure summer camp that is for students wanting to expand their sailing experience to real blue water passage making!

It’s going to seem like we’ve crammed two weeks’ worth of information into those first 4 days, but time will fly by as you absorb it all. Station drills, man overboard drills, fire drills… it’s now time for you and your team to put it all to the test with the first of many sailing passages: a 24-hr voyage from the BVI to the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.

As we turn our bow to the southeast, the rhythm of the trip shifts. With the fundamental knowledge in place, we now embark on the next phase of the expedition, our days alternating between those spent ashore exploring and those on passage, voyaging between six and thirty-six hours to reach a new destination.

Summer Keelboat International Summer Camp For High Schoolers
Minerva Activities

Sailing (Cont.)

Keelboat Sailing

The majority of the Minerva sail training aims to teach every aspect of keelboat cruising.  The training is a combination of on-the-water practical experience along with in depth theory lessons in a classroom environment.  The practical days on the water find our students trading time at the helm, trimming the sails, helping navigate the course, or helping with the engineering of the ships systems; they truly are full time crew members aboard a 40-50 ft. sailing yacht.

Watch AQ Sailing For Yourself

Whether a novice or a seasoned sailor, you will advance your sailing skills on the world’s most beautiful waters under the guidance of ActionQuest’s incredible staff on this outdoor Caribbean adventure camp…

Duo Sunset
Adventure Summer Camps Teens Sailing Diving
Teen Summer Camp Adventure Sailing Scuba
Lifeworks Forum Teen Growth Leadership AdventureLifeworks Forum Teen Growth Leadership Adventure 17
Minerva Activities

Life Aboard AQ

Lifeworks Forum

It’s amazing how much you can learn about yourself when you are living in close quarters with a bunch of strangers…

Beyond all the exciting activities, it is this personal growth that we find equally important, and at AQ we highlight this growth through an element of all AQ outdoor adventure summer camps called the Lifeworks Forum. Held at intervals throughout the voyage, the forum is designed to complement the learning that takes place through the everyday interaction aboard. Students have the opportunity to participate in – and lead – discussions on topics like personal responsibility, values, integrity, communication and goals. Of all the skills that students take from their voyages, it is the life skills that can carry them the farthest. At AQ, we feel that while building one’s life, it is important to be sure it is based on a foundation of compassion and personal integrity.

Actionquest Job Wheel Responsibility Camp Leadership TrainingLive Aboard Sailboat Camp High School Sailing School Summer
Minerva Activities

Life Aboard AQ

The Job Wheel

At ActionQuest, there are no passengers, only shipmates. Being a shipmate means that you will share the day to day responsibility of running a 50 ft. sailing vessel! While the staff are there to teach and help, your daily job will be assigned by using the famous “AQ job wheel”. Have you ever been the head chef for 12 people? You will with AQ! Each day, the wheel turns and you will get a new job, and at the end of the trip, you can truly say that you were involved in every aspect of making your adventure happen.

ActionQuest brochure icon

"*" indicates required fields

Get Our Free Brochure

Full of detailed information about our adventures, staff, and FAQs for you to access anytime.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Best Summer Of Your Childs Life

Time To Say Goodbye

There’s always a mix of emotions on departure day. The excitement to go home is always overwhelmed by the realization that the Adventure is over and that it’s time to say goodbye to the people you’ve grown so close to over the last few weeks. Day 1 will simultaneously seem like the day before and a lifetime ago as you and your crew take a private ferry for the last leg of your journey together.

“ActionQuest has taught me so many lessons but the one I am most thankful for is that even though it can be hard looking at the positive side it is much more rewarding than focusing on the negative. I wouldn't change my AQ experience for anything. I was challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone but it was so rewarding. ”

Anna B. / Leawood, KS

Certifications

On top of all the other fun adventure sports and activities during the Minerva outdoor adventure camp, you’ll have the opportunity to earn these certifications:

IYT Media

Sailing Certifications

  • IYT Introductory Sailing Skills

    This sailing course is designed for students with limited previous experience with the goal of providing a well-rounded, introductory knowledge for crewing a sailing vessel (monohull or catamaran) up to 50-ft…
    Learn More >

  • IYT International Crew

    This course is a certificate of excellence for students wanting to act as a competent watchkeeping crew member or skipper of a small yacht in protected waters in calm conditions…
    Learn More >

  • IYT VHF Radio

    The IYT VHF Radio Communications course is designed to ensure a thorough understanding of the entire spectrum of maritime radio communication…
    Learn More >

Need to know

Is this adventure right for me?

The Minerva Caribbean summer camp is a fast-paced sailing voyage that will take you from the BVI to Antigua and back. The main focus of this outdoor adventure camp is on island exploration and sail training. Over the three weeks, we visit over 10 different islands and each landfall provides a totally different experience, as the islands are as varied as the local traditions, currency or languages spoken. Minerva is a perfect outdoor summer adventure camp for those with limited or no previous experience in sailing as well as for more seasoned sailors looking to do advanced sailing. For all students signing aboard, this voyage has a strong expeditionary feel. There will be the opportunity to scuba dive once or twice as well as water ski and wakeboard during our time in the BVI. Onshore, we’ll visit the islands, explore the towns, cook out on the white sand beaches and hike to the top of some of the tallest mountains.

How many people go on this adventure?

Minerva is one of our most exclusive programs. On this Caribbean summer camp, you’ll sail with 1-2 boats in a flotilla, each with about 10 students aboard. It’s quite the adventure sailing as a smaller fleet, where you can get to know each of your fellow students and staff from all over the world.

How do you split up the ages across the boats?

Given that we sometimes have 2 yachts sailing together, this allows us to berth students aboard based on their age and grade. Within the fast-paced and team-oriented environment onboard, age differences seem like less of a factor than they might at a typical summer camp. Please contact us if you have any specific considerations in this regard.

What type of boat will I be on?

Minerva Caribbean summer camp typically runs aboard traditional single-hulled yachts (monohulls) and sometimes is run aboard catamarans. With either boat, we use only the finest charter yachts available, all of which are in the 48-54 foot range. Each vessel has 5 cabins, a large salon which converts to a 6th cabin, and 4 full bathrooms (heads). The world’s largest charter company, Moorings/Sunsail, maintains all of our yachts to the highest standard.

ActionQuest adventure program sailing monohull

Learn more about our vessels

Where do we sleep?

From the moment you arrive, you’ll move aboard your yacht and live on board full-time. It’s true to say that living on a boat is A LOT tighter than living at home. With up to 10 students and 3 staff living together, it can feel cramped for those not used to it, yet this close community environment is where so much of the experience is created.

All of our vessels have 5 cabins and a large salon that converts to a 6th. While there’s just about enough room for everyone to sleep down below should it rain, on our typical clear and dry evenings many of us like to sleep out on deck, swinging in a hammock under the stars.

Who will be my staff?

AQ is proud to attract and recruit the best in our field. Our summer staff includes professional maritime captains, professional PADI dive instructors and medical professionals.  Above all, we hire responsible and experienced facilitators and educators. All members of our team are dynamic, multi-talented, and passionate individuals with a devotion and commitment to the safety and experience of our students.

Two or three staff members live with you aboard your vessel full-time. There will be your skipper, your first mate who is typically your diving instructor, and a third staff member who could also be a diving instructor, EMT, Marine Biologist or someone with other special skills.

Learn more about the team

What's the food like?

At AQ, we strive to provide meals that meet the fundamental needs of all members of our team, yet when considering our experience, it is important to remember that there are natural limitations when provisioning in remote places and cooking for a large group on board a small yacht.

We understand that each individual has personal preferences and that some students have specific dietary restrictions or limitations. While we strive to accommodate these as best we can, our meals maybe a little different from what you are used to at home. We design our menu around meals that are simple to prepare, quick to clean up, suit the majority of teenager’s palates, and deliver the calories needed for long, busy days on the water.

Mealtime is often a highlight of each day! Students prepare all of the meals with help from the staff using a combination of packaged and canned goods we import from the US and fresh produce we pick up locally about every four days. While we mostly eat all meals onboard the vessel, occasionally, students have the option to eat at a restaurant during shore time.

After enrollment, we ask families to inform us of all dietary restrictions and allergies. We can accommodate vegetarians, and vegans, as well as those with various food allergies. However, if you have a severe allergy or specific dietary expectations, please call our office before enrolling.

Sample Menu Download

What do I need to bring?

Given that all students will be living aboard a sailboat for the duration of this outdoor adventure camp, we recommend that you keep things simple and avoid over packing. Students are given the opportunity to do laundry once in the middle of the trip, so there’s no need to pack several weeks’ worth of clothing.

Our hope is that families will have minimal purchases prior to the trip, so we’ve compiled our packing lists in a way that you’ll find most of what you need in your closet at home. Around mid to late March, we make available our Pre-Trip Packet to enrolled students, which contains a detailed packing list for this year’s adventures. If you’d like to see last year’s packing list as an example, you can download it here.

Packing List Download

Nitty Gritty

Flights

Are flights included in the tuition?

Since students join us from all over the world, the cost of transportation to and from the British Virgin Islands is not included in the program tuition.

Who should we contact to book travel?

Helping to coordinate our students’ travel is of vital importance – and a mammoth task! For this reason, we strongly suggest that all families start by contacting our travel coordinator:

Leah Hernandez – AQ Travel Coordinator
Tel: +1.281.528.7727
Toll Free: 800.329.9000
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com

Even if you are not originating in the U.S., Leah will be able to provide options and guidance.

How do we get there?

Our recommended route is via St. Thomas (STT) in the USVI although students also have the option of flying to Beef Island (EIS).

Does AQ provide support on travel days?

Yes. We understand that travel days can be stressful for both parents and students, so no matter what time of the day or night, our office team actively monitors and supports our participants during travel. We require students to travel with a mobile phone with domestic data capability so we can monitor their progress and communicate directly if necessary.

For students flying via St Thomas, ActionQuest arranges for a staff member to assist with the transfer to Tortola via ferry. After arrival in Tortola, students are met at the ferry dock by more of ActionQuest’s professional staff, then collectively continue onto a taxi that takes them to the boats.

Looking for more detailed information on travel?

Visit the travel page

Tuition

AQ Tuition Covers the following:

  • All accommodation and group meals once the adventure is underway
  • Vessel charter and related government fees
  • Staff, local guides, and tips
  • The use of all sailing, and water sports equipment (except for wetsuits, if needed)
  • Sailing certification costs

Not included in the AQ tuition:

  • Travel expenses from home to the program start location in the British Virgin Islands – flights PLUS ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, visas, etc. (est. add’l $235)
  • Required emergency evacuation insurance & International SOS and MedAire Membership (est. $100). LEARN MORE >
  • Medical insurance, and optional trip cancellation insurance
  • Fees associated with optional scuba dives (est. $150)
  • Spending money for souvenirs, drinks/meals ashore – We recommend $300 – $350.
  • Emergency money for unanticipated events such as doctors visits etc. – We ask that all students bring $300, which is held by staff and returned at the end of the program.

Discounts and Savings

  • A one-time total tuition fee deduction of 5% is granted for any two adventures or for two or more students from the same family.
  • Any two consecutive programs may be joined to form one extended course. In the interim between programs, students stay with staff. The total cost is determined by combining the cost of each program and subtracting the 5% extended course discount. (This discount also applies toward any trips adjoining our sister program GoBeyond.) ActionQuest and/or GoBeyond enrollment for any two programs in the same summer will be considered as a single extended program in the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the trip at any time.

Travel Docs & Vaccinations

Travel Docs & Visas

All students traveling to the BVI need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from the BVI. Visitors from certain countries other than the US, UK and Canada may require visas.

For the most up-to-date and thorough information, please visit travel.state.gov. Students traveling on non-U.S. passports should verify passport and visa requirements for your nationality by contacting your local British Embassy or consulate or the nearest BVI Tourist Board Office.

One important point to mention is that most students joining us in the BVI do so by flying via St. Thomas, which is part of the US Virgin Islands. This means that those students not flying on a US or Canadian passport need to consider whether they need to apply for a U.S. visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Please call us with any questions.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

For visiting the BVI, the CDC recommends that all travelers are up-to-date on routine vaccinations that most of us had as children (measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine.

That said, we understand that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by his or her doctor, AQ does not supply medical advice. For this reason, we recommend that all families refer back to the expertise of the CDC from time to time (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic to gain the most up to date information.

Itinerary

Living in the moment

Though the fundamentals of our adventures don’t change, specific logistics evolve as we get closer to the summer and then day by day based on weather. The animated map along with the adventure overview portions on this page should give all families a basic understanding of the kinds of activities we do on the voyage. We also suggest looking through last summer’s Trip Logs for a more detailed travel log created by the students.

With this in mind, we encourage all participants to “live in the moment”. Traveling by boat requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take any bumps in your stride, and enjoy the adventure!

Are flights included in the tuition?

Since students join us from all over the world, the cost of transportation to and from the British Virgin Islands is not included in the program tuition.

Who should we contact to book travel?

Helping to coordinate our students’ travel is of vital importance – and a mammoth task! For this reason, we strongly suggest that all families start by contacting our travel coordinator:

Leah Hernandez – AQ Travel Coordinator
Tel: +1.281.528.7727
Toll Free: 800.329.9000
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com

Even if you are not originating in the U.S., Leah will be able to provide options and guidance.

How do we get there?

Our recommended route is via St. Thomas (STT) in the USVI although students also have the option of flying to Beef Island (EIS).

Does AQ provide support on travel days?

Yes. We understand that travel days can be stressful for both parents and students, so no matter what time of the day or night, our office team actively monitors and supports our participants during travel. We require students to travel with a mobile phone with domestic data capability so we can monitor their progress and communicate directly if necessary.

For students flying via St Thomas, ActionQuest arranges for a staff member to assist with the transfer to Tortola via ferry. After arrival in Tortola, students are met at the ferry dock by more of ActionQuest’s professional staff, then collectively continue onto a taxi that takes them to the boats.

Looking for more detailed information on travel?

Visit the travel page

AQ Tuition Covers the following:

  • All accommodation and group meals once the adventure is underway
  • Vessel charter and related government fees
  • Staff, local guides, and tips
  • The use of all sailing, and water sports equipment (except for wetsuits, if needed)
  • Sailing certification costs

Not included in the AQ tuition:

  • Travel expenses from home to the program start location in the British Virgin Islands – flights PLUS ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, visas, etc. (est. add’l $235)
  • Required emergency evacuation insurance & International SOS and MedAire Membership (est. $100). LEARN MORE >
  • Medical insurance, and optional trip cancellation insurance
  • Fees associated with optional scuba dives (est. $150)
  • Spending money for souvenirs, drinks/meals ashore – We recommend $300 – $350.
  • Emergency money for unanticipated events such as doctors visits etc. – We ask that all students bring $300, which is held by staff and returned at the end of the program.

Discounts and Savings

  • A one-time total tuition fee deduction of 5% is granted for any two adventures or for two or more students from the same family.
  • Any two consecutive programs may be joined to form one extended course. In the interim between programs, students stay with staff. The total cost is determined by combining the cost of each program and subtracting the 5% extended course discount. (This discount also applies toward any trips adjoining our sister program GoBeyond.) ActionQuest and/or GoBeyond enrollment for any two programs in the same summer will be considered as a single extended program in the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the trip at any time.

Travel Docs & Visas

All students traveling to the BVI need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from the BVI. Visitors from certain countries other than the US, UK and Canada may require visas.

For the most up-to-date and thorough information, please visit travel.state.gov. Students traveling on non-U.S. passports should verify passport and visa requirements for your nationality by contacting your local British Embassy or consulate or the nearest BVI Tourist Board Office.

One important point to mention is that most students joining us in the BVI do so by flying via St. Thomas, which is part of the US Virgin Islands. This means that those students not flying on a US or Canadian passport need to consider whether they need to apply for a U.S. visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Please call us with any questions.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.

Other Immunizations

For visiting the BVI, the CDC recommends that all travelers are up-to-date on routine vaccinations that most of us had as children (measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine.

That said, we understand that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by his or her doctor, AQ does not supply medical advice. For this reason, we recommend that all families refer back to the expertise of the CDC from time to time (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic to gain the most up to date information.

Living in the moment

Though the fundamentals of our adventures don’t change, specific logistics evolve as we get closer to the summer and then day by day based on weather. The animated map along with the adventure overview portions on this page should give all families a basic understanding of the kinds of activities we do on the voyage. We also suggest looking through last summer’s Trip Logs for a more detailed travel log created by the students.

With this in mind, we encourage all participants to “live in the moment”. Traveling by boat requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take any bumps in your stride, and enjoy the adventure!