Things to Do in St. Croix: A Local Boat Crew’s Favorites

St. Croix is the kind of island where the best days mix a little of everything: a morning on the reef, an afternoon wandering a historic town, and a sunset on the water. Our crew is out on the water every day, so here are the things we recommend most often to visitors. Some are trips we run ourselves; many aren’t. Opening hours and fees for attractions we don’t run can change, so check with them before you go.

1. Snorkel Buck Island Reef National Monument

If you do one thing on St. Croix, make it Buck Island. It’s a National Park Service monument just off the north shore, with a barrier reef the NPS says ranks among the Caribbean’s best and a marked underwater snorkel trail that first-timers can manage. Our Half Day Snorkel covers it in 3.5 hours, with gear, a lesson and a guide, from $75.

2. Spend a beach day on Turtle Beach and hike to the overlook

West Beach on Buck Island, also known as Turtle Beach, was rated by National Geographic as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Behind it, a marked trail climbs to an overlook above the reef. The NPS calls it fairly strenuous and says it takes about 45 minutes to cross the island. Our Beach & Hike trip goes straight to the beach, with time to swim, relax or hike. More in our Turtle Beach guide.

3. Explore Christiansted and Fort Christiansvaern

Christiansted, on the north shore, is where many of our trips leave from. Fort Christiansvaern, at Christiansted National Historic Site, is the National Park Service’s information point for the three national park units on St. Croix, including Buck Island. Stop at the fee booth for brochures and guides, and see the exhibits.

4. Salt River Bay and a bioluminescent paddle

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is another of St. Croix’s national park units (NPS nearby attractions). For many visitors the highlight is a guided kayak trip at dusk on a bioluminescent bay, where tiny living lights sparkle in the water as you paddle. Salt River Bay and Altona Lagoon are the places to look. The glow is easiest to see around the new moon, so plan your night around the moon if you can.

5. Fort Frederik and Frederiksted

On the west end, Frederiksted is where cruise ships dock, and it has the island’s other main fortification. The NPS says Fort Frederik was built between 1752 and 1760 and was reportedly the first foreign fortification to salute the newly established United States, in 1776. It’s a National Historic Landmark managed by the Government of the Virgin Islands. On a cruise ship day? Our cruise day guide explains how to fit in Buck Island too.

6. Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge

At the southwestern tip of St. Croix, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is small (327 acres) but important. The NPS describes it as the largest nesting beach in the U.S. and its territories for the leatherback, the world’s largest sea turtle. It’s also home to one of the oldest archeological sites on the island. Leatherback research there dates back to 1981 (NPS: animals).

7. Estate Whim Museum

For history beyond the forts, the NPS points visitors to the Estate Whim Museum, owned and run by the St. Croix Landmarks Society. It’s the only sugar plantation museum on St. Croix. Its restored 18th-century buildings tell the stories of the Europeans who sought fortunes here and the enslaved Africans whose skill and labor built the houses and windmills and worked the fields.

8. Catch the first sunrise in the U.S. at Point Udall

Point Udall, on St. Croix’s east end, is the easternmost point of the United States, and the Millennium Monument there is a classic place to watch the sun come up. Get there just before sunrise, feel the trade winds and watch the first light hit the water.

9. Jack and Isaac Bays and the East End Marine Park

For a quieter beach day, hike down to Jack and Isaac Bays on the east end. They feel like your own private beach, with a reef to snorkel. There are no amenities, so bring water, snacks and reef-safe sunscreen. The NPS notes these east end beaches are among the most important hawksbill turtle nesting sites in the Virgin Islands. The coastline from Green Cay to Great Pond is protected as the East End Marine Park, the USVI’s first territorial marine protected area.

10. Hike to the Annaly Bay tide pools

A rainforest hike leads to the hidden tide pools at Annaly Bay, with views over the Caribbean on the way. Near the end you scramble over rocks to reach pools where waves spill over the rock wall. Wear non-slip hiking shoes. The NPS warns about hazardous surf on St. Croix, so only go in when the sea is calm, and never alone (NPS safety).

11. Go parasailing over Christiansted harbor

For a bird’s-eye view of Christiansted and the north shore, try parasailing with our partners Parasail Virgin Islands. Flights are 8–10 minutes, you take off and land on the boat, and ages 6 and up can fly ($95 per parasailer). Our parasailing guide covers the details.

12. Watch the sunset from the water

Our two-hour sunset cruises leave from the Christiansted Boardwalk: a chill Family Friendly cruise on Tuesdays (from $35 for young adults) and a lively Adults Only cruise on Fridays ($40). Private sunsets start at $750 per boat. See which sunset cruise is right for you.

13. Go fishing or spearfishing

Deep water lies close to St. Croix: from the Buck Island overlook, the NPS says, you can see where the island’s shelf falls toward the Puerto Rico Trench, 5,000 feet deep. Private fishing and spearfishing charters with our partners Day Break Charters start at $1,000 per boat for 4 hours, for up to 6 guests. Read our fishing charter guide.

Practical tips for visiting St. Croix

• No passport needed for U.S. citizens. The NPS notes that American citizens traveling to and from the territory don’t need a U.S. passport (NPS FAQ). The U.S. dollar is the currency.
• Drive on the left. Cars are American, but traffic keeps left. “Think left!”
• Book boat trips early in your stay. If the weather changes your plans, there’s time to reschedule.
• Leave room to go with the flow. You can plan as much as you want, but some of the best island days are the unplanned ones.