Things to do in St. John, USVI - Insider's Guide

Tag: Things to do in St John

List of Things to do in St John USVI

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Top 10 Things to do in St. John, USVI

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Wondering what to do while on St. John? Our page currently has 99 activity suggestions for St. John. Wondering where to start? Here is our ultimate top 10 list.

Watch Sea Turtles on St. John

There are 3 different kinds of Sea Turtles on St. John or the Virgin Islands in general: Leatherback, Green Turtle and Hawksbill.

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Go Fishing with World Class Anglers

St. John’s oldest charter fishing business has a new boat and a new website! If you are an experienced angler or you’ve never fished before, come share the fun and excitement of sport fishing on their 35′ Carolina Classic named “World Class“.

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Watch the sunset on St. John

Sunsets on St. John are amazing. One of our favourite places to watch the sunset on St. John is on North Shore Road. Drive past Mongoose Junction, up the hill and you will see a small parking bay to the left. You will see a great sunset from there.

Go Snorkeling on St. John

Snorkeling the waters of St. John, USVI is  one of the most rewarding and fun things to do on St. John, it’s cheap and easily accessible for anyone, the water is warm and usually calm. You can see Angel Fish, Parrot Fish, Seargent Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper, Puffer Fish to name a few and of course Sea Turtles.

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Go Freediving!

A simple definition of freediving is: “at least and inch underwater on a breath of air”.

Freediving is about exploring the underwater world holding your breath until resurfacing rather than using a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. You will get a feeling of true ease and relaxation under water, many people describe the feeling you get while free diving as soft, smooth, quiet, serene & peaceful. 

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Recreational Fishing on St. John

General recreational fishing permits are presently not required for recreational fishers in Virgin Islands. This includes persons who engage in fishing for the sole purpose of providing food for themselves or their families and those who catch and release fish.

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Iguana Watching

Iguanas are everywhere on St. John, you just sometimes have to stare at the same space for a while until you actually see them! The species found on St. John is called “Green Iguana” but that does not mean they are actually green (they are after birth but then change into various colors).

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Make Jumbies at Drunk Bay

The Trail that leads to Drunk Bay on St. John begins at the very end of Salt Pond Beach and heads inland towards the salt pond. It is a relatively easy walk with  no hills and takes about 20-30minutes. The trail then continues North on to the rocky, windswept Drunk Bay beach.

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Meet the Donkeys on St. John

The donkeys on St. John were imported in the 16th century to work on the sugar plantations. The slaves were freed and the plantations went out of business then another few centuries later the first cars showed up on St. John and the donkey were let go free. And they still roam around on St. John.

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Day Trip to Jost van Dyke

One of the most popular destinations for day trips is Jost van Dyke. Named for an early Dutch settler and former pirate, rugged scenery and colorful folklore make up Jost Van Dyke.  With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it measures just four miles by three.It retains the island culture that much of the Caribbean has lost. Jost Van Dyke is a little island with a big reputation.

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Picnic at Salt Pond Beach (East End)

This beach feels different and also attracts a different crowd, since it is a very long drive from Cruz Bay and a relatively long walk down from the parking (about 15 minutes). Salt Pond is a beautiful bay with amazingly clear water. Bring a picnic and sit on the tables in the shade, enjoying the view.

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Reef Bay Trail Hike

The secrets of St. John’s tropical forests, petroglyphs, freshwater pools and sugar mill ruins come alive on the three-mile Reef Bay Trail Hike.  You will also see a 40ft waterfall, various plants and animals like deer, bats, land crabs, termite nests.

Build a Mosquito Trap

Ok, St. John is paradise. The only true nuisance are the mosquitos. They are not only a nuisance, they can actually infect you with bad diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya Fever. Both viruses are transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, which have black and white stripes markings. The National Park Service has actually just issued a warning about Chikungunya outbreak in the Caribbean.  In Makonde (African language), chikungunya means “that which  bends”, referring to stooped appearance of patients in severe pain.

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Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins

In 1717 the Danes started huge plantations growing mainly sugar cane for rum. Slaves were forced to work on the plantations, gruelling hours sometimes from 4.00 AM to 10.00 PM. Life was very rough for them and in 1733 the slaves organized a revolt which ultimately led to the abolishment of slavery.

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Paddleboarding on St. John

The Virgin Islands are a stand up paddler’s paradise offering everything from calm bays for beginners to crossings and crazy downwinders for experienced paddlers and if you are lucky you might find some really good uncrowded waves, too!

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Bird Watching – Francis Bay Trail

At Francis Bay there is a short loop trail with 2 entrances which is great for bird watching. You will also see deer and land crabs.

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Visit Francis Bay, St. John Beaches

Francis Bay on St. John has just been ranked as “12 clear water beaches you need to see to believe” by Tripadvisor. Well, almost any beach on St. John could qualify for that, but Francis really is a great beach.

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Labor Day Trip to St. Croix

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For those of you looking for something to do for Labor Day Travel to the Agrifest St. Croix onboard the M/V Caribe Cay with Transportation Services of St. John, Inc.

More information here

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Read Mingo’s Cave

Mingo’s Cave is about adventure in the Caribbean. In it the reader gets to meet quirky island characters, search for hidden treasure, ride along on dangerous boat excursions, learn about the destruction of an Eco-sensitive camp, and seek revenge for a senseless murder.

FIsh Identification Database St. John, USVI

Try to identify the fish you saw!

Ok, snorkeling and freediving is great on St. John, we have established this. Now how about after your snorkel, you try to identify the fish & other marine life that you have seen? We came across this totally amazing website. This is a website with over 4000 (!) photos of fish and other marine life, all taken while snorkeling on St. John.

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Go Surfing on Tortola

You can find some great surfing in the Virgin Islands, especially in winter (key season: November to February but can extend into May). During summer you can have those odd days with world class surf after a tropical storm.

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Read “Land of Love and Drowning”

A major debut from an award-winning writer—an epic family saga set against the magic and the rhythms of the Virgin Islands.

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Read “Don’t stop the carnival”

This book is a great holiday read it will make you laugh very hard and give you some insight into “island culture”.

Back Time on Love City: The Carnival Never Stopped

Torn between the relative safety of doing what was expected, living and working close to home in middle America farmland, or blindly plunging into ‘sharky’ waters (literally), our young hero readily chose the sharks. It was bold choices like this early on that helped to shape his great adventure that wafted him far beyond the cornfields of Illinois and onto an island in the Caribbean – a pirate’s paradise

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St. John Map – Activities Overview

Check out this map with Island Activities

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2015 Painkiller Cup SUP Race 10000$ Prize Money

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The date for the 2015 Painkiller Cup has just been announced: January 17. Full event details or in our event calendar!

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Go on a day sail with Sail Pepper

The Pepper is a wooden island sloop built on St. John, USVI. She is modeled after the traditonal sloops used by islanders long ago throughout the Caribbean. Join sail pepper on a one-of-a-kind, family friendly sail for a taste of St. John’s history while exploring beautiful island waters.

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Read “USMAIL”

In USMAÍL, Pedro Juan Soto gives us a masterful description of life on the small Puerto Rican Island of Vieques during the 1930s, 40s and 50s as seen through the eyes of the islanders themselves. The story follows the life of a boy born to a poor, black woman from the rural countryside, whose American lover, sent to Vieques to manage a government assistance program, abandons her upon learning that she is expecting his child. But before her death, she bestows upon her newborn son a mysterious name, a name which will prove to haunt him for the rest of this life.

St. John Holiday Read: Thunder Point

When Henry Baker leaves his home on St. John to deep-sea dive in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean, he has no idea that this is not going to be a routine day.

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Read “Desiring Paradise”

Desiring Paradise is the true story of two New Englanders who followed their dream. Despite obstacles and setbacks at every turn,they moved to St. John in the US Virgin Islands to start a new life.

Create your own T-Shirt at Sloop Jones

Head to the tranquil East End and visit Sloop Jones, the islands most colorful artist. It’s a studio gallery with great artwork but there are also workshops where you can create your own piece of art. More information is here.

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Read “Caribbean”

In this acclaimed classic novel, James A. Michener sweeps readers off to the Caribbean, bringing to life the eternal allure and tumultuous history of this glittering string of islands.

Kickboxing Classes St. John

There are kickboxing classes on St. John (Tuesday and Thursday morning and Monday and Wednesday afternoon – subject to change) in the  gym across from the fire station and baseball field in Cruz Bay. Just bring a drink and towel/mat and pay 8$ per session. It is a fitness-oriented class and ladies are welcome!

A great alternative on those few days where it rains in paradise.

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Horseback Riding

Horseback Riding with Carolina Coral offers you a great view of the BVIs (yes, the British Virgin Islands without a passport. They have horses for every skill and take you into the hills of St. John. Aside from the horses, they have donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats.

Meet Ziggy

UPDATE: Ziggy the pig left St. John and is now travelling the world. Follow the adventures of Ziggy the pig.

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Charter a boat on St. John

The best way to explore the Virgin Islands is via boat and getting out on the water is the top priority of most visitors. With its warm, crystal clear, turquiose  waters, St. John is a paradise for boating.

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Go Diving from St. John

Join Low Key Watersports on their daily scuba diving  tours and discover why St. John is more fun UNDER the water.

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Rent a dinghy on St. John

Want to explore St. John’s beaches and shoreline but don’t like a captained powerboat charter? Prefer to be  your own Captain? Rent a Dinghy from Noah’s Little Arks Dingy Rental right on the Beach in Cruz Bay, St. John and you will be able to spend the entire day cruising the waters of St. John’s North Shore as your own captain!

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Paddleboard to Salomon Beach

If you’re a free, active spirit , and would rather not use a car to get to the beach, but don’t fancy a mile-long hike then a paddle to Salomon beach might be for you.

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Hike to Salomon Beach

If you’re a free, active spirit , and would rather not use a car to get to the beach, then a hike to Salomon beach might be for you. It’s a beautiful, palm-fringed beach with turquoise water and can be reached from Cruz Bay via a mile-long hike. If you get really lucky, you might even have the beach to yourself.

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Tennis on St. John

There are public tennis courts on St. John, across the car barge dock.  You don’t have to reserve or pay, just go and play! Aside from the public courts there are a few courts at resorts for example at the Westin or Caneel Bay Resort.

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Westin Gym and Spa

Find a balance of physical wellness and pure relaxation as you work out in paradise at the Westin’s state-of-the-art spa & fitness center, complete with sauna, massage therapy and full spa services. You can use it even if you are not staying at the Westin. The free is 130$ per month.

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Core Pilates on St. John

Pilates is a unique method of body conditioning named after German-born Joseph H. Pilates.

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Read “Crystal Blue”

Paid trip to the Caribbean sound good? Buck Reilly thinks so–flying rock stars and celebrities to a remote island for a charity concert seems a breeze–until all hell breaks loose when the promoter disappears and one of the A-list stars is kidnapped.

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Get an Amazon Kindle

Seriously, maybe the single most useful item on St. John (well, after suncreen and bug spray). You might have heard about “island time”, so yes waiting will be part of your trip. Like for the ferries, which are never on time (and everywhere else where 5 minutes are, well, 5 island minutes which is something like bubble gum.  It can magically extend. When you have something to read it is half as bad.

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Read “Adrift on St. John”

No one knows better than resort manager Pen Hoffstra that the idea of a tropical paradise is an illusion. So when a young woman named Hannah Sheridan disappears off the island of St. John, she is not surprised that all is not what it seems to be.

Kayak Tour St. John, USVI

Kayak Snorkeling Adventures

A great way to explore St. John is to go on a Kayak Snorkel Tour with Virgin Island Ecotours!

Read “Undocumented Visitors in a Pirate Sea”

A dead Marine washed ashore on a Caribbean island leads investigators to otherworldly perpetrators in historic pirate waters and high level abuses in Washington. An intrepid maritime historian working the case for U.S. Naval Intelligence discovers a 60-year record of extraterrestrial activity in the Caribbean basin. History and national security politics meet science fiction in this mystery based on exhaustive factual research and informed conjecture.

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