Travel Eye on St John (US Virgin Islands, Caribbean)

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Overview:

St John, the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, retains a tranquil, unspoiled beauty uncommon in the Caribbean or anywhere else in the world. Settled in the early 1700s by Danish immigrants attracted to the island's potential as a sugar cane-producing colony, St. John soon blossomed into a thriving society. The ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Plantation and other smaller plantations on the island attest to the island's agricultural history.

Two thirds of St. John is a U.S. National Park , and here you see what the world is like when nature takes care of itself.  Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park volunteers staff an information kiosk here. You can spend day after day on beach after beach, each with its own panoramic view.

The trail to Rams Head on the northeast side of the island contrasts with the normal soft white sand Beaches found elsewhere on St. John. You start at the Salt Pond area, going past Trunk Bay on this two hour tour.

In Cruz Bay there are gift shops and well stocked grocery stores; there are also dive centers and jeep rental services. Once you've visited, you'll know why the natives call Cruz Bay, Love City .

Locality:

The islands are situated 64km (40 miles) east of Puerto Rico and comprise some 50 islands covered with lush tropical vegetation. St Thomas is long and narrow, rising abruptly to a ridge with an excellent deep-water harbour. St John is covered partly in bay forests. St Croix consists of 215 sq km (83 sq miles) of rolling ex-plantation land.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Sailing:

Enthusiasts wishing to explore the myriad islands scattered around the territory can hire sailing boats or powerboats, with or without a skipper, either for afternoon or evening trips or for an all-inclusive week on a charter yacht. A list of operators can be obtained from the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Boat races take place all year round, including the Rolex Cup Regatta (on St Thomas) and the Mumm's Cup Regatta (on St Croix). Guided kayak tours through St Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon provide the opportunity to see egrets, herons and other wildlife.

Watersports:

The US Virgin Islands are an established diving and snorkelling destination with well-developed facilities. Coral reefs, warm and calm seas, a rich marine life and excellent visibility are the main attractions for divers of all abilities. Beginners without certification may enrol on an open-water training course (usually completed in three days). However, local instructors recommend learners to complete basic pool work at home and finish their four open-water dives after arrival. The diving season is busiest from December through April, when advance booking on dive packages is recommended. Some of the best dive sites include Buck Island Reef National Monument (a protected area on St Croix with markers describing marine life); Salt River Canyon (one of the most popular sites, also on St Croix); Carval Rock (for advanced divers, on St John); Andreas Reef (on St Thomas, known for its variety of tropical fish); and Submarine Alley (an advanced dive site, also on St Thomas, with large coral islands).

Fishing:

Sport fishing is excellent, particularly for blue and white marlin, sailfish and wahoo, with the North Drop (accessible from St Thomas or St John) being the best-known spot. Sport fishing charters with experienced skippers are widely available. Local fishermen are keen to encourage the 'catch-and-release' method in order to preserve fish species. Fishing competitions, such as the Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament or the Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament attract amateurs and professionals from all over the world.

Other:

There are two 18-hole golf courses on St Croix, at Carambola Resort and at Buccaneer Hotel. A 9-hole course is located at the Reef. St Thomas has an excellent 18-hole course at Mahogany Run. There are many tennis courts available on St Croix and St Thomas and a few on St John. Horseriding is available in Frederiksted and Christiansted on St Croix.