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The Aerial, BVI All-Inclusive Private Island

Buck Island, British Virgin Islands

5(126 reviews)

Family

The Aerial BVI is unlike any other resort in the Caribbean, which is both its most compelling attribute and the source of its mixed reviews. It is a private island off Tortola with room for just 32 guests at a time, built around adventure on the water and a wellness programme of breathwork, sound healing, guided meditation and a no-refined-sugar kitchen. If that sounds like exactly what you need, travelers who went say it delivers. If it sounds like a detox camp, the good news is that every session is optional: the resort pitches itself as "go all in or do absolutely nothing," and plenty of guests spend their days on paddleboards and seabobs rather than yoga mats. The views from the cliffside rooms and the saltwater infinity pool over the Sir Francis Drake Channel are the kind people talk about for years.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+A true private island with a hard cap of 32 guests across 16 individually named rooms, so it never feels like a resort crowd, and you can buy out the whole island with every room, boat and meal for a wedding or reunion
+Wellness runs deep without being compulsory: breathwork, sound bowl healing, guided meditation and guided stretching or yoga are part of the daily schedule, plus the Zen Vein frequency device in every room, and every session is optional
+Views from the hilltop and cliffside rooms are the real deal, with round beds under 360-degree stargazing decks, cliffside balconies, deep soaking tubs and private outdoor showers, and a saltwater infinity-edge pool looking over the Sir Francis Drake Channel
+The All-Inclusive rate genuinely covers the island day: chef-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, house wine, cocktails and mocktails, a snack menu between meals, scheduled activities, water sports and round-trip transfers from Tortola
+The kitchen gets real praise from travelers: no refined sugar or seed oils, produce picked that morning from the Island Farmacy garden, a menu shaped around your preferences before you land, and dinners that move between the hilltop, the beach and the pool deck
+Water toys are included on either rate, from clear-bottom kayaks, paddleboards and Hobie Cat sailing to seabobs and glow-in-the-dark night paddles
+Redemption Ranch is unlike anything else in the BVI: rescued horses, miniature horses and zebras you can ride, feed and swim alongside, with every booking supporting the resort's nonprofit (booked separately and paid on both rates)
+Families are better served than you would guess: a seasonal staff-led kids club, scavenger hunts, coral crafts, sailing lessons and movie nights keep children busy

Cons

−Read the rate carefully. Room & Breakfast covers your room, breakfast and island activities, but lunch, dinner, snacks and every drink are a la carte and airport transfers cost $150 per person; only the All-Inclusive rate bundles meals, house drinks and transfers
−Even on the All-Inclusive rate, spa treatments, Redemption Ranch experiences, premium and top-shelf drinks, off-island excursions and private activities all cost extra, and horseback riding has a minimum age of 16
−All rates are non-refundable: a 25% deposit is due at booking and the balance 30 days before arrival, with only a one-time date change allowed on 14 days' written notice
−The beach requires water shoes thanks to coral and rock entry, so this is not a soft-sand wade-in experience
−Meals are served at set times in one shared setting for the whole island, and the menu is a curated, provisioned-in-advance collection rather than an endless selection, which some guests find limiting
−The two teepees (Abundance and Mindfulness) are screened and have no air conditioning, only fans, which matters in the hot summer months
−With only 32 guests sharing meals and spaces, the social dynamic can feel forced if you do not click with the group, though your party can sit at its own end of the table

The practical experience starts with the rate you choose. Room & Breakfast gives you the room, breakfast, island activities and water sports, with lunch, dinner, snacks and every drink charged a la carte and transfers at $150 per person. The All-Inclusive rate adds chef-prepared lunch and dinner, house wine, cocktails and mocktails, a between-meals snack menu and round-trip transfers from Tortola. On either rate, spa treatments and the Redemption Ranch horse and zebra experiences are extra. The 16 rooms are spread across Unity, Faith and Serenity Houses, the Love and Grace villas, and two screened teepees without air conditioning. Wi-Fi is complimentary in rooms and on the beach, and beach entry is coral and rock, so pack water shoes. Meals rotate between settings such as the hilltop Higher Love deck, the beach and the pool, with the whole island sharing each sitting.

The Aerial suits travelers who want a small, intentional island stay with real adventure in it, from wellness-minded couples to families who will use the seasonal kids club and the ranch. It is not competing with Scrub Island or Oil Nut Bay for the sailing crowd, though the team can arrange captained day trips to The Baths, Jost Van Dyke and Norman Island at extra cost. For the deepest version of the wellness side, the resort runs a five-day HEAL retreat, next scheduled for May 18 to 22, 2027, at $12,500 for one person or $20,000 for a partner package. If you want classic BVI bar hopping as your whole trip, charter a catamaran instead. If you want to leave reset, the Aerial may be your place.

Common Questions

Is The Aerial BVI actually all-inclusive?

It can be. The resort sells two rates for the same rooms: Room & Breakfast, where lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks are a la carte and transfers cost $150 per person, and All-Inclusive, which covers all three meals, house wine, cocktails and mocktails, a snack menu, scheduled activities, water sports and round-trip transfers from Tortola. Spa treatments, Redemption Ranch experiences, premium drinks and off-island trips cost extra on both.

Is The Aerial BVI a good choice for a traditional Caribbean honeymoon?

That depends on what traditional means to you. If you want lazy pool days and easy soft-sand beach access, look elsewhere, because the beach is coral and rock. If you and your partner like yoga, healthy food and meaningful experiences, travelers say it is one of the most romantic places they have stayed, with rooms like Dream built around a round king bed under a stargazing deck. Wrong couple, wrong resort.

What is the food like at The Aerial?

Guests consistently say it is delicious even though it is health-focused. The kitchen uses no refined sugar or seed oils, pulls produce from its own island garden, and shapes your menu around your tastes before you arrive. The trade-off is a curated menu rather than endless choice, and meals served at set times with the whole island sharing each setting.

Is horseback riding included at The Aerial?

No. Redemption Ranch experiences, including the island ride, the zebra encounter and equine coaching, are booked separately and charged on both the Room & Breakfast and All-Inclusive rates, with each booking supporting the resort's animal rescue nonprofit. Horseback riding has a minimum age of 16, so younger kids are limited to feedings and meeting the animals.

Can you leave the island and explore the rest of the BVI?

Yes. The team arranges captained boat days to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, Anegada and the RMS Rhone wreck, but off-island excursions are not part of either rate. Most guests find the on-island activities fill their days, so the Aerial works better as a destination in itself than as a base for island-hopping.

How do I get to The Aerial BVI?

Fly into Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island, Tortola, which has a nonstop from Miami on American Airlines and connections through San Juan, Antigua and St. Thomas. From there it is about a 15-minute private boat ride to the island, included on the All-Inclusive rate and $150 per person on Room & Breakfast. Flying into St. Thomas is possible, but you arrange your own ferry or water taxi into the BVI first, and every traveler must complete the BVI online embarkation card before arrival.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
International & fusion	The No-Rules Wellness Kitchen

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

Cane Garden Bay
20 min drive · 9.4 mi

More things to do (24)

Anegada day trip · excursion13 min drive · 6.2 mi
Smuggler's Cove · beach30 min drive · 14 mi
Josiah's Bay Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.3 mi
Brandywine Bay Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.1 mi
Trellis Bay · beach11 min drive · 4.0 mi
Long Bay Beach (Beef Island) · beach11 min drive · 3.1 mi
Carrot Bay Beach · beach12 min drive · 4.9 mi
J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens · nature12 min drive · 5.6 mi
Village Cay Marina · marina12 min drive · 5.9 mi
Road Town · town12 min drive · 5.8 mi
The Baths, Virgin Gorda day trip · excursion13 min drive · 6.2 mi
Old Government House Museum · museum13 min drive · 6.5 mi
Mount Healthy Windmill · historic site15 min drive · 7.1 mi
Brewer's Bay · beach20 min drive · 7.8 mi
Lambert Beach · beach20 min drive · 2.5 mi
Sage Mountain National Park · nature20 min drive · 8.8 mi
Nanny Cay Marina · marina20 min drive · 10 mi
Norman Island and The Caves snorkel trip · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
RMS Rhone wreck snorkel and dive · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
Deep-sea fishing charter (North Drop) · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
Callwood Rum Distillery · historic site20 min drive · 9.7 mi
Long Bay Beach (West End) · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
Soper's Hole Marina · marina30 min drive · 14 mi
Jost Van Dyke and White Bay day trip · excursion30 min drive · 14 mi

Amenities

Hiking

Yoga Classes

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Show 1 more amenities

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

RomanticLuxury

Room upgrades

VillasBeachfront RoomsTeepees

Google Reviews★ 5 · 126 reviews

Andrew M.

2 weeks ago

“The Aerial is quite special and wonderful. We travel quite a bit (work and pleasure) and rarely have we come across a property with the blend of gorgeous setting, beautiful rooms and facilities, good and unique outdoor activities (a rescue ranch on p...”

Tayla S.

4 months ago

“Beautiful property, and amazing staff, that’s what really makes this place worth coming to!! Nicole and Patrice were amazing. Patrice is heaven sent, a true angel, if you get the time to even converse with her consider yourself lucky! Shane and Jason...”

Jason S.

5 months ago

“The Aerial on Buck Island is nothing short of paradise, but what truly sets it apart isn’t just its stunning views or luxurious setting, it’s the heart and soul poured into every detail by the people who work there. From the moment you arrive, the st...”