The U.S. Virgin Islands make for a great Caribbean getaway. St. Croix in particular has beautiful beaches, awesome snorkeling, and a laid back vibe that instantly has you feeling like you’re on vacation. There is even hiking if you’re up for it – all without needing to break out your passport.
Things to Do
If you’re going to St. Croix, you’re going to be spending time on the beach. There are other things to do too, though! Our favorite activities on the island weren’t (totally) related to beaches at all.
- Buck Island Tour: Our number one excursion on St. Croix without a doubt. After departing from Christiansted, we took a short ferry ride to Buck Island, which is surrounded by a coral reef that is designated as a National Monument. The protection has allowed the coral and fish species to thrive. What made this site so unique though was the underwater trail that takes you around the reef. We just had never seen an underwater trail before. To cap this tour off, we also got to spend some time at the beautiful Turtle Beach which in our opinion was the best in St. Croix (okay, so this tour is a little related to beaches). We booked with Caribbean Sea Adventures and thought the company did a great job. The rum punch on the boat ride back was a nice touch.
- Annaly Bay / Carambola Tide Pools: The Carambola tide pools are another really unique site on St. Croix. Getting to the tide pools requires a 4-mile round trip hike through a wooded area (and part of the Marriott property). The trail actually starts in the Marriott’s parking lot – there is some parking just offsite that you can take advantage of for free. Even though the hike takes you to tide pools for swimming, we recommend wearing good shoes given the terrain. As you get closer to the tide pools, you’ll need to walk across many slick rocks. Also, make sure you go at low tide – that will make sure you can get in the pools safely and avoid parts of the coastal trail getting submerged by the sea. The destination though makes all these requirements worth it. The tide pools are beautiful, great for swimming, and let you get up close and personal with some fish that get washed in. The bottom of the pools though is rocky, so bring some water shoes to change into if you can.
- Christiansted Historic Site: You don’t need to spend a ton of time here, but it is nice to take an hour to explore the historic site in downtown Christiansted. There are some nice monuments and placards that explain the history of the island. It is also free to visit and easy to see on foot.
- Point Udall: This stone formation at the easternmost point of the island is very pretty. We visited at sunset and got great lighting, but it is also supposed to be nice at sunrise (if you’re staying close enough to wake up that early). Better yet, it is right next to Jack and Isaac Bay if you plan to visit there.
Beaches to Visit
So the beaches in St. Croix are nice, but other Caribbean islands have better beaches. If you plan to lay out at the beach all day, we would recommend going elsewhere. That said, there are still plenty of good beaches to choose from on St. Croix if you are mixing in some relaxation with your adventure.
- Jack’s Bay and Isaac’s Bay Beaches: Speaking of Jack and Isaac Bay – these beaches are more about the snorkeling than anything. If you want some privacy, it is about 3-4 miles round trip to get to the end of Jack’s Beach. We made the hike and were the only people there. The snorkeling however is better at the beginning of Jack’s Beach, but it is really shallow. Even though we didn’t stop there, we heard the snorkeling is deeper and sometimes better at Isaac’s Beach, which is also closer to the start of the trail. There are no facilities at these beaches, so pack everything that you’ll need both in and out.
- Sandy Point Beach: This beach is perfectly sandy but offers no shade. Bring an umbrella or tent if you can. You should also note that this beach is a protected turtle nesting area, so it is only open on weekends in select months from 10am-4pm. Check the hours before making the trip over.
- Davis Beach: This beach is on the Marriott property, but it is accessible to the public. All you need to do is park just outside the hotel’s property, then take a short walk down the hill to the beach. It is a big, sandy beach that is well-maintained with beautiful cliffside scenery. The snorkeling here is solid too.
- Mermaid Beach: This small beach is on the property of the Buccaneer hotel, but again – it is accessible to the public. The only downside is that you can’t go to the beach until 9:30am if you aren’t staying at the hotel. Once there though, you can take advantage of a surplus of beach chairs. The hotel restaurant also offers food / drink service to those chairs, so you can get a resort experience without staying at the resort.
- Cane Bay Beach: This beach isn’t a looker. It is narrow and (at least when we were there) not well-maintained. It is convenient though if you’re staying on the north side of the island or interested in eating at The Landing (which is very tasty – read more about that below). The snorkeling is also really good here, as Cane Bay is a popular spot for scuba divers. If you do hang out on the sand here, you’ll also be able to make many crab friends.
Where to Eat
Where you eat in St. Croix should be based on proximity and convenience. Some restaurants are better than others, but nothing is so special that you need to go far out of your way. St. Croix is surprisingly big and takes time to cross. Do yourself a favor and enjoy food close to your accommodation and scheduled activities.
- Blue Water Terrace (Eastern Side of the Island): This restaurant was one of our favorites on the island. It has a nice ocean view, and the fresh seafood is great (chef’s kiss for the red snapper and conch fritters). Monday night is seafood special night, in case you can plan accordingly.
- Flyers Bar & Grill (Frederiksted): We did not expect to find great steak on St. Croix, but we were wrong. Flyers makes a very good steak. This restaurant is about the food, not the atmosphere, but it is a great choice if you are in Frederiksted. Get some pretzels and beer cheese to go with your steak.
- Turtle’s Deli (Frederiksted): The sandwiches here are massive. We were expecting a light bite before the beach and left with enough food for two meals each. If you eat on site you can grab a beer from the bar next door too.
- Leatherback Brewing Company (Airport): This laid back brewery is a great, casual spot for a drink, but the pizza and pretzels here are quite good too. There is plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the island weather.
- Ama at Cane Bay (Cane Bay): The location here is beautiful. Ama is right on the water’s edge overlooking some really mesmerizing tide pools; we wouldn’t blame you if get lost watching the waves come in and out and don’t notice the server trying to take your order. While we’d recommend Ama because of the location…that is what you’re paying for. It is pricey. The drinks sound good but disappointed overall. The food was tasty but not worth the price point. Go in with the right expectations though and you’ll have a nice time.
- The Landing Beach Bar (Cane Bay): This casual beach bar had some of our favorite food on the island. It’s a great menu with good seafood specials and drink deals. We recommend trying the lobster quesadilla, potato salad, and shrimp tacos. It is also right by Cane Bay Beach, so plan to pair the activity and meal.
- Off the Wall (Cane Bay): The pizza here was like Dominos. Not because it tasted like Dominos, but because it objectively wasn’t the highest quality and still managed to hit the spot. It was more like a flatbread. The views here are pretty though at sunset!
- Brew STX (Christiansted): This restaurant adjacent to the Christiansted harbor is a good lunch option with tasty burgers. The service here is super slow though, so budget time accordingly.
- Seaside Market & Deli (Christiansted): This deli was the most budget friendly option on the island. The sandwiches are massive and very cheap. The stand is located in a grocery store, but you can call ahead to avoid needing to wait for your meal. We recommend grabbing a takeaway lunch here before heading to the beach.
- Toast Diner (Christiansted): Another option in downtown Christiansted – we enjoyed a good, quick breakfast at Toast. You can tell this restaurant is frequented by locals. Service is quicker if you sit at the counter as opposed to at a table, so keep that in mind if you’re in a rush.
- Twin City Coffee House (Christiansted): This small, local café has good pastries and coffee for takeaway before your day’s adventures. There isn’t much room to sit, so plan to enjoy your drink and snacks on the road.
- Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters (Christiansted): This coffee shop feels more like a Starbucks in the continental U.S. It is a nice, polished establishment, which we didn’t see often in St. Croix. You won’t get the same local experience here though.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Getting Around: Having a car in St. Croix is absolutely necessary. Everything is really spaced out, and there is no public transportation. On the bright side, gas here is cheaper than in parts of continental the U.S. You do have to drive on left side of the road though. All it takes is one right turn to get used to.
- Cash vs Card: Generally, you can pay with your credit card on St. Croix. You should only need cash for a few places and for parking around the island.
- Island Time: This is a real thing. Budget extra time for all meals – servers here take their time.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan