Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) are an exposed point-break surfing destination on Tortola’s north coast, with waves best when a North swell meets offshore east-southeast trade winds. The result is typically clean, groomed conditions and an energetic, reef-based setup that can deliver long rides when the swell is in. Most reports describe notable hazards tied to the reef and the rocky point: rocks, coral/reef sections, sea urchins, jellyfish, and sharks are all cited. Fire coral is also specifically mentioned as a concern. Because the spot is exposed and the entry/launch involves navigating sharp rocks and shallow reef sections, intermediate-to-advanced surfers are the ones most likely to handle the situation comfortably. Wind reliability is strongest in winter trade-wind months, with November highlighted as a best month in spot guidance. Typical winter setups are discussed with a relatively steady wind regime (offshore for this break) and a focus on North swells. Some conditions also mention that high hills behind the bay can create local shelter from easterly flow, which may slightly affect grooming. Access is described along the north shore with limited roadside parking, and there’s no lifeguard presence reported. For emergency planning, hospital access in Road Town and territory-wide search and rescue coverage are noted—however, the practical takeaway is to surf with good local awareness, respect reef hazards, and consider safer timing (mid to high tide) when trying to reduce the time spent over the shallowest reef sections.
- Exposed point break with offshore east-southeast trade winds for clean conditions.
- Winter North swells are emphasized for long, performance rides.
- Rarely crowded surfing environment with experienced local presence.
- Offshore east-southeast trade winds create generally clean, groomed conditions.
- Winter North swell window can produce long, performance rides with good wave power.
- Rarely crowded, with a more local/low-key feel than some nearby famous breaks.
- Exposed rocky/reef entry with sharp hazards.
- No lifeguards reported; rescue is via local emergency services/volunteer response.
- Strong rip currents can form on larger winter swells.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- ESE, SE, E
- Offshore directions
- ESE, E
- Wind Range
- 15–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Easterly to east-southeast trade winds (offshore for this point break).
- Reliability
- High during winter trade wind months.
- Gust Factor
- Steady — No strong gustiness indicated for the peak winter trade-wind months.
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- High hills behind the bay can provide some shelter from easterly winds, which may help groom waves.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean, Mixed
- Beach
- Mixed — Mixed beach composition reported; rocky/reef nature at the break is emphasized.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Small to medium wave size reported across sources; reef point break can look small when conditions are limited and build on winter North swells.
- Launch
- Medium — Launch involves navigating around sharp rocks and coral heads at the water's edge.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Difficult entry/launch due to sharp rocks and coral heads near the water’s edge.
Through the year
Rarely crowded year-round; increases can occur when nearby iconic breaks are maxing out.
Hurricane season runs from June through November.
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed point break on Tortola’s north coast with a rocky reef bottom. Best with North swells and offshore east-southeast trade winds for clean left and right options; the setup varies by swell and tide.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N
- Swell Height
- 1–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, All tides — Mid tide commonly preferred; mid to high tide may help avoid the shallowest reef sections.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed point setup; not sheltered from prevailing conditions.
- Wind Effect
- East-southeast winds are offshore, creating clean, groomed conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles large swells well, but becomes significantly more challenging with strong currents.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality reported when the swell/wind combination lines up.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Reported as powerful on good North swells.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Typically peels.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Medium peel speed reported.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long rides reported; can exceed 100–150 meters on good North swells.
- Ride Length Details
- Left and right-hand rides reported; right-handers emphasized with a reef/point setup. Can reach 100–150 meters on strong North swells.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) in the full forecast view.
Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 9–16 ktsGusts 20 kts
- Direction
- ESE116°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2416 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–0.7 m4s period
- Temperature
- 28–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) is forecast for daytime winds of 9–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 0.3–0.7 m with a period of about 4s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Reef
- Sea urchins
- Jellyfish
- Sharks
- Fire coral
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Yes — VISAR is a dedicated volunteer lifeboat service providing 24/7 emergency response across the territory’s waters.
- Emergency Info
- Dr. Orlando Smith Hospital is located in Road Town (about 15–20 minutes away). General emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance is 999 or 911. VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue) provides 24/7 emergency response across territory waters.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism level reported as none at this spot, with friendly but respectful culture.
Rules of the spot
Respect local surfers; they are friendly but need to be respected. Standard surf etiquette applies.
- Conditions favor offshore flow and North swell combinations; this spot is exposed so ride only when you’re confident in the entry.
- Be cautious around underwater hazards including rocks, reef, and urchins.
- Sharks are present but reported risk is low; still keep awareness and avoid swimming when you’re not surfing.
- Sunburn is a minor threat due to warm, bright conditions.
- Better sessions are often at mid to high tide to reduce time spent in the shallowest reef sections.
- The walk to the point can be rocky; some surfers prefer wearing reef booties.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Road Town
- Nearest Town
- Carrot Bay
- Nearest Airport
- Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island (about 15–25 minutes from most spots by bridge connection)
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking available along the bay.
- Public Transport
- Limited service; car or scooter rentals are the standard way to reach coastal bays
- Access
- Accessible via the main coastal road on the north shore of Tortola; limited roadside parking available along the bay.
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Several guesthouses and villas are available in Carrot Bay and nearby Apple Bay.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and bars are located directly in Carrot Bay village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are widely available in Road Town and Nanny Cay for surfing, paddleboarding, and foiling gear; limited surf rentals may be available in neighboring Apple Bay.
- Gear Storage
- Storage is primarily provided through local watersports centers and specialized sailing marinas (regionally reported).
- Gear Repair
- Basic repair services available through local maritime/yachting industry (regionally reported).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola)?
The best overall months at Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) are November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola)?
Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) works with ESE, SE, E winds. Offshore directions are ESE, E.
What skill level is Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) suitable for?
Great and Little Carrot Bays (Tortola) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.