Necker Island, Moskito Island & the BVI’s Celebrity Islands

Every so often, a guest on our North Sound run leans over the console and points at a low green island in the distance and asks if that’s “the Branson place.” It usually is. Two of the most talked-about private islands in the Caribbean sit right at the edge of BVI waters, close enough to Virgin Gorda that a normal charter route passes within sight of both — and close enough that we get asked about them on nearly every North Sound trip we run.

Part of the BVI’s reputation, alongside the sailing and the snorkeling, is that a certain amount of very quiet, very expensive real estate is tucked into its islands — private compounds accessible only by boat or helicopter, owned by people who value exactly that kind of isolation. Necker and Moskito are the best-known examples, but they’re really just the most visible version of a pattern you’ll notice all over the territory once you start looking for it.

We want to be upfront about what this guide is and isn’t. Necker Island and Moskito Island are private property. You cannot dock, land, or wander the grounds without being an invited or paying guest of the resort operations there, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise or suggest a workaround. What we can do is show you where they sit, what you can actually see from the water, and how to work a pass-by into a day that’s really built around the parts of North Sound anyone can enjoy.

Necker Island: Richard Branson’s Original BVI Retreat

Necker Island has been owned by Sir Richard Branson since the early 1980s and operates today as an ultra-high-end private resort — the kind of place that gets booked out entirely for a single group, sleeping up to several dozen guests across a main house and a scattering of individual villas. From the water, it reads as a green, hilly silhouette with white rooftops visible through the palms, ringed by the kind of reef-fringed water you’d expect from a property that’s had decades of careful upkeep. It sits just off Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, which puts it on the natural route for anyone chartering up toward Bitter End or Gun Creek.

You won’t get close enough to see much detail without an invitation — and you shouldn’t try — but a distant pass gives you the same view most sailing charters photograph from the deck: a private island that looks exactly as exclusive as its reputation suggests.

Moskito Island: The Quieter Second Branson Property

A short boat ride from Necker sits Moskito Island, Branson’s second private island holding in the territory. Where Necker operates as a single bookable resort, Moskito is split into several distinct estates — separately bookable villas with their own staff and grounds, connected by shared island amenities for groups that want some separation without losing the resort infrastructure. It’s the less photographed of the two from a distance, partly because its development sits further back from the most-traveled anchorages, but you’ll still catch glimpses of rooftops and terraced landscaping from a boat working the channel between Necker and Virgin Gorda’s northern tip.

What You Can Actually Do From a Charter

The realistic version of “visiting” these islands, for almost everyone reading this, is seeing them from open water as part of a bigger North Sound day. That’s not a consolation prize — the surrounding water is some of the most scenic in the territory regardless of who owns the shoreline. A typical route looks like:

• Anchor or slow-cruise near North Sound for the best sightlines toward both islands, weather and traffic permitting.
• Continue on to Bitter End Yacht Club for lunch or a drink at the bar — a working part of North Sound that welcomes charter guests, unlike the private islands nearby. We cover the full North Sound route in our Bitter End & North Sound guide.
• Pair it with the Baths earlier in the day, since Virgin Gorda’s most famous rock formations sit on the same island and fit naturally into the same run. See our Baths guide for timing tips.
• Add Spring Bay or Devil’s Bay if you want a quieter beach stop that isn’t the Baths’ main crowd — details in our Spring Bay & Devil’s Bay guide.

None of this requires anything special from us — it’s a normal North Sound itinerary that happens to pass two of the most famous private addresses in the Caribbean along the way.

Etiquette Around Private Water

A word on how to actually behave once you’re out there, because it matters more than people expect. Private doesn’t just mean the land — the moorings and near-shore water around resort properties like these are typically reserved for the resort’s own boats and guests, not open anchorages for passing charters. A respectful pass means staying in open water, keeping your distance from any marked or private moorings, and not treating the shoreline like a photo backdrop to circle repeatedly. Most captains who run this route regularly develop a feel for how close is close enough — it’s one of the small local-knowledge things that’s harder to get right on a bareboat charter than with a crew who does the run often. The BVI Tourism Board has more on how protected areas and private moorings are managed across the territory if you want the full picture.

It’s also worth setting expectations before you go: this isn’t a wildlife-safari-style guarantee of a dramatic view. Depending on route, weather, and where exactly you’re anchored for lunch, you might get a long clear look at both islands or just a glimpse between headlands. Treat it as a nice bonus on top of a North Sound day that’s worth doing anyway, not the main reason to book the trip.

Other Boat-Only Views Worth Knowing About

Necker and Moskito aren’t the only private shoreline in the territory, just the most famous. Parts of Guana Island and sections of Peter Island operate as private or resort-controlled land as well, and North Sound in particular has become something of a corridor for exactly this kind of “look but don’t land” scenery. If your group is drawn to this side of BVI charter life — the celebrity-island curiosity as much as the beaches — building a North Sound-heavy route rather than a west-end route makes sense from the start. It’s worth mentioning to us when you book so we can weight the day’s stops accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a tour that lands on Necker Island or Moskito Island?
No, not through a general charter. Both operate as private resort properties, and access is limited to paying or invited guests of those specific operations.

How close can a charter boat get to Necker Island?
Charters keep a respectful distance from the private shoreline and any marked moorings or restricted zones. You’ll get clear views from open water without approaching the property itself.

Is Richard Branson often on Necker Island?
The island operates as a private resort that’s sometimes booked exclusively and sometimes open for individual room bookings; ownership doesn’t mean constant residence, and we have no way of knowing who’s on-property on a given day.

What’s the best charter stop near Necker and Moskito that I can actually visit?
Bitter End Yacht Club is the standout — a working marina, restaurant, and bar in North Sound that welcomes charter guests and sits close to both private islands.

Is North Sound worth a full day, or just a quick pass-by?
It’s worth building a real stop around, not just a drive-by. Between the Baths, Spring Bay, and Bitter End, there’s enough on the public side of North Sound to fill a full day before you even factor in the private-island views.

Are there other private islands in the BVI besides Necker and Moskito?
Yes — parts of Guana Island and Peter Island also operate under private or resort control, though Necker and Moskito draw the most attention because of their ownership history.

Do I need to book a specific “Necker Island tour” to see it from the water?
No. Any charter that routes through North Sound as part of a normal Virgin Gorda day will naturally pass within view — there’s no special add-on required.

If a North Sound day with a pass by Necker and Moskito sounds like your kind of trip, take a look at our charter options or reach out through our contact page and we’ll build the route around it.