Great Harbour

Great Harbour looks like paradise: a fringe of white sand, coconut palms rising above the village, a beautiful old church, and unblemished green hillsides towering above it. Whether you arrive by ferry or private boat, your first real glimpse of Jost Van Dyke will probably be of Great Harbour. Get your camera ready.

Great Harbour’s main street is a sandy path that runs parallel to the beach. Fronting this are most of the town’s restaurants and bars, as well as the Jost Van Dyke Methodist Church and the island’s two-story Administration Building, where police, customs, immigration, and an island administrator have offices. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar is located on the far eastern end of the harbor.

The heart of Great Harbour proper lies on the narrow side roads that veer off from the main street and on Back Street, which runs parallel to Main Street at the back of the village. This is where you will find the school, library, shops, laundry, gas station, and other evidence that people actually do live on Jost Van Dyke.

As would be expected, there is no large-scale shopping on Jost, but its small boutiques can be fun to explore. In Great Harbour, try Wendell’s World (284/495-9969) for jewelry, crafts, and natural beauty products. Jost Van Dyke Watersports (284/495-0271, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) stocks snorkeling and diving equipment, as well as a small selection of gifts and books. The Ice House (8 a.m.–6 p.m.) on Back Street sells handmade Christmas ornaments, used paperbacks, and locally made jams, jellies, and salad dressings. The Foxhole (294/495-9258) at Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and its sister shop at Foxy’s Taboo at the East End sell T-shirts, gifts, and all sorts of Foxy-inspired items.