US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are an American territory made up of three main islands: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. St. Thomas is the busiest, with the harbor town of Charlotte Amalie, one of the Caribbean's biggest cruise ports, and the sweeping curve of Magens Bay.

St. John is mostly protected land, with around 60 percent of the island inside Virgin Islands National Park. Trunk Bay there has an underwater snorkeling trail with signs on the seabed. St. Croix, the largest island, has two historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, and the reefs of Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Photo: Ben Whitney via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

St. Thomas and St. Croix have airports with direct flights from several US cities. From Jamaica, most people connect through Miami or San Juan.

Entry: the USVI follow US immigration rules. US citizens need no passport, while Jamaicans and most other visitors need the same visa or authorization as for the mainland US.

The islands were Danish until the United States bought them in 1917, and you can still see it in the red-roofed warehouses and street names. They are the only place under the US flag where cars drive on the left, just like in Jamaica, although most of the cars are American left-hand drive.

The USVI are much smaller and more expensive than Jamaica, with US-level prices. The culture is West Indian and English-speaking, with calypso, steel pan and carnival. St. Thomas can feel crowded on cruise days, while St. John feels like a quiet village inside a park.

Photo: Gruepig via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

• Snorkel the underwater trail at Trunk Bay on St. John.
• Hike the Reef Bay Trail on St. John past sugar mill ruins and ancient Taíno petroglyphs.
• Swim at Magens Bay, St. Thomas's famous curved beach.
• Take a boat to Buck Island off St. Croix for its protected reef.
• Walk historic Christiansted and its yellow Danish fort.
• Ride the Skyride up Paradise Point for views over Charlotte Amalie harbor.

Winter is the peak season. Late spring is a sweet spot for good weather and lower prices.

St. Thomas has the most hotels and flights, with resorts along the east end near Red Hook, where ferries leave for St. John. St. John is ideal for nature lovers, with villas, eco-camps and a small town, Cruz Bay, that is easy to walk. St. Croix is larger and more relaxed, with inns in historic Christiansted and Frederiksted and beach resorts along the north shore. A car is useful on all three islands, but remember to drive on the left.

• Currency: US dollar
• Language: English
• Driving: left-hand side
• Best for: Americans wanting an easy passport-free island trip, hikers and snorkelers on St. John, and anyone planning to visit the BVI next door

On St. Croix, rum lovers can tour distilleries, since the island is home to Cruzan rum and Captain Morgan production. Ferries connect St. Thomas with St. John and with Tortola in the BVI.