3 min walk to surf. Amazing ocean views, beautiful gardens, private and peaceful

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Entire home

Lounge about with patio doors open and views of the surrounding islands

Dine or relax on the patio, whilst enjoying the beautiful ocean views

Cocktail time on the patio, smell the ocean and hear the surf

Beautiful panoramic vistas from from upstairs living area

The gourmet kitchen is spacious with a wet bar and wonderfully casual dining

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5162.6 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Parking available

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Explore the area

Cooten Bay, Tortola

Cooten Bay
2 min walk
Anegada Island
5 min drive
Trunk Bay Beach
12 min drive
Road Town (RAD-Road Town Seaplane Base)
13 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Outdoor shower

Spaces

Kitchen

Dining

Living area

Exterior

About this property

Overlooking the spectacular ocean at the front of the villa and surrounded by tropical forest, the breathtaking 360 degree panorama and the lush vegetation around the property will immerse you in tropical mood. Totally obscured from the world, your privacy is ensured as you soak up the Caribbean sun and you enjoy the intimate luxuries of a villa designed to put you at peace with the world. Surfside is an indoor/outdoor type of house with the living area being upstairs to take advantage of the high ceilings, views and breezes. The doors and windows on the sea side fold back to the extent that the indoor area merges with the deep verandah. The bedroom doors also fold back on the sea side, where there is also a deep verandah, and most of our guests sleep with just the screen doors which enables them enjoy the open aspect of the house and wake up to the sounds of the ocean and birdsong. However, for those who prefer it, AC is available in both bedrooms.

Surfside Gardens is only a two minute walk to the Cooten Bay ruin, the pebble beach and the fabulous North Shore surf. A short surfboard paddle around the headland each side of Cooten Bay, a five minute drive or decent hike will take you to the delightful sandy beaches of Lava Flow to the West and Josiah's Bay to the East.

There are just eight owner-occupied bespoke and individually designed homes on the entire Cooten Bay hillside, each on approximately one acre of land, which guarantees a secluded secret retreat even though you are only a ten minute drive away from the capital Road Town. Surfside Gardens is the lowest property on the hill and the closest to the pebble beach and ocean as well as the Cooten Bay ruins dating back a couple of centuries!

To get the best out of your visit we strongly recommend that you hire a car, preferably a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The car hire company that we recommend will leave the car where you arrive, either at the ferry-dock or the airport and you can leave the car there when you depart, all at no extra charge. On your arrival, we will meet you at a convenient meeting point, like the supermarket and escort you to the property. Guests normally let us know in advance if there is any provisioning they will require us to provide for their first 24 hours. The following day we can swing by the villa to see that everything is OK and if there is anything we can help with. Our guests choose how much interaction they want with us during their stay and we can be at the villa in 15 minutes if needed.

The standby generator will kick in automatically if there is a power outage, so there's no need for guests to worry that they won't have power.

For further information and photos please see our website http://www.surfsidegardensbvi.com/

Property manager

Heather Chapman

Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Similar properties

Ocean view

Kitchen

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Outside and away from the house itself please.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

East End

Located in East End, this villa is by the ocean. While the natural beauty of Virgin Islands National Park and The Baths can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Tortola Cruise Ship Port. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.

Cooten Bay, Tortola

What's nearby

Anegada Island - 5 min drive
Tortola Cruise Ship Port - 10 min drive
Hodge's Creek Marina - 10 min drive
Trunk Bay Beach - 12 min drive
Josiah's Bay Beach - 18 min drive

Getting around

Tortola (EIS-Terrance B. Lettsome Intl.) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

‪Beans - ‬9 min drive
‪Botella - ‬10 min drive
‪Virgin Queen - ‬9 min drive
‪The Pub Fort Burt - ‬10 min drive
‪The Watering Hole - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 min walk to surf. Amazing ocean views, beautiful gardens, private and peaceful pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at 3 min walk to surf. Amazing ocean views, beautiful gardens, private and peaceful?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 3 min walk to surf. Amazing ocean views, beautiful gardens, private and peaceful?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 3 min walk to surf. Amazing ocean views, beautiful gardens, private and peaceful located?

Situated by the ocean, this villa is steps from Cooten Bay and within 3 mi (5 km) of Anegada Island and Trunk Bay Beach. Trunk Bay is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) away.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Andy W.

8 Mar 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

We had a blast at this property. It was a beautiful location. We enjoyed the perfect beach only a 5 minute drive away.

Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Arlean C.

3 Mar 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home Stunning View!!

Our stay was far too short, but, this is one of the prettiest homes we have stayed in! We loved the hike to the beach and exploring the ruins in the jungle below the home. Heather was extremely kind and helpful getting us checked in. If you plan to visit BVI make sure and stay in one of her homes !

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

stephen g.

13 Feb 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

GREAT!!!

Stayed 21 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Bob S.

31 Jan 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

10 days in paradise

We had a wonderful time. The location is perfect and the house is well equipped. Having our morning coffee on the deck, looking out over the beautiful ocean with all the sail boats going by was a great way to start the day. It was so peaceful there Thank you Heather for sharing your beautiful home

Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kelly C.

22 Jan 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Secluded Stay

The house location is even better than the pictures. You can stand on the porch and look left and right and see no houses. We loved the seclusion. Great location too! 15 minutes from road town with lots of food choices. You will need AWD and a some ground clearance to feel comfortable getting around.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Alison T., Canada

5 Jan 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring Hill cooten bay

Beautiful gem of a property located close to Rocky beach in a lush tropical paradise

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lisa C.

29 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Slice of Paradise

Surfside Gardens was everything the pictures and previous reviews said. We loved the ocean views, extensive beautiful landscaping, frog song in the evenings, ocean breezes, open air design of the house and sleeping to the sound of the surf. It was a delightful experience.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

10 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A gem!

Honestly, this place is pretty great. You can go to bed with a real, live waves sound machine. Also, you can have your coffee on the porch while watching surfers go after the waves. The views are incredible. The house is well-appointed, and with a quick stop at the store on the way to the house, you'll have everything you need. There is A/C, but we didn't really need it with fans. Highly recommend a jeep, and it's worth the switchbacks you'll take to get to the house. Basically, you are heading up to the center of the island from Road Town, and back down. Also, Heather was super helpful when we really needed it on top providing lots of information about the area. Can't wait to return!

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

David A.

3 Sept 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surfside Serinity

The beautiful scenery and home made for a wonderful stay. We rode out Dorian on our first day and Heather was incredibly attentive throughout the storm. The house is made with incredible care and craftsmanship which made it so hard to leave. We enjoyed every moment here and look forward to coming back soon.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

DavidandMolly T.

24 Aug 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Breathtaking!!

Surfside Gardens is a beautiful home with stunning views!! Our family enjoyed a restful stay at this lovely property after a bareboat charter around the islands. It was the perfect way to finish our two week vacation in the BVI. Heather was super helpful with meeting us and guiding us to the house which was well equipped with everything we needed. Lava Flow beach was super private and absolutely beautiful with crystal clear water, incredibly soft white sand and super close to the house. We hope to be able to return one day to this tranquil spot! Thanks for the hospitality!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Helga D.

14 June 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Getaway

The house was amazing and location was great. It was easy to get to the grocery store and there are great beaches a short drive away. Rent a jeep if you can as the drive is steep but well worth it. Heather was very helpful and attentive. Would definitely recommend and hope to be back soon.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie G.

8 June 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Wonderful!!

Everything about this home Is beautiful. We enjoyed hearing the sounds of the ocean and waking up to beautiful sunrises. We also loved being so close to such a beautiful beach to watch gorgeous sunsets. The owners were awesome to work with. They communicated very well to all of our texts through VRBO. The details of the home amazed us. We loved the beautiful flowers and all the thought that went in to building this spectacular home. We look forward to returning here again one day soon!!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sarah V.

13 Mar 2019

Incredible

This house is amazing! You feel like you are the only person on the hill. Walk down to the rocky beach right below the house, drive over to the sandy beach on the estate or simply sit on the patio and enjoy the breeze and the sound of the waves. Heather is by far the most responsive host I’ve ever had as well. Met us, made sure we got to the house, checked our grocery delivery and was available for anything and everything through our stay. If I were to go back to Tortola this would be the only place I’d stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Karen A.

4 Mar 2019

A quiet and lovely house with an absolutely stunning view!

Anyone who travels a lot and rents homes rather than staying in hotels knows the value of a good owner. It’s almost as important as the house. Heather is the best of the best when it comes to helpful and responsive owners. She was invaluable to us before and during our stay. As others have said, she met us, helped us grocery shop and led us to the house, even though we arrived hours late that night and she had dinner plans. She also helped us navigate problems with the rental car and other issues, but if we didn’t contact her, then she didn’t bother us and was not intrusive in any way. As far as the house, the pictures accurately represent what you get, with one exception. The view is way better!! It was one of the best views on the whole island. You see many more islands than the pictures show- pure eye candy! The bedrooms are a bit small, but you won’t want to spend much time there anyway. The outdoor shower is lovely, but the frogs think so too. Every morning and night we had to take a broom and get them off the shower head and walls before we showered. They liked the dampness too! The kitchen is well provisioned, and we used the grill and picnic table with the beautiful view. And we were provided with lots and lots of towels, so we didn’t have to do laundry every day- a nice plus. The island itself has made such good progress recovering from Irma. The beaches are beautiful and unspoiled for the most part. We especially enjoyed using the boogie boards at the house to play in the surf at Josiah’s Bay. I would highly recommend this house if you love the water, view and islands this part of the Caribbean is so noted for.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Stephen S.

19 Feb 2019

Absolutely amazing

Very few vacation rentals exceed expectations, but this house blew ours away. My fiance and I booked this house for our honeymoon. It is an amazing place with unique features and incredible views. Also, the Chapmans were amazing hosts. We will definitely be coming back ASAP.

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Douglas E., Cherry Hill, NJ USA

22 Dec 2018

Tropical Oasis!

Tucked away and secluded on the mountain side and overlooking Cooten Bay, Surfside Garden was the Oasis we were looking for to restore peaceful balance in our hectic lives. My wife and I arrived late in the evening on the island of Tortola. Our gracious host Heather, who helped us tremendously with suggestions and advice in planning our trip, met us in town and guided us to our home for the next 8 days. Heather went above and beyond from the detailed tour of the Villa to numerious suggestions to make our experience and time on the Island a memorable one. The Villas location, design, appointments, and amenities......all perfect! We awoke the following morning to view the property for the first time in daylight. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AND MEZMORIZING. The spectacular view from anywhere on the property was almost surreal. We couldn't stop saying "Wow" and "F#*n Amazing" for pretty much the remainder of our stay. We felt like we were living in a Tropical Paradise post-card. Our plans to eat out frequently fell short as we did not want to leave the Villa and it's inspiring beauty. It was an experience to cook in the Gourmet Kitchen that was incorporated into the open air concept design overlooking the waves crashing on the beach and mountainside below. And of course the outside grill offered another unique outdoor culinary experience. Getting around.... A little stressful driving and navigating the first few times out but eventually you get the hang of it. GPS and a detailed map a MUST? No road signs anywhere and the roads go from paved to gravel and back again. Definitely needed the Jeep or 4W/AWD to navigate adventurous excursions weather it was a trip to the grocery store or mountainside driving. Of all the beaches we were on, Rouge Bay, aka Lava Flow, is a must on your list. Only a 7 min drive on the Estate property roads, the Beach is secluded, pristine, picturesque and will have you be in total awe of nature once again. The waves are big and the undertow strong, so leisurely swimming is a challange. Back at the Villa.....Evenings were so incredibly relaxing. We would layout back or in the driveway looking up at the vast cosmos and catch glimpses of the frequent shooting stars. The sounds of the frogs, cicadas, and the constant low rumble of the oceans waves would place you into a trance. The Gardens and surrounding landscaping on the property were amazing! We would walk the winding pathways daily.Out of Characters. We loved it. See you soon

Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Navin R.

23 July 2018

Most perfect and private villa in the island of nature's little secret

We loved the Surfside villa and it's amazing view and nature all around. All amenities were provided for and where we needed anything sorted out Heather would immediately respond to us. We highly recommend this place if you are up for an adventure down to the beach or have just come over to relax and take in the serenity of BVI.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

18 July 2018

Nice Tropical rental

Beautiful View. Ocean Breeze through the House was great. If you love Birds and Butterflies, they are in abundance! Lots of detail to a tropical Landscape.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Joshua C.

11 June 2018

Beautiful place

Love how secluded the villa is. Awesome people to work with too.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Hung N.

4 May 2018

Will remember one of best places we have stayed in Virgin Islands

Love the view over the vast ocean from the deck whether it was sunny, stormy or under moonlight. The waves, the sounds, the breeze, the bird singing, the sails would not be forgotten in our memory. The location of the villa is perfect as it is at a central location. Heather was very responsive to all of our requests and needs. Will stay here again for the next visit when the island fully recover from Irma.

Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sara H.

16 Mar 2018

Spectacular Place!

The view from Surfside Gardens is truly spectacular. The decor is very tastefully arty and the whole place is well-appointed and well equipped. Heather is a wonderful, helpful and generous host, and we would recommend their homes to everyone and anyone. Thanks for all your help and the beautiful accommodations both before and after our charter!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

conrad t.

28 Feb 2018

As advertised!!

What a great way to kick-start our vacation! My wife and I stayed at Surfside Gardens for 3 spectacular nights to ease into our 10 day sailing trip... and ease in we did! The place matches the pictures in every way. The incredible privacy that Surfside Gardens provides is exactly what we were looking for... and yet Road Town was only a 10 minute drive if we needed to stock up or go out for dinner. Its a true "open air" layout, which made the privacy that much more special. The place is a gem and has all of the amenities of a premium vacation rental, blended with a feel of being "at home". It was just the 2 of us, however the place can comfortably accommodate another couple (or kids) as it has a 2nd bedroom with its own separate bathroom. Upon booking, the owner Heather graciously helped us with all of our logistics enquiries like ferry schedules from St Thomas, car rental, restaurant choices, and things to see and do on the island. She then met us on arrival - actually helped us with our grocery run - and then guided us to our place. A car rental is a must (but make sure is 4 wheel drive as you will need it to get to the house). It was truly a turnkey way to stay, relaxing from the minute you arrive. Even with a fabulous 10 day sailing adventure awaiting us, it was tough to leave after our 3 days were over. We highly recommend Surfside Gardens to anyone looking for, or accustomed to, premium accommodations. Although the place was in top shape after the hurricanes, the only improvement that we could suggest is to clean up and maintain the path from the house down to the pebble beach below. Luckily for us, we made a great friend Maya (a beautiful Weimaraner dog from a neighbouring home) who came over to show us the way down the path!!

10/10 Excellent

steven c.

30 Jan 2018

surfside gardens

an absolutely stunning setting and a really nice place to stay. the road in is frightening (all the roads on tortola are). the hike down to the beach was slightly daunting but worth it. ruins of a sugar cane plantation and two cannon laying around. gorgeous shells for the taking. the place was well equipped. the price was right.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

tom and heidy r., Long Island New York - New Orleans Louisiana

19 Jan 2018

Classy, Homey, Simple Beauty

What a gorgeous spot - while virtually every house on Tortola has a water view, few are as spectacular as this. The property is clean and well kept. We stayed just months after the devastation of Hurricane Irma, so we expected the worst, but were pleased, if not shocked, to see how well this property stood up. Yes, we had a generator to deal with during our stay (if you drove around Tortola in late '17, you would understand, as virtuously every power line was taken down by the storm), but if you want a place to wind down, this is perfect. It is isolated and quiet (and also quite beautiful).

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Laurie C.

29 July 2017

Fabulously crafted home with majestic views!

Wow! I could not have envisioned a more awe inspiring setting for some very much needed rest and relaxation along with spurts of adventure. We,along with our 20 year old and 16 year old sons, felt very comfortable and at home. After flying to St. Thomas and spending one night at the Windward Passage Hotel, we took the Roadtown Fast Ferry to Tortola. If you get sea sick, take your motion sickness medicine in advance of your departure. Our hostess, Heather, met us at the grocery store following our provisioning, and graciously led the way to her house upon our arrival. She gave us some key tips to making our stay pleasant. We loved the open air floor plan which permitted us to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the waves, frogs, and cicadas. We were awoken each morning by singing birds and a glorious sunrise. The absence of A/C added to the experience. We rented a Jeep through Dee Dee's Rentals which allowed us to drive without reservation. Watch out for goats, sheep, and cattle that walk along the winding roads.Greet all the folks you meet along the way with a smile and salutation. The evening breezes and picturesque views brought much serenity as we cooked evening meals in the kitchen or grilled in the garden. We had lunch out on most days. The Fish and Lime, Captain Mulligans, Scrub Island (which include a free ferry trip over), Pusser's Club at Frenchman's Cay, The Tamarind Club, and Sebastian's. We found the best service at Scrub Island and Pusser's. The most delicious food at the Fish and Lime and the Tamarind Club. We snorkeled a few times at Cooten Bay, the beach just below the house. We also enjoyed snorkeling Smugglers Cove and swimming at Lava Flow. Our sons dove on two occasions with Blue Water Divers out of Nanny Cay and had an exceptionally memorable experience. They dove the RMS Rhone and off Norman Island. One of my most memorable days was exploring the "jungle" around the house; climbing the path along the lingering waterfall and enjoying the ruins. Many snails, hermit crabs, lizards, and birds inhabit the forest. We love nature and the outdoors along with the finer things in life. Surfside Gardens at Cooten Bay and the island of Tortola fulfilled our expectations. Get ready for an experience of a lifetime! Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman.

Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2017

About the host

Hosted by Heather Chapman

I am a business consultant, principally serving cross border financial services clients. In 2014 my family and I took a year out to build our vacation villa at Cooten Bay in the British Virgin Islands.

Outside of work, family comes first and my boys, Tom, Ben and Joe respectively work in Property, Film and Finance. Heather, who I have been married to for 30 years, enjoys interior and garden design and making all of our lives run smoothly!

Additionally I spend time at Tortola Sports Club, where I play squash and I work on BVI Olympic Committee and Old Government House Museum matters as the Treasurer of both organisations.

Why they chose this property

The family saw the hillside where the villa is located when we first came to live in the British Virgin Islands in 1995. We decided that if development lots ever came on the market, we would build a dream villa here in Cooten Bay. That finally happened 19 years later in 2014.

What makes this property unique

The Chapman family, which is Mark (husband), Heather (wife), Tom, Ben and Joe (3 sons) have been involved with the Surfside Gardens dream from inception to the day our first guests arrived in late 2014. Every facet of the villa has been hand-picked, uniquely designed or tailor-made by one of the family members, from the chimney breast, to the 'jam'delier, to the indoor/outdoor stone spa bathroom, to the stone and tiled patios, to the panoramic windows, to the french doors, to the gourmet kitchen and even down to the surrounding lush vegetation. We collected stones, rocks and boulders from the property as we built it and fashioned them into pillars, walls, pathways. Both bathrooms are entirely constructed of stone, making for the most natural environment imaginable. For the four years preceding the build we nurtured a vast array of fruit trees, palms and shrubs, ready for the day in 2014 when we would landscape the property. We designed the villa for Caribbean living to take advantage of the the sea breezes and amazing views. The crystal clear ocean and pebble beach are just few meters from the front door and a beautiful unspoiled sandy beach, Rogues Bay aka Lava Flow is a couple of minutes drive without leaving the quiet estate road where Surfside is situated. At Lava Flow, you are likely to be the only visitors, it is most definitely one of 'natures little secrets'.