Trip to St. Thomas Island in the US Virgin Islands

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

General Information

St. Thomas is one of the busiest and most active cruise ship ports in the entire world. It is included as a must-visit destination in all Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries and many Southern Caribbean routes as well. During the peak winter season, up to eight large cruise ships can dock there simultaneously!

This is not a wild and exotic island, although it does have lovely beaches. It is an island with American characteristics, highly touristy and commercialized. Sometimes you will encounter more cruise passengers than locals... The island is known as a "Mecca" for shopping enthusiasts. It is a duty-free island (Americans have an increased exemption in the US Virgin Islands), which has turned its capital, Charlotte Amalie, into one big shopping center. It is considered the "Shopping Capital" of the Caribbean. It is also one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean, and in addition to shopping, it has a selection of historical sites.

Tourists also arrive at the island by flight thanks to the airport located there. Tourists traveling to the neighboring island of St. John also use this airport since there is no airport there. From here, they continue by ferry to the island of St. John.

Did you know? St. Thomas is the only place under US control where people drive on the left side of the road.

Recommended Hotels in St. Thomas:

A 3-star hotel with one-bedroom units featuring a kitchenette and studio suites. Pool, private beach, parking, and free internet.

A 4-star hotel with suites of various sizes up to 2 bedrooms. The hotel has a pool, restaurant, bar, gym, and beach. Parking and free internet.

Alternatively, you can choose a recommended villa or vacation apartment from the following list:

Guided Tours in St. Thomas

St. Thomas offers visitors a large and impressive selection of diverse guided tours that grows every year. The island has wonderful, award-winning beaches (included in prestigious travel magazines as the most beautiful beaches in the world) that are especially suitable for snorkeling and swimming.

Those looking for more peace, tranquility, and wild nature can take a ferry to the nearby island, St. John, most of which is a national park with cliffs, spectacular beaches, and excellent hiking trails.

Tours to book from GetYourGuide.com:

♦ Booking tours tailored for cruise ship passengers from Viator:

Includes pickup and return to the port. Lasts 4-5 hours. Includes a tour of the island and swimming at a lovely beach.

Kayaking in the Mangrove Lagoon and Snorkeling

On this boat trip, you paddle in a kayak to quiet lagoons surrounded by mangrove bushes.

Land on the shore and walk along the beaches, which include bays where you can swim and snorkel and observe various types of marine animals, sea cucumbers, starfish, fish, and more.

Location, Geography, and Weather:

St. Thomas is located about 80 km east of Puerto Rico and is part of the Lesser Antilles island chain.

The island's area is 83 sq km. Its width, at its widest point, is 6.4 km. A mountain range runs through the center of the island from east to west, with the highest point on the island being Crown Mountain, at a height of 455 meters above sea level.

Thanks to the trade winds providing a pleasant breeze to the island, there are no major temperature differences between winter and summer. The average temperature in winter is 25 degrees Celsius and in summer 28 degrees. The average humidity is 78% and varies only by a few percent throughout the months of the year. The average annual rainfall is 140 cm per year, with most of the rain falling in the spring and summer, while winter is the driest season. However, it is rare to find a day without sun on the island, even during the rainy season. The driest month is March with four rainy days, while the wettest is September with 11 rainy days.

The Virgin Islands are in the main path of hurricanes during the storm season (June-October). Over the years, the island has been hit by various hurricane storms. The most severe were Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricanes Luis and Maryland in 1995.

The water is pleasant for swimming in all seasons, and the changes between seasons are relatively small: the water temperature in winter is 26 degrees Celsius and in summer 28 degrees.

Did you know? Every year, over two million tourists visit St. Thomas and the neighboring island, St. John. Far more than the third, largest island in the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix.

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Main Attractions on the Island:

It is a beautiful and bustling port city built on a hill, primarily known for its shopping (details below). In addition to shops, it has historical sites and atmosphere. Its architecture reflects its turbulent past. You can see Danish-style tiled roofs, Dutch doors, French ironwork, and Spanish-influenced courtyards.

The most impressive structure in the city, and also the oldest surviving, is Fort Christian, built by the Danes in 1672. Over the years, it served as a prison, the governor's residence, city hall, courthouse, and even as a church.

Did you know? The capital of the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie, has been named since 1691 after the wife of King Christian V of Denmark.

Many pirates were hanged in the building's courtyard when it served as a prison. The building's clock tower was built as an addition in the 19th century. The structure underwent extensive renovation, mainly to strengthen and preserve it, in 2008. Today it is a US National Historic Site and houses the Virgin Islands Museum, phone: 340-776-4566. Address: 32 Raadets Gade, located east of the shopping area.

Built in 1833, it is considered the oldest synagogue in continuous use under US jurisdiction. Next to it is the Weibel Museum of Jewish History. The synagogue is located at the end of a steep street (Crystal Gade) and offers a beautiful view of the island.

A cable car departing from the Havensight Mall area near the main cruise pier and reaching Paradise Point, a spectacular viewpoint over the city and the harbor. The cable car ride takes about fifteen minutes. At the summit, there is a short hiking trail (about half a km long) leading to an excellent viewpoint of St. Croix island. Additionally, a bird show is held there several times a day. You will also find several shops, a bar, and a restaurant at the peak.

Another wonderful viewpoint on the island at a height of about 450 meters above sea level. From here, Sir Francis Drake watched his fleet and warned them of enemy ships approaching the island. It is worth stopping here on the way from the port or the city to Magens Bay or as part of a scenic tour of the island. There are many souvenir stalls at the viewpoint.

Coral World Ocean Park is considered the number one attraction in St. Thomas. It is a giant interactive aquarium and marine center full of activities and attractions. The park has a three-story underwater observation tower located 30 meters from the shore, allowing for a wonderful view of tropical fish, sharks, coral, and other sea creatures. In addition, the park has several outdoor seawater pools where you can pet small sharks, feed stingrays, touch starfish, and observe endangered sea turtles, seahorses, and sea urchins.

The park also has an indoor area where Lorikeets fly in all the colors of the rainbow. For two dollars, you can buy nectar for them, and they will be happy to stand on your hands or shoulders and drink it. The park also has a gallery of pictures painted by sea lions.

The most recommended attraction at the site is swimming and spending time with sea lions (for an additional fee, of course).

An activity where you wear a diving helmet connected to an air supply and walk on an underwater path among fish and other sea creatures.

Dipping in a shallow water pool with "pup" sharks (young sharks) that will swim around you in circles.

Dipping in a pool with giant green sea turtles. Learning about their lifestyle and their danger of extinction, swimming alongside them, and even scrubbing their shells.

St. Peter Greathouse Estate and Gardens - lovely tropical gardens with more than two hundred types of plants, some rare. The gardens include an orchid jungle, rain forest, waterfalls, and reflection pools. From the observation deck, there is a stunning view of about 20 of the Virgin Islands. You can also tour the manor house, which features a selection of local artworks. The gardens are located in the northern part of the island.

A cute and colorful fishing town settled hundreds of years ago by French-speaking people who fled the island of St. Barts after the Swedes invaded their homes. Most of the residents in this town today are descendants of the first settlers. The town is known for its excellent restaurants and taverns. The town is located west of Charlotte Amalie, on the way to the airport.

The Beaches of St. Thomas

All the beaches in the US Virgin Islands are public, meaning entrance is allowed for everyone, even if access to them is only through a luxury hotel or resort. However, sometimes entrance to the beach involves a modest fee of a few dollars.

The most beautiful and famous beach of all is Magens Bay, located in the northern part of the island at the end of Highway 35. This beach has been chosen several times in the past as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. It is a sandy beach with calm turquoise waters about 1.5 km long, located between two high mountains. It is highly recommended to ask the taxi driver to stop for you for a view of the beach on the way to it. It is an ideal beach for swimming and idling but is not recommended for snorkeling. You can rent water mattresses there and float in the calm waters while looking at the surrounding scenery. Entrance to the beach involves a fee of about five dollars per adult (children up to age 12 are free). There is no restaurant on the beach, only a bar with a small kiosk.

Located about three km southeast of Charlotte Amalie on Highway 315. This beach is particularly popular with windsurfers due to the constant breeze blowing there. It is a beach suitable for swimming and snorkeling, especially at the reef near Pettyklip Point. The beach has a restaurant and bar, and you can rent all types of water sports equipment, such as kayaks, jet skis, and sailboats at the nearby Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina.

Also located southeast of Charlotte Amalie between two resorts: Marriott Frenchman's Reef and Morningstar Beach Resort. It is reached by an elevator alongside the cliff from the Marriott Hotel. You can rent sailboats, jet skis, water mattresses, snorkeling equipment, and of course, lounge chairs. This is a beach suitable for swimming and for those who like a little bit of waves and not a completely smooth sea.

It is the most recommended place for snorkeling and diving in St. Thomas. The beach is located on Highway 388 near Coral World park. Snorkeling equipment can be rented at the beach.

Water Island's Honeymoon Beach is a secluded and magical beach located on the fourth largest island in the US Virgin Islands, Water Island. There are no shops, no restaurants, and no equipment or jet ski rentals, but only a sandy beach lined with palms about 800 meters long. The island can be reached by a ferry that leaves several times a day from Crown Bay Marina. The ferry ride takes about 10 minutes.

Did you know? Water Island is the "youngest" of the US Virgin Islands. It came under American jurisdiction only at the end of 1944. Only 200 residents live on the island. There are no hotels, no taxis, and even no gas station.

Shopping:

St. Thomas is a duty-free island. Furthermore, Americans are allowed to bring much more value in duty-free goods from the Virgin Islands than from other places in the world, which has greatly contributed to the flourishing of the shopping culture on the island and the multiplication of shops there. Most of the shops are jewelry stores (with an emphasis on gold and diamonds), perfumes, spirits, cameras, watches, crystals, leather products, and porcelain.