Short
Description St. Croix is the largest and most rustic of the United States Virgin Islands. The beaches of St. Croix are beautiful, plentiful, and open to the public; and the marine life and shoreline drop off are a draw for interested divers.
Destination
Highlights Great Snorkeling/Diving
Crystal white beaches
Horseback riding and biking
History/Culture
Local
Weather The average temperature is in the mid-80s, and there's just enough rain to keep the ixora, hibiscus and bougainvillea in bloom. From September thru January expect some brief rainfall. An average of 40 inches of rain falls per year.
Other
Destinations
Description St. Croix is located at the southernmost point in the United States Virgin Islands. The island is 1700 miles south of New York, 1100 miles south east of Miami, near the eastern tip of the Caribbean island chain. On the same latitude as Acapulco and Hawaii, just below the Tropic of Cancer, it is eternal summer caressed by cooling tradewinds. The island is 22.7 miles long, and at its widest only 8 miles, but in this stretch there are great varying landscapes.
One of the island's biggest bragging rights is the diving. With visibility averaging 80 feet, St. Croix offers the only underwater National Park in the U.S. at Buck Island. St. Croix boasts a fantastic underwater wall along the north shore that rivals the Cayman walls, where you'll interact with a host of macro life, including the region's famous sea horses as well as pelagic sharks and eagle rays cruising the area. Dive Salt River Canyon, Cane Bay and the Frederiksted pier for some special dive log entries.
Visit Ft. Christianvaern built in 1774 by the Danes to guard Christiansted harbor, snorkel the underwater trail at Buck Island, wander around the 18th century Estate Whim Plantation, and see the fabulous display of island blooms at St. George Village Botanical Garden. You can rent a car here and navigate this sparsely populated island by yourself. Roads are good and grazing sheep, goats, and cattle make a pastoral scene unique to the tropics. Tours and taxis are readily available to get you around to all the sites. Most resorts are self-contained, but don't miss out on the wonderful cuisine around the island, especially the Whisky Lobster at Duggan's and the funky Cheesburger in Paradise. Ride horses, feed non-alcoholic beer to pigs, gamble in the casino, shop the duty-free stores, visit a rum factory, sail, golf, snorkel, dive, kayak, hike, bike, or just laze it up on the beach in a hammock--whatever you want to do, you can find it on St. Croix.
Local Information Since St. Croix is in the US Virgin Islands, the currency is the US Dollar, and English is the official language. Electricity in St. Croix is 110 volts A.C. and cars drive on the left. Due to the size of the island and the areas to explore, a rental car is recommended. You will need to show a valid driver's license to rent a car.
Airport
Information American Airlines offers frequent service to St. Croix from the U.S. mainland, with daily flights from New York and Miami.
Entry
Requirements We recommend all U.S. Citizens travelling abroad should carry a passport due to heightened security at airport check-in and immigration. If you do not have a passport or are not an American citizen, please contact your airline or your local consulate or embassy in regards to travel documentation necessary for your vacation.
