Private Art & Culture Tour In Tortola Virgin Islands

Karl gave us a wonderful tour of the island. We went to an art gallery of a local native with pictures depicted how the country has changed over the at the years and his herbal garden. We also visited his pottery studio and he gave us a presentation. Last we were giving a driving tour of Road Town, stop for sovereigns and a couple nice scenic views for Also as time alotted being ahead of schedule, we made an additional pitstop at the grocery store as we needed some items for the resort we were staying. Recommend his tour

We had an amazing island tour with Karl on the way to an artist’s gallery, Reuben & Olive Vanderpool’s Jenesis Studios & Tropical Fruit & Herb Garden— what a treat! Rueben was so very kind and generous with some of his growing up stories, we also had a taste of a Custard Apple. Then we drove to Karl’s Pottery Studio, where it took me back to High School throwing a pot on a potters wheel with Karl’s guidance. While I didn’t choose to save and ship mine home, I chose instead to purchase a keepsake from his gallery which was close to shopping & cruise port. Well done Karl & Rueben, we so enjoyed our time with you both! Also shout out to Karl’s beautiful and gracious Mother we met in the Gallery!

Karl was an excellent tour guide. He drove us around the island showing us historic areas and breathtaking views. We toured a local artist’s studio and learned a lot about the culture of the island through his artwork. Additionally, we saw many varieties of plants and learned about the medicinal properties of each. We enjoyed smelling and tasting samples of the plants. Then Karl showed us his art studio and demonstrated his amazing skills on the potter’s wheel.

November 9, 2025 we did an excursion with him. He drove us around town site seeing and pointing out lots of historical sites and buildings. then we made pottery up at his pottery gallery/garden very beautiful property, he is very friendly host very patient and helps you make your pottery by giving you advice if needed. We had two very friendly puppy dogs on site. Highly recommend doing an excursion with him. then he showed us wild flamingos on the way back to the cruise ship. We also stopped at his store in town. no pressure to buy, just to show us things. Highly highly highly recommend using him. His van was very clean cold AC. and he’s also a very good driver up and down through the mountains. He will glaze and ship your masterpiece back to you for a small fee

We stopped in Tortola on a cruise and wanted to do something other than going to a beach or following the crowd. This tour was OUTSTANDING!!!! Karl is a very personable young man. As we drove around the island he told us of its history. We stopped at Jenesis Studios, met the Vanterpools and toured their garden. Then we stopped at Karl's Pottery Garden and he had me sitting at the potter's wheel making a vase. Lunch at a beachside restaurant, then tour the island on the way back to the ship. If you are looking for a different, fun and memorable experience in Tortola, this is it!!

Great experience! Karl was a great tour guide explaining the history of Tortola and demonstrating pottery making at his studio. Highly recommend!

Karl is a conscientious tour guide -he shared lots of information about Road Town and our visit at the museum and gardens ( with their gracious owners) provided a glimpse into the virgin island culture of the 50s and 60s. The pottery studio time is special -Karl provided a clear explanation and demonstration of differences in earthenware, stoneware and porcelain and then demonstrations on the wheel about how to shape clay. A highlight was the chance to shape a pot for future glazing and shipping to our home. I would highly recommend you consider this tour option -we learned a lot and enjoyed his hospitality and pride in his craft and the islands.

We did the art and culture tour when we were in Tortola on a cruise ship stop. Karl was a great guide - loved the art work and garden at the Vanderpool’s studio and home. We enjoyed visiting his studio and learning how to use the pottery wheel — we are having our creations sent to us once they are painted and fired - can’t wait for the finished products to arrive— if you have a stop or are staying in Tortola I highly recommend this tour!!

Taking this as a private tour enhanced the experience. Karl combined a tour of the island with a terrific pottery experience.

If you get tired of just going to beaches, this tour is perfect. Karl was a spectacular driver and tour guide. He is highly knowledgeable about the history and culture of this region and gave us a real sense of how people live here. We visited a museum-garden where we saw art and objects which depict how life was during the plantation age and immediately after. We also saw a curated garden which exhibited various plants and their practical uses. Also we had a chance to see spectacular vistas of the island and then visited Karl’s pottery workshop. He is a master pottery artist. All in all it was a great experience and I would. Highly recommend it.

Karl is an excellent tour guide and true clay “sculpting” guru! Our visit with Rueben and Olivia was delightfully educational and very interesting learning BVI culture, history, art and agriculture. Then, then sight seeing tour thru the island (with a flamingo 🦩 😀) finishing up with a clay turning lesson at Karl’s studio. My new wife was a natural! This tour was a fabulous day well spent!

The experience with Karl as a whole was great. Karl has a great love of art and pottery and his vibe was pleasant. He took me to the art history of Reuben Vanterpool which had brilliant oil on canvas art showcasing life on the Island as he grew up. Then I went to Karl’s pottery garden to learn about his pottery career and to make a piece myself. It made for a beautiful birthday experience!

Karl Burnett picked us up on time at our resort in a recent model air conditioned van. He is courteous and a careful driver so we immediately felt in good hands. Started off by visiting the Pottery Garden Studio and Gallery and was amazed at the many beautiful pots and sculptures that he and his students have created! The time flew by learning about clay and ceramics and trying our hand. He has 4 pottery wheels, one huge wood fire kiln, a small gas kiln and an electric kiln. We purchased some of his mugs. The grounds are a lovely shaded area to bring a picnic lunch and only a few minutes away from a terrific swimming beach with surfing instruction. We wanted to explore the island and drove the ridge road with many beautiful vistas to the Rum Distillery at Cane Garden Bay for a fun and inexpensive visit with rum tasting! Next was a tiny local sea shell museum all the while Karl tells us about the island history and a few his experiences growing up in a large extended family. We stopped frequently for photographs and to check out local Caribbean food take aways. We felt connected and learned lots from this young professional local tour guide. Highly recommend Karl for your tour of Tortola!

The entire existence was Excellent! From the history shared while driving, to meeting the Vanderpools and seeing their incredible dioramas of life on Tortola, to the beautiful artwork, to their garden that is truly a labor of love... and then having Karl share with us his passion of pottery and getting the opportunity to get our own hands messy in the pottery wheel... a truly special and blessed day!

The visit to the artist's studio and garden was pretty cool, but being able to create our own pottery items in the pottery studio was a GREAT experience!

We had the best time! Thoroughly enjoyed meeting the artist of the beautiful murals along the roadside. He and his wife were lovely. My daughter really enjoyed growing the clay and making a vase.

Karl was an amazing host, and a very kind person. He has a great love for Tortola, and took great pride in sharing the story of the island. His artist studio and campus is serene, and his focus on teaching in a calm and patient manner kept my children interested in the session and in helping each other during their time at the pottery wheel. The visit to other artists, the stop at the beach, and the chance to see some native wildlife was a really special trip for our family.

This tour with Karl was fantastic! I would HIGHLY recommend. It started off with a driving tour around parts of Road Town and surrounding areas. Karl knows a lot about the history and we enjoyed his commentary. Then we stopped at Mr. Vanterpool's studio. We LOVED learning from him and touring his studio and garden. Mrs. Vanterpool is also great. She made us gooseberry juice and let us try fresh sugarcane, which were both new for us. Yum! Then we drove along Ridge Road and got to see the famous murals. Next we were off to Karl's pottery studio. It was so fun to watch him throw pottery on his wheel. He also showed us around his garden and gallery. Next we got to see flamingos at Josiah's Bay Pond. So cool! Then a quick stop at Josiah's Bay to watch the turquoise waves breaking. Karl got us back to the port right on time. The tour lasted for 4 hours, but we loved it so much we wished we could've stayed longer. But, alas, our cruise ship was heading out. Would love to come back to Tortola!

Karl was an AWESOME ambassador for his island ! Great tour / thanks for the experience my friend !!!

Book this tour! Karl is a wonderful guide and so generous in sharing his knowledge. We learned so much and enjoyed every minute of our time!

The pottery experience was great. Karl was patient with us. We always wanted to try making pottery and there is no better place to try than the BVI. Karl was informative and heightened our interest in continuing after we return home. He is preparing our pieces and sending them to us. We can’t wait to see them. Highly recommend. Karl is also very knowledgeable about Tortola - learned a lot as we drove around.

This was a fantastic and personalized tour. The owner of the Pottery Garden was very communicative even when I hadn’t returned his message until after 10 PM the night before. He was on time, informative, friendly, and helpful as we navigated around the island. I met his wife at the studio and they were both very warm and inviting, teaching the ins and outs of pottery making as well as showing me around their garden and many fruit trees. I had such a good lesson I was able to successfully create my first clay pot on a wheel and for a small charge they offered to fire it and ship it back to the States for me directly!! I also purchased a handmade clay water whistle from their gallery which sounds magical like birds chirping! We then went to see Mr. Vanderpool at his museum and gallery for a deep dive into the Tortola before tourism. I got intimate, first hand accounts of his life growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, saw his amazing paintings, and toured his extensive garden of local and interesting plants and trees. He was able to paint a literal and figurative picture of what life was like here just 60 years ago. Mr. Vanderpool lived up to his reputation as a local legend and left me with a mango from his tree and gooseberry juice!

I had the best time on the arts and culture tour! Karl is super friendly and knowledgeable being a Tortola native. Jenesis studios is quite the little gem. Rueben’s artwork is beautiful and really showcases the richness and culture of the islands. It was lovely meeting the Vanterpools and exploring their garden. The pottery garden is a fabulous studio, Karl is a master at his craft, and a great teacher for those who want to learn what pottery is all about, Highly recommend!

Group of friends, first time visiting. We did a trip around the island, Karl was great he showed us loads of art, met with artist and we even got make pottery. Overall 10/10 amazing experience

My husband and I booked this tour directly with Karl. It was such a wonderful experience learning about the culture and history of Tortola. We did a driving tour of the island, explored a local museum and gallery, then finished off the tour with pottery and clay play at his studio. Karl’s love of pottery and the island is infectious! Highly recommend this tour!

We traveled on New Year's day so the art studio was not open but spent a wonderful day at the Pottery Garden. We were picked up from our cruise ship and got an island tour on the way there. The studio is in a garden setting with a showroom and a work area. We were able to have fun with clay and try the potter's wheel. On the way back, we stopped to see a beach and learned more history. Definitely a nice way to break up a trip with many beach stops and great during inclement weather. Everyone had a great time.