The Baths is in the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda. If you've never been there and are planning a trip to the USVI, I'd recommend you take advantage of your close proximity to The Baths/BVI and go. You can charter sail or go via ferry - lots of detailed posts on transport, logisitics, passport requirements, etc.

http://www.thebathsbvi.com/map.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Gorda

you def should visit the baths.....totally worth the trip and just so beautifully amazing! We took the ferry ride over and it was really simple!

We have found that if you do an excurtion most of the captains will guide you through the Baths
This would be better for a first timer because without a guide you will never find alot of those hidden rooms that the guides know about
We went on "Stormy Petrel / Pirate Penny
We had the best time
We felt like we were in a survivor challange

Just a thought, however alot of people do go into it alone and had an amazing time

Go Bucs

We went on Stormy Petrel/Pirate Penny as well and had a blast. Great crew, clean boat not overcrowded as they only allow 12 passengers on. Were going with them again in July.

I am one of the "go it alone" Baths explorers. I'd prefer not to have a guide, even if it were my first time. As gobucs said so well, everyone will enjoy it differently.

I have not used a guide, but I imagine that the guide might not let me linger long enough where I want to (or I'd feel pressure to keep moving along with my group). I'd say that to really experience and explore, you need at least 1.5hrs or more inside the Baths. I could probably spend 2 hrs inside, easily.

I like to check out every little tunnel, go around every corner and see what's there, climb over everything to see what's on the other side, etc.

The great thing about the Baths is that no matter how many times you visit, it's always different. The tides and time of year will make it a different place. A room that is full of water on one visit will have a sandy floor on another. A flat, calm bath of water on one visit will be a churning, treacherous whirlpool on another. This is what makes it so amazing.

Use caution, take your time, open your imagination as far as you can....and explore. There's nothing like it. Do not miss the Baths, whatever you do.

I have a question about the Baths. I am a large guy 6'7" 400 lbs will I have trouble going into the different rooms, or is the space large enough for my fat butt to fit?

There was a large guy in our group when I went to the Baths about a month ago. He was 6'8" and weighed about 350 lbs. He had no trouble navigating the same rock formations and trails as the rest of the group.

Beer....we went to the baths last month. The biggest guy with us is about 5'10", 200....he had no problems, even though he has a beer belly.

I think it depends on how much you want to explore and how nimble you are. There's one area that I'm thinking of (main trail) where you climb a flight of wooden "stairs" and then crouch down to get through an "A" shaped hole...and then you descend on the other side...on another flight of stairs.

You cannot stand up, or you'll hit your head. Some people find it easier to crawl through, rather than crouch and shuffle. Not sure how well you would maneuer that one. You can probably find an alternate path that is easier.

Also, I've found some "rooms" where I had to swim in when the tide is up. In one particular case, I could see in through a thin "A" shaped crack, but couldn't fit through (I'm an average sized woman). I had to put on a mask and swim in through the wide part of the crack, which was underwater. I recall it being just large enough for me to get through. You wouldn't have made it through that one, for sure. There may have been another entrance somewhere...I can't recall.

There are several different ways to make your way through. You should be able to see and explore at least 70% of it.

Connie, a guy who is 5'10 and 200 seems rather average to me...not at all in the large category, IMO. 🙂

lol...blue...he is average, but he's got that belly. I had a problem where you talking about the steps. I'm average too, but i hit my back on the rock.....

The part i don't like about the baths are those rops you have to pull yourself up on. My feet, even though I wear water shoes, feel like they're slipping.

Connie, yep..THAT rock...I know what you mean.....the one that protrudes down from above (like a dagger) when you go through the A shaped hole. I saw a guy really crack his head on that rock when we went through in February.

When I was a child, we used to go to the Baths and there was no rope and no stairs. You had to actually climb up the rocks. It's much better now. That boulder with the rope is slippery.