U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Tips – Things to do, Map and Best Time to visit U.S. Virgin Islands

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Saint John’s Island Beach photograph by Reinhard Link

Virgin Islands of the United States is the official name of what is generally called The U.S. Virgin Islands or just USVI. The U.S. Virgin Islands is an organized, unincorporated territory of the US and consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and many other surrounding minor islands. It relies heavily on tourism and is a popular honeymoon and cruise ship destination. Its crystal clear water and wonderful reefs also attract many scuba divers.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to U.S. Virgin Islands:

Table of contents

U.S. Virgin Islands travel
Where to stay?
Activies and Excursions
Best time to visit
Health and Safety
Where is U.S. Virgin Islands?
Getting there
Getting around
Photos U.S. Virgin Islands
Best dive spots
Scuba diving

Where to stay?

Each of the three main island have their own feel. Research for yourself which one is best. Saint Thomas has the majority of the high end resorts while Saint Johns has more of the more simple accommodations. St. Croix has maintained more of the past cultures.

Scuba divers should consider a liveaboard to be able to explore a wider range of diving and possibly include diving in the BVI.

Activities and excursions in U.S. Virgin Islands

In addition to scuba diving, the virgin Islands are known for their great beaches and water sports.

Saint Thomas gets the majority of the visitors and mostly all of the cruise ship passengers. Some of the things you can do on Saint Thomas are:

Visit Blackbeards Castle sitting high on top of a hill is the castle that the famous pirate Blackbeard used. It is mostly a ruin but still worth the trip and you get a good history lesson and an unbelievable view.
Sailing. The Virgin Islands is a sailing mecca. Even if you are not a sailor yourself you can take a sailing tour around the island or visit some of the other islands.
Coral World Ocean Park: Experience the beauty and magic of life under and above the Caribbean Sea. Has underwater programs for non-divers and special dives for certified divers.
Beaches. Saint Thomas has an area of about 32 square miles, and along the coast about 40 beaches.
The Skyride to Paradise Point whisks you 700 ft. above the town of Charlotte Amalie.

Saint Croix does not get all of the attention that Saint Thomas gets and gets fewer tourist. However, the area is rich in natural and historical attractions . Here are a few items lifted from a list of over 100 things to do on Saint Croix.

Have a drink. Better have a drink where the alcohol was made. The island has a number of rum and wine tours. Both the Cruzan Rum and Captain Morgan Rum distilleries are here and between them 39 different rums. Wine tours and tastings are also available. If you a beer person, Saint Croix has some excellent craft beers
Visit an historical fort. There are two on the island.
Take a hike. The jungle have a number of hiking trails
Drive an ATV. If hiking not for you, visit the jungle on an All Terrain Vehicle.
Horseback ride on the beach

Most of the Island of Saint John’s is a national park. Virgin Islands National Park provides vital habitat for a number of plants and animals, both terrestrial and marine. Many of the species protected within the park are federally endangered or threatened.

138 bird species
400 reef-associated fish species
17 whales and dolphin species
more than 230 invertebrate species
13 reptile species,
a variety of coral and sponge species

Virgin Islands National Park also protects some of the last remaining tropical dry rain forest in the Caribbean.

In 1976, Virgin Islands National Park was one of the first protected areas to receive designation as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is one of only 30 containing both marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Saint Thomas Cruise port photograph by Brian Fagan

Book an amazing Liveaboard holiday trip or a Dive Resort

Best time to visit U.S. Virgin Islands

The Caribbean is a year round destination. The Virgin Islands are in the hurricane belt and is impacted by a hurricane on average once every three years. Direct hits by a hurricane on the Virgin Islands average once per eight years.

Health and Safety

Schneider Regional Medical Center is the umbrella entity for three healthcare facilities that serve as one integrated health system for St. Thomas and St. John: the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital (St. Thomas), the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute (St. Thomas), and The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center (St. John).

The community health center is not an inpatient facility, Individuals needing inpatient service and surgery are transferred to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. Schneider Regional is one of the largest businesses in the territory, employing over 500 employees and 70 physicians on active staff with specialties ranging from cardiology, oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics.

The organization is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). St. Thomas also has a network of urgent care facilities for situations that do not require an emergency room.

On St. Croix there is one hospital the Juan Luis Hospital and Medical Center. Doctor offices and urgent care facilities are available.

The USVI has the highest murder rate in the United States. However, there is not a high crime rate against tourist. Visitors are advised to research the areas they are going and to take normal precautions.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to U.S. Virgin Islands, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is U.S. Virgin Islands located in the world?

The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, and form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Politically, the group is divided into the British, Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are at the east end of the island group and has four larger islands and sixty smaller ones.

The US Virgin Islands has three main islands and fifty smaller ones. The USVI was previous the Danish West Indies, and was bought from Denmark in 1916.

The remaining Virgin Islands are at the west end of the chain close to Puerto Rico. While some marketing efforts have tag them as the Spanish Virgin Islands they are considered a part of Puerto Rico.

How to get to U.S. Virgin Islands?

The USVI have good air connections to mainland United States, San Juan Puerto Rico and nearby Caribbean neighbors. Some of the mainland connections are seasonal, however, Miami, Atlanta and NYC are year round and each of those destinations are international hubs.

Cyril E. King Airport is located just outside of the USVI’s capital Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. It is the main point of entry. The Henry E. Rohlsen Airport at Christiansted on St. Croix Island has limited connections and those mostly by small aircraft to nearby countries.

Most air travels going to Saint john Island or the British Virgin Islands arrive by way of Cyril E. King Airport and take ferries to their final destinations.

Do I need a visa for U.S. Virgin Islands?

United States citizens and legal residence do not need a passport to travel to the US Virgin Islands. They will need proof of identity and citizenship so a passport is best. Also to visit the BVI a passport is required.

Most tourist coming to the US will need a visa.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. They must however apply online for to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Andorra,Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Republic of Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom

Citizens of Canada are free to enter the US with just a passport or enhanced drivers license.
Nationals of other countries must apply for a visa. The US State department has an online program to identify visa requirements.

Getting Around

Once you are in the US Virgin Islands is is easy to get around. Saint Thomas is the major destination. Getting a taxi here is easy, you should note, however, that the fares are regulated and are per person.

There are no meters in the taxi but it is based on the fare rate card. A taxi will be clearly marked. You will also see that there is scheduled bus services. A safari bus also called a dollar bus is a great way to get around and see the sights at the same time.

A safari is a truck that has been outfitted with bench seating in the back. The fare is one dollar around town and two dollars across the island. Please ask before boarding, because there are some taxi that use the same type of vehicle.
If you are island hoping, you will find frequent ferry service between the islands and to the different islands of British Virgin Islands. Air travel between the different airports is possible as is chartered seaplanes.

The US Virgin Island is a great choice for those looking for Caribbean vacation.