Cooper Island

 

 Just about every beach resort these days brags of its private and secluded beaches. Yet another deserted island: walk for miles and see no one. Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard it all before.  In reality, much of this is a marketing gimmick dreamed up by some investor from the States hanging out in a hammock after too many Caribs. Having an all-inclusive resort pack lazy guests into a minivan for a touristy trip over to the other side of the island for the day just doesn’t cut it.  Cooper Island in the British Virgin Islands, on the other hand, has no such public relations team. Located on Manchioneel Bay on the northwest corner, only those lucky enough to stumble upon the tiny spit of land know of it. In fact, most discover the island’s existence only after a sailing trip from Tortola or while diving the sunken RMS Rhone nearby.  With no roads, no traffic, no telephone lines, and no cheesy day-trippers, the island smacks of authenticity.  The population is a grand total of nine people, give or take a few. The locals are made up of a family of three that runs the Cooper Island Beach Club, and a handful of staff. Oh, and let’s not forget about the numerous goats running wild along the island (which is about one and a half miles long, half a mile wide).  Nestled in a batch of palm trees on the beach are eleven guest rooms—all about fifty feet from the water’s edge. They are nothing fancy; think of rattan furniture and outdoor garden showers. However, the casual atmosphere is appropriate, as the activities on the island are mostly made up of snorkeling, walking, and reading. Sailing charters, kayaks, and windjammers can be arranged but that’s about the extent of the island’s festivities.  What Cooper Island does offer is attentive, but discrete service, allowing guests to create their own vacation; something few large-scale resorts can claim. The fully equipped SCUBA dive center, a seventeen-yearold beachfront restaurant (try the conch fritters), and unforgettable sunset views make the destination something you might want to consider keeping a secret.  Cooper Island Beach Club is not your typical Caribbean resort—it’s better.