Imagine yourself laying out on a beach chair with a cool drink in your hand, white sand between your toes, and vibrant blue waters reflecting off your sunglasses 😎. If that sounds like the ideal trip to you, then get ready for an incredible time. Get my complete guide to enjoying Virgin Islands National Park.
I visited the Virgin Islands for the first time when I was a teenager, but I had always wanted to go back. This was our 6th to last National Park and it definitely exceeded our expectations with the picturesque beaches and amazing sea life.
That being said, it’s a different park from most of the others we visit. Usually, we are focused on adventures and hiking. But, this time we slowed down and got into the island life vibe. We relaxed on the beaches, enjoyed the sun, and explored the abundant sea life. Now, I want to help you plan the perfect vacation.
This blog post will cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Virgin Islands National Park. It includes how to get there, when to visit, where to stay, and what to do on your trip. You will never want to leave! 🐠
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Guide to Visiting Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park Location
The Virgin Islands National Park is located on the stunning and serene island of St John in the Caribbean. This island is right next to the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and Tortola, which is part of the British Virgin Islands.
When you’re visiting St John, you’ll notice that the park makes up about 60% of the island. That’s why this island is so serene, because most of the land and sea is protected.
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 There is no entrance fee for Virgin Islands National Park. Trunk Beach is the only place with a fee, where there is a $5 per person fee for entering.
🚗 Although there are cabs that you can take around the island, the best way to get around is to rent a car.
☀️ Most of the year is sunny and beautiful in the Virgin Islands. So, the sun is incredibly strong, make sure to wear plenty of reef safe sunscreen. Rain storms come in quickly and usually move through fast.
🐢 There’s plenty of sea life in the Virgin Islands including sea turtles. Make sure to just observe them and do not touch anything that you see!
🦮 Leashed pets are allowed on the trails in Virgin Islands National Park. However, no pets are allowed on the beaches in order to protect the sea turtles.
⚠️ Tides can be strong in the water, make sure to look out for the flags at the beaches to see if it’s safe to swim or not.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Visit
St John really only has two seasons: wet and dry. Temperatures stay constant in the high 70s and low 80s year round. So, dry season is the best time to visit, which tends to last from December to May.
You’ll find lots of US visitors escaping the winter cold and hanging on the beaches during these months. They are a bit more crowded, so you’ll want to book housing and rental cars in advance!
In the summer, temperatures stay the same, but there’s a lot more rain during the days. 🌧️ Then, towards late summer and early fall you’ll get into hurricane season. Hurricanes have had devastating effects on the island on multiple occasions.
How to Get to Virgin Islands National Park
If you’re coming from the East Coast of the US, then it’s fairly easy to get to the Virgin Islands, with direct flights to St Thomas from multiple cities including DC, Miami, and New York.
Once you get to St Thomas, you’ll need to get over to St John, which is where the park is located. There are multiple companies that run from Red Hook in St Thomas to Cruz Bay in St John. Plus, there are both people ferries and car ferries that you can take and they take about 30 minutes.
You do not need to book tickets in advance, because the ferries are first come, first-served. Just get there 20-30 minutes early so that you can claim a spot and make sure you have cash to cover the ferry cost, because they don’t take credit cards.
If you plan on renting a car, I recommend doing it in St Thomas, because there usually more cars available. We rented a car at Paradise Car Rentals and took the car ferry across to St John.
Getting Around the Virgin Islands
Unless you plan on just going to a couple beaches and want to spend most of your time in Cruz Bay, then I recommend having a car. Taxis usually cost about $20 per person to your destination. So, you’ll have to pay that every time you take one.
Instead, you can rent a car in St Thomas and then have the flexibility to drive all around the island. However, there are some things you should know:
- They drive on the left side of the road in the Virgin Islands. So, you need to be a confident driver.
- Roads are narrow, windy, and can be rough at times.
- Most rental companies will rent out Jeep Wranglers to get around.
- I recommend using smaller local rental companies over the large companies, because they often over book.
- Parking costs a significant amount of money in the town of Cruz Bay, so try to avoid it if you can.
Where to Stay on St John
St John Island has two main areas where most people stay: Cruz Bay and Coral Bay.
There is only one campground in the park at Cinnamon Bay Beach ⛺️, which has great glamping huts right off the beach. But, they book up very quickly. So, if you miss out on these you will want to stay in these two areas.
Cruz Bay is known for being the livelier end of the island. It’s right next to the ferry, has tons of shops and restaurants, and is just 5-10 minutes from the park. If you want to be able to walk around, then Cruz Bay is the best area to stay.
We loved stayed in a VRBO that was just a few minutes walk from everything.
Coral Bay is on the opposite end of the island, is much more secluded, and also more peaceful. If you want a quiet and scenic stay, then this is the area for you.
Packing Guide for the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands National Park is one of the most relaxing parks to visit. The main activity is to go to the beach, snorkel, and enjoy the stunning blue water.
That being said, you may want to go on an adventure or take a hike while you’re there. It’s important that you look at what your hotel or home provides for you. Ours had a cooler, chairs, and beach towels, so all we needed to bring was our swim wear, sunscreen, and snorkels.
Tip: You can rent snorkels in town for a few dollars a day, which is cheaper than they offer in the park! 🤿
Virgin islands packing list
- Reef Safe Sunscreen
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Supportive Swimwear
- Quick Dry Towel
- Water Shoes
- GoPro (so you can get footage underwater)
- Sneakers or Hiking Boots
- Merino Wool Socks
- Sun Shirt
Things to Do in Virgin Islands National Park
Go Snorkeling
People travel from all over to go snorkeling in the Virgin Islands. It’s some of the best snorkeling in the world with colorful reef, vibrant sea life, and tons of activity to explore.
While we were there, we went snorkeling every single day. We sometime spent a couple hours straight swimming and seeing all the sea life. It was so addicting.
There are a number of great places that you can go snorkeling in St John. But, there are a few spots that really stand out among some of the best!
Best Snorkeling Spots
- Maho Bay– This was our favorite beach to snorkel at. It’s known for the sea turtles that snack on the sea grass here, but we also saw an octopus!
- Trunk Bay– There’s a great underwater trail that you can follow here, but I was slightly underwhelmed by the sea life here.
- Leinster Bay– If you go to Leinster Bay, you can walk the .5 mile trail down the beach, before crossing the water to get to Watermelon Bay. This spot is known for being one of the best on the island with star fish and rays.
Relax on the Beach
Now, chances are if you’re visiting the Virgin Islands, then you want to take advantage of the amazing beaches with the white sand and stunning blue waters. You’ll be astounded at how stunning and pristine the beaches are in this park!
I recommend going to multiple beaches while you’re in the Virgin Islands, so that you can choose your favorite. There are so many incredible spots that you will absolutely fall in love with this slice of paradise.
Our favorite was Maho Bay, but we really enjoyed spending days at multiple beaches.
Best Beaches in virgin islands national park:
- Maho Bay– Known for the sea turtles that swim in the shores, this is also a great beach for relaxing. You can rent paddleboards and kayaks here or get food and drinks at the small stands here.
- Trunk Bay– Often called one of the “most beautiful beaches in the world.” This beach is known for its gorgeous sand and stunning water. It costs $5 per person to enter and it gets super crowded, so get there before 9 am to get a parking spot!
- Cinnamon Bay– One of the most popular beaches with food stands, a general store, camping and boat rentals. We really liked spending half a day there, but it was one of the least serene spots.
- Hawksnest Beach– This is a smaller beach, but it’s a favorite by the locals. There’s no amenities here, so it’s a great place to just relax and bring your own food and drink.
Explore the History
While this island may be beautiful, the area has a dark history. Slaves were brought over to the island starting in the 1600s to work on the Dutch sugar plantations. In fact, slaves actually outnumbered the colonials 5 to 1 in the 18th century.
In 1733, there was a huge slave rebellion that lasted for months. This rebellion was so successful that it inspired other rebellions throughout the Americas.
I recommend listening to the National Park After Dark Podcast episode that covers this hard part of history. My husband and I listened right before our trip and it was a great way to learn about the complicated past here.
Now, you can learn about the history of the slaves here and the brutal conditions that they endured. There are multiple plantations throughout the island, as well as plaques that honor their lives and talks about the 1733 rebellion.
But, you must visit the Annaberg Plantation during your trip. This is one of the most well preserved plantations on the island and there are wonderful interpretative signs that will inform you about these dark times. You can walk through the plantation and feel the heaviness of the area.
Take a Hike
Although this park is focused on the sea life, there are still so many amazing trails to tackle. We wanted to spend most of our time on the beaches enjoying the sea life, but we managed to get out on the Ram Head Trail and the views at the top blew us away!
If you have more time, you can spend your time hiking through some of the best trails on the island. Just make sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and sun coverage.
We got on the trail by 10 am and I would get there even earlier if I could. It gets hot quickly during the mid-day sun!
Best trails:
- Reef Bay (4 miles, 1100 feet)- The top is supposed to be one of the best views on the island, but getting there is a tough climb! So, bring plenty of water.
- Ram Head (2.5 miles, 374 feet)- I enjoyed this trail from start to finish. You walk along two different beaches and then up to stunning panoramas over the island.
- Johnny Horn (3.3 miles, 1100 feet)- Known as being a difficult trail, this hike takes you to another beautiful view.
- Lind Point Trail (2 miles, 330 feet)- Take the Lind Point Trail from just outside of Cruz Bay to the pristine Honeymoon Beach. It’s a gorgeous and secluded spot to visit. This is the only one I wanted to do that we missed out on.
Stop at Scenic Viewpoints
Want to see amazing views without any effort? Good news, there are a bunch of spots in the park that. you can simply drive to and pull over for insane views.
So, drive slow so that you don’t miss any of the most scenic points in the park! Take in views over the island and out beyond.
best viewpoints:
- Windmill Bar– Not technically in the park, but a must visit! Grab a drink or food and see the view.
- Trunk Bay Viewpoint
- Maho Bay Viewpoint
Final Tips for Visiting the Virgin Islands National Park
You’ll fall in love with the Virgin Islands and probably want to return as soon as you leave! But, in order to plan a great trip, you need to plan ahead. Especially, if you’re going during peak season during the winter.
Get your lodging and rental car early that way you’ll know you’re set.
Now, that you’ve got it all figured out, you can get to the park and enjoy the beauty. I seriously felt like I was in paradise the entire time.
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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