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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

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.
Great for
Surfing shortboardSurfing longboardAdvanced riders
What's great
  • 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.
Heads up
  • 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.
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Practical spot guide

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

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
25–30 °C
Water Temperature
24–31 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Dec: rash guard (sun/reef protection)board shorts for very warm water
Crowds by Season

Rarely crowded year-round; increases can occur when nearby iconic breaks are maxing out.

Storm/Rain Season

Hurricane season runs from June through November.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

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.

Point break
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.
Forecast

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.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

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
Ability Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Recommended Safety Gear
HelmetImpact vestLeashBoots

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.

Local Tips
  • 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
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
Restaurant
Bar
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).
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

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.