25 Best Things to Do in Virgin Islands National Park
From the stunning white-sand beaches with turquoise-blue water that line the North Shore to the historic Danish ruins scattered throughout the island’s many beautiful trails, Virgin Islands National Park is a one-of-a-kind experience where visitors can enjoy hidden viewpoints, amazing sunrises and sunsets, and some of the best world-class snorkeling on all sides of the park!
Now, this all goes without saying that visiting Virgin Islands National Park is unlike any mainland National Park, in the sense that planning a trip is just as much about coming prepared for the park’s beautiful trails and beaches as it is about knowing what to expect on St. John. This is why I like to say there’s truly a lot to know before visiting for the first time, particularly when it comes to booking a rental a car!
That said, I have written a very long and detailed list with all the most important need-to-know information at the bottom of this article—which is to say, DO NOT skip over the end!
Virgin Islands National Park is just as beautiful as it can be challenging to visit, but if you read this post all the way through—especially my advice at the end—I have no doubt you’ll have a great trip finding all the best hidden viewpoints, places to swim, the best trails, and great places to get food on St. John!
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Virgin Islands National Park?
While a tropical island might seem like an ideal year-round destination, there is quite a bit to consider in terms of the best time of year to visit, including seasonal rainfall, hurricane season, peak travel season, and summer temperatures.
That said, the U.S. Virgin Islands have both a wet season that runs from May–November and a dry season from December–April. This broad weather pattern also coincides with hurricane season in the Caribbean, which runs from June 1–November 30.
With all that in mind, the best time of year in terms of dry weather and comfortable temperatures is December–April. However, this does not account for the fact that the busiest travel months are from mid-December–mid-April, or the beginning of winter through spring break season.
This is why I like to say the best time of year to visit Virgin Islands National Park is a bit more narrow than simply targeting the dry season, with mid-April though the end of May being my overall recommendation for typically sunny skies, crowds that are trending down from their winter and spring break peaks, and temperatures and humidity that are not as hot as the mid-summer months to come!
Hiking Checklist - Virgin Islands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Virgin Islands National Park.
25 Best Things to Do in Virgin Islands National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but as previously mentioned, do not skip over all the need-to-know advice about St. John and Virgin Islands National Park at the end of this article!
1. Caneel Hill Trail
Distance (One Way via Visitor Center): 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
Distance (One Way via Spur Trail): 2.3 miles / 3.7 km
The Caneel Hill Trail is, as the name should imply, a very hilly day hike near Cruz Bay that leads to not one but two beautiful viewpoints and one of the best places to catch the sunset in Virgin Islands National Park!
That said, the Caneel Hill Trail is often overlooked, as many visitors are simply unaware of the beautiful, somewhat hidden panoramic viewpoint in the photo below!
However, what’s perhaps even more of a secret is that there is actually a very easy, overlooked trailhead where visitors can park and begin hiking to this stunning viewpoint with very little effort!
It is for all these reasons that I highly recommend reading my separate post linked below, as there is so much to consider when planning the Caneel Hill Trail, such as which trailhead to begin, what time of day to hike the trail, and simply how much of the trail is worth seeing given all the interconnecting side trails, like the Water Catchment Trail and the Tamarind Tree Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Caneel Hill Trail
2. Jumbie Beach
Jumbie Beach is a beautiful and very small white-sand beach between both the Peace Hill Trail and Trunk Bay on the North Shore of St. John, and the reason I like Jumbie Beach more than most in the area is that far fewer people visit compared to the surrounding beaches!
This is because the taxis that depart Cruz Bay typically stick to the four most popular North Shore beaches, including Hawksnest Beach, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay at the far eastern end.
Therefore, alternative stops, like Jumbie Beach, are not places they typically take visitors, which in turn makes the experience much quieter and more relaxing than most beaches on the North Shore!
Google Maps Directions: Jumbie Beach
3. Private St. John Boat Tour
The National Park Service boasts that over 40% of Virgin Islands National Park is underwater, which is really to say you will miss some of the best the park has to offer if you don’t book a private boat tour—and private is the key word!
That said, some of the best places to ask your captain to visit are Henley Cay, Waterlemon Cay, Scott Beach, Whistling Cay, the Lime Out in Coral Bay, and potentially Little St. James outside of the park. I’ll leave that last one up to you!
In any case, many stops that group tours take visitors to are places like Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, and others, which are accessible from shore. This is why I really think the best way to experience Virgin Islands National Park is through a customizable private tour that focuses specifically on destinations that can’t be driven to!
4. Ram Head Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Ram Head Trail is a beautiful out-and-back coastal trail on the south side of St. John that is widely regarded as one of the best day hikes in Virgin Islands National Park!
To add to this, I personally think the Ram Head Trail is the best all-around sunrise and sunset hike in Virgin Islands National Park, which I talk about and break down my thoughts about hiking out for both in my separate post linked below.
In either case, the Ram Head Trail should be considered a must when visiting the park for the first time, but be sure to come prepared with a good headlamp, as golden hour at either end of the day is not only the most beautiful time to hike the trail but also one of the safest, considering that this low-elevation coastal trail can be very hot given how little shade there is throughout much of the day.
Read My Separate Post: Ram Head Trail
5. Denis Bay Trail (Oppenheimer Beach)
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Denis Bay Trail to Oppenheimer Beach is a local hidden gem on the North Shore of St. John, as this short and largely unknown day hike leads to what is arguably the most beautiful and quiet beach in Virgin Islands National Park!
I say this because nearly every North Shore beach on St. John gets busy throughout the day, but Oppenheimer Beach is typically the one exception, as few people know about this little-known adventure off the much more popular Peace Hill Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Denis Bay Trail
6. America Hill Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Elevation Gain: 440 ft. / 134 m
The America Hill Trail is a very short out-and-back day hike that begins at Cinnamon Bay and climbs to a historic 1800s-era plantation house and one of the best views of the British Virgin Islands at the summit!
That said, there are certainly closer viewpoints of the British Virgin Islands, such as the views on the Brown Bay Trail and the Johnny Horn Trail, but none climb as high as the America Hill Trail, making the short and easy 0.6-mile (1.0 km) one-way hike one of the best to add to your St. John bucket list—especially when paired with a swim at the beach after hiking down!
Read My Separate Post: America Hill Trail
7. Cinnamon Bay Beach
Cinnamon Bay Beach is a very large and iconic North Shore beach in Virgin Islands National Park, but beyond the beautiful white sand, there is so much more to Cinnamon Bay that most visitors overlook!
Some of these include a gift shop, the Cinnamon Bay Campground, a café, and a number of trails across the road, including the Cinnamon Bay Trail, the Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail, and the America Hill Trail mentioned above.
However, all this goes without saying that Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of the busiest and most popular North Shore beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, which is why I recommend arriving early or staying late for sunset, as the crowds that arrive by mid-morning can make everything from finding a spot to park to finding a quiet place on the beach a challenge.
Google Maps Directions: Cinnamon Bay Beach
8. Cinnamon Bay Campground
It’s certainly no secret that Virgin Islands National Park is on the pricier end in terms of U.S. National Parks, but apart from airfare, a rental car, and food, the one cost that can be mitigated is a place to stay!
Yes, the Cinnamon Bay Campground, located steps away from Cinnamon Bay Beach, is the only campground in Virgin Islands National Park, and it is one of the most affordable places to spend a few days!
That said, Cinnamon Bay Campground offers everything from small cottages to pre-constructed tents, as well as bare tent sites. It really is what you make of it, but staying a few nights at Cinnamon Bay Campground is, without a doubt, one of the most affordable ways to find lodging on St. John!
Book Here: Cinnamon Bay Campground
9. Hawksnest Beach
Hawksnest Beach is a picture-perfect white-sand beach on the North Shore of St. John, and it’s one of the first off North Shore Road when driving out of Cruz Bay!
I mention this because there’s no getting around the crowds at the four most popular North Shore beaches, which include Hawksnest Beach, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay at the farthest end.
However, just like Peter Bay Beach mentioned below, there is a bit of a hidden secret at Hawksnest Beach to escape the crowds, which I discuss in more detail at the end of this list below.
Google Maps Directions: Hawksnest Beach
10. Reef Bay Trail
Distance (One Way): 2.3 miles / 3.7 km
Elevation Change: ~820 ft. / 250 m
There are a few beaches in Virgin Islands National Park that are only accessible by trail, including Brown Bay Beach via the Brown Bay Trail, Oppenheimer Beach via the Denis Bay Trail, and Reef Bay Beach on the South Shore.
That said, the Reef Bay Trail to Reef Bay Beach is one of the best, simply because it’s one of the most beautiful—second only to Oppenheimer Beach, in my opinion!
In addition, the Reef Bay Trail is also one of the most convenient ways to hike the Petroglyph Trail, a must-see side trail that I talk about in more detail below!
Read My Separate Post: Reef Bay Trail
11. Petroglyph Trail
Distance (One Way): 0.25 miles / 0.4 km
The Petroglyph Trail is listed immediately after the Reef Bay Trail because the two are synonymous and often treated as one adventure via the Reef Bay Trailhead off Centerline Road.
In my opinion, the Petroglyph Trail is a must-see when visiting St. John for the first time because it is the only hike in Virgin Islands National Park to see petroglyphs from the indigenous Taíno people, a history that is often overlooked given all the colonial ruins scattered throughout the park.
This is all to say that the Reef Bay Trail is the most popular route to hike the start of the Petroglyph Trail, but the Lameshur Bay Trail is also a great option, as both are located almost exactly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Reef Bay–Petroglyph junction.
Read My Separate Post: Petroglyph Trail
12. Leinster Bay Trail (Waterlemon Cay)
Distance (One Way to Waterlemon Access): 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
Snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Virgin Islands National Park, and the Leinster Bay Trail is the way to get there!
That said, the Leinster Bay Trail is the free, do-it-yourself method, as the end of the hike is the closest access point where visitors can get in the water to make the swim over to the island.
However, there is also the much easier option of booking a private boat tour and asking your captain to stop at Waterlemon Cay, but either way, the turquoise-blue waters just off the island are easily one of the best places to snorkel on St. John—not to mention, the Leinster Bay Trail is arguably one of the easiest, flattest, kid-friendly hikes in Virgin Islands National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Leinster Bay Trail
My Print - Leinster Bay Trail
13. Johnny Horn Trail
Distance (RT via Private Road TH & Windy Hill): 3.2 miles / 5.1 km
The Johnny Horn Trail is an easy out-and-back day hike on the east side of St. John that leads to the best and most beautiful viewpoint of Waterlemon Cay and the British Virgin Islands in the distance!
This is the reason the Johnny Horn Trail is listed immediately after the Leinster Bay Trail above, and in fact, the two can easily be combined where they meet at Waterlemon Beach.
This is all to say that I could not recommend hiking up to this beautiful, little-known viewpoint above Waterlemon Cay more, regardless of which trail you decide to take to get to Wind Hill near Leinster Point!
Read My Separate Post: Johnny Horn Trail
14. Sunset at Mongoose Junction
On St. John, Mongoose Junction refers to the intersection of both North Shore Road, the road that leads to the Cruz Bay Visitor Center, and the area surrounding the Caneel Hill Trailhead.
It is near this junction where visitors can find a roadside pullover just up the hill, with a beautiful west-facing view to watch a stunning sunset above Cruz Bay!
Personally, I think this quick stop makes for a great place to drive up to just before any dinner plans in town!
Google Maps Directions: Mongoose Junction (North Shore Road)
15. Peter Bay Beach
Peter Bay Beach is a secluded North Shore beach and a hidden gem in the truest sense, as very few park visitors put in the effort required to reach this quiet little stretch of sand!
By this, I mean that Peter Bay Beach is really an extension of Cinnamon Bay Beach, but in terms of the crowds, it truly is night and day!
This is because, to get to Peter Bay Beach, visitors must park at Cinnamon Bay, walk all the way to the far western end of Cinnamon Bay Beach, then walk over some rocks for a few minutes to get to the beach on the other side.
However, it really is worth the effort to escape the crowds, and in my opinion, typing it out like I described above makes it sound more difficult than it really is!
Google Maps Directions: Peter Bay Beach
16. Tektite & Cabritte Horn Trail
Distance (Tektite Trail): 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
Distance (Cabritte Horn Trail): 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Tektite Trail and the Cabritte Horn Trail are two separate trails on the South Shore of St. John, but in reality, they really are one hike!
That said, the reason I recommend the Tektite and Cabritte Horn Trails is because both are what I see as the second-best all-around sunrise and sunset hikes in Virgin Islands National Park—second only to the Ram Head Trail down the road!
If this is something you’re considering, I recommend reading my separate post, as I outline all the best places to watch sunrise and sunset on the trail, considering that each is best caught from slightly different sections of the same trail!
Read My Separate Post: Tektite & Cabritte Horn Trail
17. Trunk Bay Beach (Underwater Snorkel Trail)
Trunk Bay is arguably the most picturesque North Shore beach in Virgin Islands National Park, and throughout much of the year, it is one of the better beaches to catch sunset, just like Maho Bay down the road!
Before visiting, it’s important to know that Trunk Bay is the only North Shore beach that requires a fee to visit, which can be paid in advance using the link below.
On a different note, Trunk Bay also has a 'trail' unlike any other in the National Park Service, known as the Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail! This 'trail' is really a set of underwater plaques for visitors to find and read near Trunk Cay just offshore, which is one of many reasons why I highly recommend traveling to St. John with your own snorkel gear!
Now, this all goes without saying that Trunk Bay is one of the busiest beaches on the North Shore in Virgin Islands National Park. This is why I recommend arriving first thing in the morning or late in the evening to catch sunset, as the light on the water—and from the viewpoint up the road—only gets better later in the afternoon and into the evening!
Book Here: Trunk Bay Daily Pass
Google Maps Directions: Trunk Bay Beach
18. Cross-Island Hike
Distance (One Way - Lameshur to Maria Hope): 3.8 miles / 6.1 km
Virgin Islands National Park is full of day hikes with two trailheads, meaning that one-way hikes are more common than they may seem, particularly when some in a group aren’t interested in going for a hike.
This means that certain trails, like the Bordeaux Mountain Trail and others, can be great options for getting dropped off at the upper trailhead and hiking all downhill to meet your group.
However, the ultimate one-way cross-island hike is to connect the Lameshur Trailhead on the South Shore with the Maria Hope Trailhead on the North Shore, ending near Maho Bay.
This is a much more practical option than it may seem, as almost every trail in Virgin Islands National Park is very short, and in this case, only combining to 3.8 miles (6.1 km) in total! However, the hike can be extended if you decide to add Reef Bay Beach, the Petroglyph Trail, or even Genti Bay off the L'Esperance Trail to this adventure.
Read My Separate Posts: Lameshur Bay Trail / Reef Bay Trail / Maria Hope Trail
19. Lind Point Trail
Distance (Full Loop Only): 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Lind Point Trail is an easy, mostly flat day hike that leads to two beautiful white-sand beaches, Salomon Bay Beach and Honeymoon Beach, just outside of Cruz Bay!
On top of this, what I think sets the Lind Point Loop Trail apart is that it is arguably the best trail-running hike in Virgin Islands National Park, since it is one of the very few trails that can actually be considered flat, given how hilly St. John truly is!
All that aside, I love the Lind Point Trail for Salomon Beach alone, because when all the drive-up beaches across the North Shore get busy by mid-morning, Salomon Beach remains mostly quiet, as the only way to get there is by trail!
Read My Separate Post: Lind Point Trail
20. Little Lameshur Bay
Little Lameshur Bay is a beautiful white-sand beach on the South Shore of St. John, and it’s one of my personal favorites because of how much less crowded it is compared to the North Shore and even Salt Pond Beach down the road, as taxis don’t drive visitors this far out of Cruz Bay!
On top of this, Little Lameshur Bay is one of the best beaches in Virgin Islands National Park to visit when some in your group are more interested in hiking and others are more interested in going to the beach.
I say this because Little Lameshur Bay is where a number of different day hikes converge at the Lameshur Trailhead, including the cross-island hike mentioned above, as well as other options such as getting dropped off at the Great Sieben Trail and hiking to the L'Esperance Trail, followed by Reef Bay and out on the Lameshur Bay Trail.
In addition, Little Lameshur Bay borders the Yawzi Point Trail, which are all reasons why visiting this beautiful South Shore beach is great for groups with different interests—not to mention, the snorkeling just offshore is stunning and much less crowded than all the best places on the North Shore!
Google Maps Directions: Little Lameshur Bay
21. Francis Bay Trail & Beach
Distance (Full Loop): 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
Francis Bay is both a North Shore beach and trail, but what sets it apart from the four most popular beaches is that taxis seldom drive visitors this far from Cruz Bay!
What this really means is that Francis Bay Beach is one of the least crowded drive-up North Shore beaches in Virgin Islands National Park—especially when you walk to the far northern end of the beach—which is much easier to reach by parking at the Upper Trailhead and hiking a short distance on the loop, as opposed to fighting for a spot at the Lower Francis Bay Trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Francis Bay Trail
22. Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail is a very short, easy, and beautiful hike just up the hill from Cinnamon Bay Beach.
What makes this entirely forested hike so special is that the loop passes through one of the few remaining stands of intact native forest on St. John, often called the island’s old-growth!
This is because the vast majority of the landscape on St. John was severely altered during the Danish colonial plantation era many years ago, which in turn means that very few parts of the island look today like they did historically.
That said, the Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail is one of the few exceptions to this overall trend, as it leads hikers through a beautiful native Bay Rum forest, with interpretive signs about the island scattered throughout the trail!
Read My Separate Post: Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail
23. Salt Pond Beach
Salt Pond Beach is a glassy, kid-friendly white-sand beach on the South Shore of St. John that sits right at the beginning of both the Drunk Bay Trail and the Ram Head Trail, which split from one another on the far southern end!
For all these reasons, Salt Pond Beach is the most popular South Shore beach in Virgin Islands National Park, but I like to say it’s popular for good reason!
It really is that beautiful, and since it is located so far from Cruz Bay, it is not nearly as busy as any of the four main North Shore beaches that can be reached by taxi.
Google Maps Directions: Salt Pond Beach
24. Kayaking in Virgin Islands National Park
On St. John, there are a number of amazing kayaking tours that take visitors to beautiful beaches and snorkeling destinations—a number of which are inaccessible by road!
That said, there is some crossover between destinations that can be reached by both kayak and a private boat tour, which is why I again recommend booking a private boat tour with the intention of talking and making a plan with your captain to visit spots that are unique and only accessible on such a tour—saving other closer destinations for a day paddling on one of these tours!
25. Little Hawksnest Beach
Little Hawksnest Beach is a very small, hidden stretch of sand just to the north of the bigger Hawksnest Beach, and it can most similarly be compared to Peter Bay Beach near Cinnamon Bay mentioned above.
By this, I mean that getting to Little Hawksnest Beach is almost the same experience as getting to Peter Bay Beach, in that visitors must walk over some rocks on the north end of Hawksnest Beach to find the secluded stretch of white sand on the far side.
However, I actually think that getting to Little Hawksnest is a bit easier than Peter Bay Beach, but know before visiting that it is much smaller.
Google Maps Directions: Little Hawksnest Beach
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours because some things—specifically snorkeling at various cays—cannot be done without booking a guided experience. The tour options I’ve listed provide a safe and amazing way to experience Virgin Islands National Park and the greater area, and they offer the opportunity to discover nearby adventures on the water that you may not have heard of otherwise.
10 Best Things to Do Near Virgin Islands National Park
The following list could certainly extend beyond St. John to include amazing recommendations, like the Fish Bar on St. Thomas!
However, the vast majority of Virgin Islands National Park is located on or just offshore of St. John, so to be fair, all of the following suggestions are from St. John!
1. Lime Inn & Out - St. John
First and foremost, the tacos are pricey but amazing!
Regardless of whether you decide to visit the location on the water or the physical restaurant in Cruz Bay, eating at Lime Inn or Lime Out should be a must when visiting St. John for the first time!
As for Lime Out specifically, it’s more about the fun and iconic nature of eating and drinking while floating in Coral Bay, given that the food at both locations is the same.
If you’re already planning a private boat tour—which I highly recommend you do—I also recommend adding Lime Out to your itinerary, because a full day on the water should mean lunch at some point, and nothing is as good as eating great tacos on a beautiful sunny day in the Virgin Islands!
2. The Windmill Bar
The Windmill Bar on St. John is iconic, and it’s without a doubt one of the best drive-up locations on St. John to watch the sunset!
However—and this is one BIG however—it is not a quiet, relaxing place to eat or enjoy a drink and some food with your family.
Think overcrowded, music so loud it can be hard to talk, paid parking, a free-for-all when it comes to finding a place to sit, and poor service because there are simply too many people visiting during the best and most beautiful travel season in Virgin Islands National Park!
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I only showed the beautiful sunset but didn’t describe the reality and headache of visiting The Windmill Bar.
This is why I recommend showing up to grab a beer and watch the sunset, but I also recommend heading back to Cruz Bay for a much better dining experience because The Windmill Bar is simply too crowded, too loud, and too uncomfortable to make it enjoyable for more than 30 minutes. They really should take a limited number of reservations and tone down the music!
Yelp: The Windmill Bar
3. Hansen Bay Beach
Hansen Bay Beach is a little-known beach on the east side of St. John, located just outside the National Park boundary.
However, it’s truly no different an experience from other South Shore beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, like Little Lameshur Bay down the road.
Before visiting, know that all beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands are open to the public, regardless of whether it may seem like they are entirely surrounded by private property.
As for Hansen Bay Beach specifically, there is public beach access on the far southeast side, where visitors should be able to find a few roadside parking areas nearby.
Google Maps Directions: Hansen Bay Beach
4. Morgan’s Mango
Morgan’s Mango is an amazing, fine-dining seafood restaurant in Cruz Bay, with a long menu full of fresh-caught local options and more traditional favorites found elsewhere!
That said, I wouldn’t normally say it’s completely necessary to clean up before eating at every restaurant in Cruz Bay, but at Morgan’s Mango, you’ll be happy you did!
I say this from experience, as I made this mistake after coming off the nearby Caneel Hill Trail for sunset and heading straight into the restaurant when I visited St. John for the first time!
Yelp: Morgan’s Mango
5. Cruz Bay Landing & Tamarind Court Restaurant
Cruz Bay Landing and the Tamarind Court Restaurant are the two best places in Cruz Bay to sit down for a big breakfast before heading out to enjoy the park!
Between the two, I think I’d be splitting hairs to say which is better, but if you’re heading back to St. Thomas on the ferry sometime in the morning, Cruz Bay Landing is the go-to breakfast spot, as it is located just steps away from the ferry terminal and can easily be enjoyed an hour or more before your scheduled departure.
6. St. John Scoops
On a beautiful, hot day in Virgin Islands National Park, nothing is quite as good as stopping in for ice cream at St. John Scoops!
This could be coming off the nearby Caneel Hill Trail or the Lind Point Trail just steps away, or coming back into town from any of the beautiful white-sand beaches across the North Shore!
Either way, St. John Scoops is the best spot to stop in for ice cream in Cruz Bay, which shows from the line that typically extends out the door!
Yelp: St. John Scoops
7. St. John Provisions
St. John Provisions is the best coffee shop on St. John and the best place for a quick, grab-and-go breakfast before heading out to enjoy Virgin Islands National Park!
Before visiting, know that parking can be quite a challenge at St. John Provisions because they are so popular, but they at least have parking, which is more than most places in Cruz Bay can say!
Yelp: St. John Provisions
8. The Banana Deck
So much of the dining options in Cruz Bay are burgers and fries, and while that can be good for a short visit, it can also get tiring after a while.
This is why I love visiting The Banana Deck, as they have a wide range of great options to choose from, while being a great in-between dining experience from the finer restaurants, like Morgan’s Mango, and bars like Woody’s down the road.
Yelp: The Banana Deck
9. The Tap & Still Cruz Bay
The Tap & Still Cruz Bay is a great build-your-own burger spot where the servers have you check boxes on a small paper menu—which really means you can order as small or as big of a burger as you want!
Personally, I like stopping in at The Tap & Still after a fun sunset hike, like the Ram Head Trail near Coral Bay, since they’re open later than most places in Cruz Bay, making it a great spot to visit after the roughly 40-minute drive from the South Shore back to town!
Yelp: The Tap & Still Cruz Bay
10. 1864 The Restaurant
1864 The Restaurant is my go-to recommendation when you’re looking for a finer dining experience with a little broader of a menu than Morgan’s Mango.
Writing that is not to take away anything from Morgan’s Mango, because it is truly an amazing seafood restaurant worth visiting, but 1864 is great for those who want more amazing options beyond seafood!
Yelp: 1864 The Restaurant
15 Things to Know Before Visiting Virgin Islands National Park
1. Read rental car reviews before booking with any company.
First and foremost, do not rent from L&L Jeep Rental!
There’s a lot more I could say on that subject, but most importantly, there are no major rental car companies on St. John, meaning that local companies out of Cruz Bay are the only way to rent a car on the island.
That said, it is imperative that you read the reviews before booking with any company. In my experience, the reviews should determine your choice more than the price itself, as some companies are very scammy—at least as close to a legal scam as one can get.
I say this because not every road on St. John is paved, notably Lameshur Road on the South Shore and parts of the short, steep drive up to the start of the Johnny Horn Trail, to name a few. You would think that this is exactly why most companies are renting Jeeps, but if you choose the wrong company, they may get hostile, demand more money, and call it a cleaning fee, which is one of several reasons you don’t want to rent from L&L!
This is all to say, avoid companies with mostly five-star and one-star ratings. This generally means that visitors either barely used their car or used it as a normal visitor would and returned it with sand inside or some dirt on the outside. Instead, look for companies with mostly five-star ratings, and be sure to read individual experiences before booking. You will thank yourself later!
2. Come prepared for very hot and humid hiking in Virgin Islands National Park.
The trails in Virgin Islands National Park are very short, but distance alone is not all that should go into estimating the difficulty of any one adventure.
By this, I mean that the Virgin Islands are often called desert islands, as much of the landscape is very low, hot, and relatively dry.
However, it’s the humidity, paired with the steep elevation changes, that makes hiking more difficult than in most places, which can come as a shock if you’re flying in from somewhere completely different.
Even sunrise and sunset adventures, like the Ram Head Trail, had me sweating when hiking in the dark—more so than I would ever sweat when doing a similar adventure at home in Hawaiʻi.
This is why it’s important to come prepared with more water than you think you need, and a hooded sun shirt, as the sun exposure is very strong on many trails throughout Virgin Islands National Park.
3. Traffic drives on the left in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only jurisdiction in the United States where traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road.
My advice is to give the keys to one person in your group and never switch throughout your entire visit. It’s best to let one person get used to it.
That said, it was a shock to me when I arrived and was handed my rental car keys for the first time, but what I found was that as long as I remembered to pull out of a driveway or parking lot on the left side of the road, the rest of the driving came naturally. As long as I began on the left, treating right turns like lefts and vice versa was easy enough to get used to.
4. Do not purchase arrival ferry tickets in advance.
I know it’s tempting to be the planner in the group, but this thought really comes down to the fact that you will arrive at the ferry terminal much later than you think.
The St. Thomas Airport (STT) is a headache in the truest sense, meaning that when you land, it’s not safe to say your bags will arrive at baggage claim at a certain time after deplaning or as per the airline’s policy. It will take longer!
However, there’s really no need to plan your ferry in advance, with the exception of understanding their general departure times. Simply wait for your bags, walk straight out of the terminal to find a taxi, and buy your ferry tickets once at the dock—and know that the ferries charge a small fee for each larger checked bag that you have with you.
I write all this because of how unpredictable the St. Thomas Airport can be, but when departing St. John to head back to St. Thomas, I recommend buying your tickets online in advance, because it’s much easier to make a departing ferry than one on arrival.
Book Here: Red Hook & Charlotte Amalie Ferry / Crown Bay Ferry
5. Board the ferry last to receive your bags first.
This was a tip I got from a local, but the first passengers/ first bags on the ferry to St. John will be the last passengers to receive their bags upon arrival.
This is why the best advice I have is to wait patiently for the majority of passengers to board, and then make your way on as one of the last groups.
It’s certainly not a guarantee that you will be first to receive your bags once the ferry arrives in Cruz Bay, but it should hopefully help beat some of the crowds all walking to the same few rental car companies in town.
6. Listen to weather predictions lightly.
If you plan to visit Virgin Islands National Park during the best and most beautiful spring and early summer months mentioned above, I recommend against using your default weather app for reliable weather.
Instead, weather.com tends to be more accurate!
I like to say, if it says rain, it probably means sunny, and if it says sunny, it probably means sunny. Basically, you can expect partly cloudy conditions on most days during the best spring travel season, with rain somewhere—but who knows where!
Weather.com: St. John
7. Travel with cash before arriving in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Almost all businesses on St. John accept electronic payment, but the vast majority don’t like taking credit cards.
That said, debit will almost always be accepted at restaurants, but to pay less overall, cash is king—not to mention, many situations require cash, particularly the taxis to get to and from Cruz Bay and the taxis on St. Thomas that run between the airport and the ferry terminal.
8. Parking is very challenging and very expensive in Cruz Bay.
If you’re not staying within walking distance of downtown, parking can be a challenge in Cruz Bay, even though there are a few paid—and often very expensive—lots that visitors can utilize.
A few exceptions to this are when a rental car company lets clients use their lot after hours, or there is the option to look for slightly more local free spots just outside of the main downtown streets.
This is exactly what I like to do, and when I have found a good free spot in the past, I like to stick to it and keep using it night after night.
9. There is no such thing as off-trail hiking in Virgin Islands National Park.
This is not to say that there aren’t 'social trails,' meaning trails that are not maintained by the National Park Service, but I can’t even begin to count all the times I stumbled into a cactus I didn’t see or opened my car door in tight trailhead parking spot only to be greeted by some of the sharpest and thorniest plants imaginable!
I mean the kind of thorns with backwards hooks that really dig in!
However, unlike other destinations, I would never suggesting hiking in pants because the weather really is that hot and humid! Just try to be mindful where you walk!
10. Taxis from Cruz Bay can be a hassle.
As you might imagine, the goal of the taxi drivers out of Cruz Bay is to maximize profit.
What this really means for your experience is that they may not always want to drive you where you’re looking to go—meaning that if you get on a taxi and half of the people want to go to Hawksnest Beach and Trunk Bay, they may roll their eyes if, say, you are the only two people looking to go as far as Maho Bay.
In their minds, they’d rather turn back around to pick up more people instead of making the full drive out to Maho for two people—not to mention, they may even use English as their second language against you!
One first-hand experience that happened to my family involved getting kicked out before the destination, only for the taxi driver to say, "Go ask that guy (another driver) to take you all the way."
This is why, if possible, it’s best to try to get on a taxi with others looking to go to the same beach in order to avoid a situation like the one I just described.
11. Watch out for Donkeys and Deer on the road.
Donkeys and White-tailed Deer roam free on St. John, which can make driving—even in broad daylight—dangerous because of how windy, hilly, and blind the turns are on roads across the island!
That said, Deer roam island-wide, but the Donkeys are mostly restricted to the south and southeast side of St. John near Coral Bay.
12. Reef safe sunscreen is required throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2019, the U.S. Virgin Islands approved a ban on the import, sale, distribution, and use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene, often called the 'toxic 3 Os.'
This is really to say, please do your part and buy the right sunscreen before traveling to Virgin Islands National Park!
13. Free parking passes are required to park and hike from the Cruz Bay Visitor Center.
Parking is very limited at the Cruz Bay Visitor Center and, as a result, the National Park Service requires visitors looking to park and hike the Lind Point Trail or Caneel Hill Trail from the Cruz Bay Visitor Center or Biosphere Reserve Center to obtain a parking pass during certain hours of the day.
This is meant to discourage the general public from abusing the limited available parking spaces in Cruz Bay, as parking anywhere in town can be quite a challenge.
This also means that, in order to hike both trails early in the day, the earliest realistic time to get going is right when the visitor center opens in the morning.
National Park Service: Cruz Bay Visitor Center Parking Rules
14. Be careful where you sit on trails.
When you see them once, it’s pretty hard to unsee them!
These are Arboreal Termites, and while they are essentially harmless to humans, they are quite literally everywhere!
There’s not a trail where they don’t exist—which is all to say, be mindful of every log you decide to sit on or every tree you decide to lean on. This is certainly not a pest you want to find in your luggage when you get back home!
15. All Sea Turtle species are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
In Virgin Islands National Park, there are three species of sea turtles, including the Green Sea Turtle, the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, and the Leatherback Sea Turtle—the rarest of them all!
That said, all three are protected under the Endangered Species Act, meaning violations for touching, riding, or disturbing a turtle in any way carry very serious fines and possible imprisonment.
This is all not meant to scare or discourage anyone away from viewing them or taking pictures, but to encourage responsibility. NOAA recommends 50 yards (45.7 m) in both the water and on land, and while that can be tougher to maintain when snorkeling, there’s certainly no excuse for breaking the law on the beach.
