United States Virgin Islands

Travel Guide > Caribbean > United States Virgin Islands

Introduction
Brief History
Geography
Regions/Islands
Cities and Towns
Sights and Activities
- Virgin Islands National Park
- Fort Christian
- Estate Whim Plantation Museum
- Coki Bay
- Charlotte Amalie
Events and Festivals
Weather
Getting there
- Plane
- Boat
Getting around
- By Plane
- By Car
- By Bus
- Boat
Red Tape
Money
Work
Study
Language
Eat
Sleep
Drink
Health
Safety
Keep Connected
- Internet
- Phone
- Post

Quick Facts

[edit]

Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Population: 108,700
Government: NA (organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs)
Religions: Christianity (Protestant, Catholic)
Languages: English, Spanish, Creole
Calling Code: +1340

Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.

[edit]

Introduction

CarambolaSunset

America purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, and while the transaction has not proved quite as lucky as the purchase of Alaska, the Virgin Islands have seen many a tourist dollar sink into Washington's purse. Located due east of Puerto Rico and southwest of the British Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands occupy their small territory of Caribbean beauty with a passion for shopping and nature. St Thomas is the lively centre of attention, where duty-free shops reign supreme and thousands of tourists come together for a crazy nightlife. It is also a great place to sit by the beach, since it has more than forty of them. St John is the alternative, where the ecologists throw their party. It is dominated by a national park, so the parties are naturally smaller and quieter. And environmentally friendly, of course.

[edit]

Brief History

[edit]

Geography

[edit]

Regions/Islands

The territory consists of 4 main islands and several dozen minor outlying islands.

Saint Croix
Saint John
Saint Thomas
Water Island

[edit]

Cities and Towns

Charlotte Amalie, the capital, on Saint Thomas
Cruz Bay on the island of Saint John
Port Alucroix on Saint Croix
Christiansted, also on Saint Croix

[edit]

Sights and Activities

Virgin Islands National Park

st thomas

The Virgin Islands National Park is well maintained park with kilometers of beautiful shorelines, pristine reefs, hiking trails and tropical birdlife. Over 30 species of birds have been recorde within the park's boundaries, including some species like the bananaquit, hummingbirds and smooth-billed ani. This is also an example of an area that was logged during the 18th century but has regained the tropical nature it used to have including a mix of introduced species and native plants.

Fort Christian

Fort Christian with its typical red bricks is located near the town of Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas. It is the oldest colonial building in the Virgin Islands and dates back to 1666. Since then, the fort has functioned as a bastion, jail, governor's residence and even a Lutheran church. Today, like many forts in the Caribbean, it functions as a museum which has some interesting historical exhibits.

Estate Whim Plantation Museum

The Estate Whim Plantation Museum is located on the island of Saint Croix and is striking example of the island's colonial sugarcane history. Unfortunately, today only several acres of the original 150 that made upt the Whim Plantation survive as the museum. Still, alltogether the grounds display the days when sugarcane ruled the island like it did on many other Caribbean islands.

Coki Bay

On the northeaster coast of the island of Saint Thomas you can find Coki Bay. This bay is a very popular area for visitors wanting to enjoy the sparkling waters and white sanded beaches fringed with palmtrees. There are many species of fish here to be admired while snorkelling or diving and they are known to eat out of your hand! In the adjacent Coral World Ocean Park you can witness the marine life in a nice aquarium.

Charlotte Amalie

For a small Caribbean capital, Charlotte Amalie is not the worst place to spend some time. You can easily find some influence of the Danish colonists that were here some centuries ago. The red roofs of the houses are a very colourful match with the green environment and the capital itself is named after the wife of the Danish King Christian V. There is also a nice small harbor and the Emancipation Gardens Park where people celebrate Carinval. From here you can take ferries to the other islands of the American and British Virgin Islands. It is also a tax free town with enough shopping if that is your thing.

[edit]

Events and Festivals

[edit]

Weather

The United States Virgin Islands have a very pleasant and tropical climate with generally warm and humid weather. The seabreeze makes things relatively mild though and water is never far away. Temperatures generally average around 30 degrees Celcius during the day yearround and 23 degrees at night. December to May is the dry season, where July to October is the rainy season, but this generally means some showers at the end of the day instead of days of rain on end. Hurricanes are possible though from August to October.

[edit]

Getting there

Plane

Seaborn Airlines flies to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is based on Saint Thomas while Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) is in Saint Croix. The first has the best connections to a number of cities in the United States while both have services to several other Caribbean islands, like Antigua.

Boat

Puerto Rico - United States Virgin Islands vv
Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. In the opposite direction, boats leave every two weeks on a Thursday at 5pm from St. John and 6 pm from St. Thomas. The trip takes about 2 hours.

British Virgin Islands - United States Virgin Islands vv

There are about 4 operators which have ferry services between St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook) and Tortola (West End and Roadtown). From Road Town on the British Virgin Islands there are ferries about every 50 minutes to Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. From Red Hook to Road Town is about 35 minutes. Contact Caribbean Maritime Tortola Fast Ferry (340) 777-2800), Smith's Ferry (340) 775-7292 or Native Son Inc. (340) 774-8685 for details about schedules and prices.

There are about 4 or 5 sailings in eacht direction between Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) and West End, Tortola (BVI).

There are also two ferry operators offering service between St. Thomas (Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie) and Virgin Gorda.

To end, there are 2 crossings a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Red Hook, St.Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) for Jost Van Dyke (BVI).

Contact Inter Island Boat Service (340) 776-6597 for these last three international connections by ferry.

[edit]

Getting around

By Plane

Seaborn Airlines links all three main island of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix several times daily, and there are a few (charter) airlines that have additional services.

By Car

Renting a car is the best way to cover a lot of places and search for some secluded beaches. Rental cars are available throughout all islands and prices start at around 45 USD. Roads are well maintained and driving is on the left, with steering wheels sometimes on the left as well!

By Bus

There aren't many public services but on Saint Thomas there is one from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook and Bordeaux. Saint Croix has minivans travelling between Christiansted and Frederiksted and Saint John has a bus service running from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay.

Boat

Passenger ferries operate between St. Thomas (Red Hook & Charlotte Amalie) and St. John (Cruz Bay). Car ferry service is available between Redhook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. There are three independently run car ferries and you only pay for the car, no matter how many passengers there are.
The Water Island Ferry travels between Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Water Island, contact Water Island Ferry (340) 690-4159 for details on services.
There is also a ferry between Christiansted, St. Croix and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The ferry departs from the Marine Terminals in Gallows Bay on St. Croix and in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, taking about 75 minutes to travel between the two towns. Check the Virgin Island Fast Ferry website for details about prices and schedules.

[edit]