Since I'm still up.......I was reading some threads on the main forum.......this is advice on how to tour Tortola w/o a tour..........
<<Tortola is like my home away from home My husband and I charter a sailboat there and sail the BVI every year at least once! It is a little piece of heaven.
Whatever you do, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go with the rest of the folks to Cane Garden Bay when there are cruise ships in Road Town.
In general, you can get almost anywhere on Tortola for about $20/pp in a cab -- one way. That being said....if you skip all the taxis gathered at the dock and meander your way to the taxi stand by the Road Town ferry dock - just walk to your left, through the flea market as you get off the ship -- the ferry dock is across the street from Pusser's and there's a taxi stand right there.
I would recommend taking a taxi over to Trellis Bay for the day. Pack your beach bag, a towel, etc -- and head on over. Grab something to eat for breakfast at Da Loose Mongoose and hang out for a while -- there's also a free ferry service from Trellis over to Marina Cay -- which is GORGEOUS. Lovely beach, beautiful water, there's a Pusser's and a Pusser's Store on Marina Cay -- you can get yourself a painkiller (best rum drink in the universe) or 2 or 3...and just tell your taxi driver to meet you back at Trellis Bay in time to get you back to the ship.
You could also opt for heading over to Brewer's Bay for the day -- it's the beach right before you get to Cane Garden Bay -- also absolutely beautiful and might not be quite as crowded as Cane Garden -- there are limited places to park yourself as there is really only one beach bar so there's not a ton of beach chairs (if any) that might be available.
You could also opt for taking a taxi over to Long Bay Beach Resort if you wanted more of a "full service" atmosphere.
I would opt for a day at the beach any way you look at it on Tortola -- there are just too many beautiful ones! >>