America in the Caribbean
Tea US Virgin Islands includes four unique and different islands; Santa Cruz (The longest), St Thomas (The busiest), San Juan (small, quiet and picturesque).
The mixture of American and Caribbean influence makes United States Virgin Islands “America in the Caribbean“.
The local population is made up of citizens from other Caribbean islands, Americans, Europeans and Hispanics. While English is the primary language, you’ll also hear dialects of Spanish, French-Patois, and Creole.
The musical rhythms of the islands are a mix of calypso, reggae, steel drums, R&B and hip hop. Local bands sing songs about political and social issues, accompanied by the rhythm of washboard and gourd instruments.
St Thomas It is the main cruise port in the Caribbean and the main destination for duty-free shopping. This is the most popular tourist destination in the Virgin Islands and offers many dining options, a variety of accommodations including hotels, resorts and elegant villas.
St. Thomas is legendary for its hundreds of duty free shops lining the streets of Charlotte Amalie, The capital city. Between the three main strips are side streets and alleys filled with dozens and dozens of shops where you can literally “shop till you drop“. us Citizens are allowed $1,200 in tax-free purchases, and you can send gifts home, family, or friends duty-free and tax-free.
St. Thomas is an extremely mountainous island with little flat land. From a distance, the slopes are covered in bright, colorful flowers. Venturing up the hillside, you find yourself surrounded by a subtropical forest of palms, mangroves, and mango, papaya, breadfruit, and coconut trees.
Two of the best hilltop views on the island are found at drake’s seatwhich offers a panoramic view of the nearby islands, and another favorite viewing spot is Saint Peter’s Mountain. Since there is little flat land on the island, almost every corner offers another fantastic view. And the Skyride to Paradise Pointa modern cable car, is your trip to the best tourism in the virgin islands. The ride is 7 minutes one way and takes you 700 feet above sea level.
After sightseeing, stop for lunch at french quarter. This unique town is located half a mile from Charlotte Amalie. This area is popular with locals and tourists alike, and is home to many great restaurants and bars. Frenchtown is home to the descendants of immigrants from the French island of San Bartolome.
Aside from beautiful beaches, stunning views from the hills, world-class shopping, and fine dining, the weather on St. Thomas is always a constant. The temperature never drops below 70 degrees and never exceeds 95 degrees. Here you will find perpetual sun, refreshing trade winds and showers that last only a few minutes.
Charlotte Amalie It has a beautiful natural harbor, and there are many sheltered bays, making this a perfect destination for beach lovers. St. Thomas offers some of the best beaches including Morningstar Beach, Coki Beach, Bluebeard’s Beach, Hull Bay, Limetree Beach, Magens Bay, Sapphire Beach, and Vessup Bay. Two of my favorite beaches are Magens Bay and Sapphire Beach. Magens Bay is protected by reefs and offers excellent swimming, while Sapphire Beach offers wonderful views of St. John and the surrounding islands..
Passing to the largest island, st crossYou’ll find the pace a bit slower than St. Thomas. Two major cities Christiansted and Frederiksted they offer their own distinctive flair with Danish history and architecture. Both towns offer quaint little shops where you can find deals on perfume, china, glassware, and jewelry. Shopping on St Croix is not as extensive as the shopping district on St Thomas, but it is less crowded and you can find many unique items to buy..
St. Croix also has an excellent variety of hotels, resorts, villas, excellent restaurants, and long beaches. Sandy Pointthe largest beach in US Virgin Islands it is a protected reserve. The waters are shallow and calm, and this is a nesting ground for sea turtles. There are many other beautiful beaches with sheltered coves, making this island a hit with families and honeymooners.
Another favorite spot for visitors to St. Croix is a trip to the National Park in Buck Island. This island is home to Turtle Beach, voted one of the best beaches in the world by National Geographic. Buck Island is a world class dive site, with a unique trail course. Full day and half day tours are available.
San Juanthe smallest of the US Virgin Islands offers limited lodging, restaurants, and nightlife. What St. John offers is peace and quiet in the perfect tropical Caribbean paradise.
Life is very relaxed, and the locals are extremely friendly, always willing to strike up a conversation and provide directions and information. If you are looking for active nightlife, this may not be the ideal destination. There are about four small bars on the island, and after dinner, the favorite island activity is going to bed.
Two-thirds of St. John is a 7,000-acre US National Park. The island’s geography is a rocky coastline, overlooking crescent-shaped bays and white-sand beaches. Each beach is pristine with turquoise waters, secluded emerald cays, and panoramic views. Trunk Bay is the most popular beach and certainly one of the best in the world. If you think that’s an exaggeration, “Google” “trunk bay“, and see for yourself.
For the more adventurous, there are miles of hiking trails, and St. John offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean. The turquoise waters are combined with hundreds of rainbow colored fish and corals.
While shopping on St. John is limited compared to the other two islands, shoppers will find distinctive quality items and unique local crafts not found on St. Thomas or St. Croix.
bay cross it is the main town, with gift shops, well-stocked supermarkets, dive centers and jeep rental services. There are only two luxury hotels on the island, along with expensive villas. For the budget conscious, there are more offers at the eco-resort and campgrounds in the National Park.
Island hopping is very popular with visitors to the Virgin Islands. travel between St Thomas and San Juan it can be easily done in a 20-minute ferry ride. the distance between St Thomas and st cross it is much larger, and the trip can be arranged by private boat or seaplane. Tea British Virgin Islands can be reached from St Thomas by ferry or plane. And the island of Puerto Rico it is only 50 miles away.