Richard Branson’s Newest Private Island Escape Is Now Open — and We Got a First Look

A lazy river-style pool meandering through the estate, a 42-foot boat with a private captain, a staff to serve your every want or desire, fully stocked bars, and kitchens, a listening room with a vintage record player and 250 pieces of vinyl — this is just a taste of Cape Stout on Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands, which Travel + Leisure got a first look at last month.

After a harrowing set of canceled flights, I emerged from Beef Island’s Terrance B. Lettsome Airport to a sign with my name on it, as Callum McKendrick, the head of estate guest service, greeted me and unburdened me of my bags. We shuttled to the dock, where a sleek speedboat awaited to carry me to my island home for the weekend. A cotton candy-colored moke driven by estate manager Leah Wheeler deposited me at the stone path entrance to Cape Stout. The fledgling arbor of hot pink bougainvillea fragranced the air as the welcoming staff passed out colorful tiki mugs filled with fresh painkillers, the official cocktail of the British Virgin Islands.

Situated on the tip of billionaire playground Moskito Island, the seven-building estate delivers panoramic Insta-worthy sunset and sunrise views against craggy cliffs, cerulean water, and nutmeg sand.

“Richard Branson bought [it] in 2007 and sold plots selectively to create the estates,” Shaylene Todd Enlow, Moskito Island’s CEO, told T+L. “Managers, chefs, and mixologists serve as cruise directors, personalized to groups of guests. When guests arrive, all the thinking is done. Nobody worries about anything except shared adventures and experiences.”

A gentle breeze lifts the lush tropical foliage as I meander down the Ipe hardwood steps to HQ, the property’s social hub. Inflatable slices of orange, lime, and watermelon stack neatly beside the infinity pool, punctuated by a tiki bar that seems to hang in space over the cliff. Moody skies and churning seas are on full display through the wall-to-wall windows framing the indoor-outdoor space. Decorative screens allow tradewinds to blow freely throughout the building, providing a cooling respite from the tropical climate.

Everything feels richly textured as I wander around the communal gathering space: woven ceilings and chandeliers, delicately beaded placemats on the tables, fringed pillows in a kaleidoscope of colors from the surrounding landscape, hand-painted terracotta tiles line the kitchen backsplash (just one style of the over 100 varieties across the estate), and the centerpiece: a set of cabled nets for lounging, opening to the night sky. I lift a glass of champagne to the twinkling stars peeking through the clouds, toasting what promises to be an extraordinary weekend.

Here, my review of Cape Stout Estate, and how it’s adding to the narrative of personalized, ultra-luxe experiences on Moskito Island in the BVIs.

The Rooms

The estate’s seven suites offer a choose-your-own-adventure style of stay. Common elements include outdoor showers, fully stocked minibars, a selection of coffee and tea for the Smeg coffee maker, a Sonos speaker system, daily housekeeping, and stunning views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

I stayed in the Sand suite with panoramic views of ocean waves crashing on the secluded Honeymoon Beach below. The thoughtfully apportioned space afforded me a living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, blackout shades for rejuvenating sleep, soft mauve swivel armchairs, a trio of dusky green-blue accent tables that mirror the ocean outside, and a mustard-colored low profile sofa strewn with ivory boucle pillows. A vibrant abstract painting of a tropical drink with shades of aqua, raspberry, coral, and saffron anchors the living room. The partition to the king bedroom showcases intricate woodworking and leads to the loft with an additional sofa bed, making this ideal for families.

Next door, the Salt suite mirrors mine with a different color palate. Downstairs, the Surf suite offers the same king bed and luxe ensuite bathroom setup without the loft. Just a short path away, the Beach Barn is a hotspot for kids of all ages. The deluxe suite features two levels, three queen beds, and two double beds set up sleeper train-style. Outfitted with a sound system, TV, and PlayStation, the lounge area keeps the entertainment going. The romantic Clifftop and Nest suites feature private gardens, plunge pools, king beds, and full ensuite bathrooms with walk-in closets.

Cape Stout Estate can accommodate 24 guests and is available for exclusive buyouts only. During low season, the nightly rate for the entire estate checks in at $24,000. Rates fluctuate by season.

Food and Drink

Chef Dhani Inderpal greets guests every morning with a hot breakfast prepared to order. The scent of freshly brewed coffee pulled me from my slumber daily to HQ, where all the guests gathered for communal meals. An array of fresh fruit, moist carrot bread, croissants, overnight oats, and more populated the bar, while a menu of traditional breakfast items like pancakes and omelets was whipped up in the open kitchen. I let Chef Inderpal surprise me daily with his unique creations, from shakshouka to eggs Benedict to breakfast burritos. Fresh squeezed juices, coconut water, and inventive wellness shots — like the zippy turmeric on my last day — provided plenty of hydration.

Before we arrived on the island, the Cape Stout team called to discuss everything from dietary restrictions and menu options to how we wanted to spend our days. They built a draft itinerary, wine list, and menus that we customized so that when I arrived, my favorite wine was stocked in the cellar, and all the foods I loved were in rotation. Whatever we wanted, no matter how special the request, was available. Everything was thoughtfully prepared, and produce from the island’s gardens and fruit trees was incorporated, from breakfast to snacks to lunch to dinner.

Activities and Amenities

It’s hard to encapsulate the depth of offerings here because if you dream it, they make it happen.

There are billiards, cornhole setups, multiple hot tubs, and a listening lounge equipped with 250 records. And coming for next season: a games pavilion overlooking the waterfront with pool table, darts, and more. A full gym with Peloton equipment, free weights, and yoga gear complements the many watersport options, including the 42-foot power boat that comfortably fits 12 persons and three crew, perfect for exploring the famed North Sound and beyond.

Everything is included, but you can add fire dancing demonstrations, DJ dance parties, private spa treatments, scuba diving, cooking classes, and more. Wheeler arranged a trip with Sunchaser Scuba for the weekend. After a 7:45 a.m. departure, we motored out to Sharkplaneo to explore some plane wrecks. Then we hit the motherload at the Kodiak Queen, a Pearl Harbor survivor with an intact structure that held an indoor jungle gym of attractions and swim-throughs with lots of marine life, including a 6-foot nurse shark waiting at the exit.

Guests can also book complimentary time at the Beach House, a communal space for all the estates that features grass tennis courts, hiking trails, pools, an equipped gym, a watersports center, and plenty of entertaining space.

Family-friendly Offerings

Beyond the incredible luxury, a cornucopia of offerings will keep multi-generational travelers returning for more. The network of terraces, gardens, pavilions, and paths provides intimate spaces for couples to enjoy sunsets, expansive tables for everyone to gather around a shared meal, a variety of pools of varying depths for plunging or floating, courtyards filled with outdoor games, and beaches stocked with watersport vehicles like e-foils, paddleboards, water skis, and more.

A half-basketball court does double duty as an outdoor movie theatre with stadium seating. The canal pool is the crown jewel for family fun — many hours will be spent floating down the lazy river-style pool. Baskets of bug spray, sunscreen, and luxe pool towels are sprinkled throughout, a few less things to pack.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Cape Stout does not offer any ADA-compliant rooms, but other resorts on Moskito Island have flat, ground-level pathing and elevators.

On the sustainability front, Cape Stout and Moskito Island, as a whole, check many boxes. The water supply is completely self-made on the island. All rooms, bars, and restaurants utilize glass servingware. A glass bottling plant is on the horizon. In the meantime, they have a glass crusher to recycle all those bottles, a cardboard recycling program, and each bar stocks biodegradable seaweed straws, a step further than those paper straws that disintegrate in your drink. They also have multiple gardens that seed the chef’s offerings, including a stone path through a corridor of grapefruit, orange, avocado, soursop, and statuesque coconut trees laden with fruit.

Location

Most guests fly into Beef Island’s Terrance B. Lettsome Airport and board the Moskito Island shuttle to the dock (included in booking cost), a speedy two-minute drive. From there, a speedboat takes you directly to Moskito Island, about 30 minutes away. Guests also have the option of paying to arrive by helicopter. The Caribbean Buzz helicopter service operates between the BVI, USVI, and San Juan and can take up to eight passengers.

A direct flight on American Airlines from Miami is new to the mix. Rather than transferring to one of the Caribbean airlines at locations like San Juan or St. Maarten, travelers from the U.S. can enjoy uninterrupted air travel straight to the Moskito Island shuttle at EIS. Once on Moskito Island, a fleet of mokes chauffeured by each estate’s staff carry guests anywhere they need to go.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

As an independent, all-inclusive property, value is found more in the time you book than in rewards programs. Low season is August through October and offers the best value, but that is also squarely within hurricane season, so unpredictable weather is the added cost. Mid-season, May through July, offers savings as well.