The Only Nature Sanctuary with a Cocktail Hour
Our perennial focus on nature and conservation is evident the moment you approach the Island from the sea, since 99% of our 850 acres remain undeveloped and undisturbed. From the time the Island’s boutique hotel was established in 1934, building has been kept to a small envelope on the ridge overlooking the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
“Guana may have more flora and fauna than any island of its size in the world.”
— Dr. James Lazell
As part of the Guana Science Program, the Island has hosted hundreds of academic and scientific non-profit researchers, drawn to its unparalleled diversity and history.
The Program has successfully reintroduced once-common native species such as the Stout Rock Iguana (from eight adult iguanas introduced in 1983 to over 300 today), Caribbean Roseate Flamingo, Red-legged Tortoise, Bridled Quail Dove, and White-Crowned Pigeon. Plants like the Virgin Islands Euphorb and Hohenberg’s Ground Bromeliad have also been nurtured and studied. Dozen of previously undiscovered species of insects, plants, and sea life — including shrimp and mollusks, such as the “Guana Land Snail,” have been found here.
To study the unique characteristics of Guana’s marine life, The Marine Science Program was launched in 1992 and is now one of the Caribbean’s most comprehensive programs for monitoring coral reef conditions, replanting hundreds of fragments of Elkhorn coral, ensuring that Guana’s three distinct reef areas will remain home to over 125 species of fish and other marine life.
land conservation
The perennial focus on conservation is evident the moment you approach the Island from the sea, since 99% of the Island’s 850 acres remain undeveloped and undisturbed. From the time the Island’s boutique hotel was established in 1934, building has been kept to a small envelope on the ridge overlooking the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
Supporting the bvi community
To support the BVI community, the Island has dedicated a substantial portion of its revenue over the years to local organizations including the Youth Empowerment Project, the first and largest facility in the BVI devoted to teaching and providing opportunity for young BVIslanders. Guests are invited to visit the YEP facility in Tortola and see their support in action.
