Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park is an idyllic Caribbean paradise located in the U.S. Virgin Islands!

Here you will find white sandy pristine beaches, crystal blue waters, historical sites, and lush tropical forests filled with exotic wildlife.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or an adventure-filled vacation, this park has something for everyone.

Explore ancient ruins and discover hidden coves on your own or join a guided tour to experience the best of what this amazing place has to offer.

From kayaking along secluded shores and snorkeling through vibrant coral reefs to hiking up rugged trails with breathtaking views—Virgin Islands National Park is sure to leave lasting memories that will stay with you forever!

Where is Virgin Islands National Park?

As the name implies, Virgin Islands National Park is located on the US Virgin Island of St. John. The park takes up nearly 60% of the island of St. John.

One thing that makes Virgin Islands National Park so unique is that more than 40% of the park is underwater! 

The visitor center for Virgin Islands National Park is located in Cruz Bay and is within walking distance from the ferry terminal. 

Be sure and stop at the visitor center, it’s a great first stop when you arrive at St John. There you can get your park map, and a few souvenirs and talk with a volunteer or staff member about how to best enjoy your time at the park. 

The Virgin Islands Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday from 9-3. 

Things to do at Virgin Islands National Park

There is no shortage of activities to keep you busy in Virgin Islands National Park.

• Snorkeling– with so much of the park underwater it is no surprise snorkeling is one of the top things to do. From sea grass bottoms that sea turtles love to coral reefs, there is so much to see underwater. 

Just a side note on snorkeling, please always use only reef-safe sunscreen. Even better, wear a rash guard so you don’t have to apply sunscreen at all. Keep our reefs healthy and safe. Don’t touch the turtles!

• Beach hopping- There are incredible beaches in Virgin Islands National Park, including Trunk Bay Beach, which has been voted the world’s most beautiful beach many times.  At Trunk Bay, you put on your snorkel gear and explore the underwater trail.

Maho Bay is another favorite and it was voted one of the world’s best beaches by Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine.

There is also Cinnamon Bay, which has snorkeling and kayaking rentals, a beach bar, and a restaurant.

Hawksnest Beach is great for families since it has a shallow area as well as plenty of shade.

• Hiking- while these aren’t the mountainous summits you may hike in parks like Mount Rainier, hiking the Virgin Islands is still something you should do. You’ll learn a lot about the history of the area this way. 

Some of the most popular hikes are”

Reef Bay Trail, which leads you to an old sugar mill and petroglyphs

Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop, will take you through a dry forest with plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities on the way and the remains of an old sugar plantation.

You should also check out the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins and The Ram Head Trail for incredible views. 

• Fishing and boating- be sure and check with NPS for regulations , but fishing and boating with motorized vessels are allowed in Virgin Islands National Park.

You can also take a ferry to the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix if you’re looking for a day trip. 

• Scuba Diving- USVI National Park has excellent scuba diving opportunities.  The waters are home to beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life. You can go on your own or join one of the many dive tours that operate in the area.

How to get to USVI National Park

There is no airport on the island of St John. To get to Virgin Islands National Park, you will need to fly into St. Thomas and then take a ferry to St John. 

Once you have arrived at St John you can get to the park either by renting a jeep (drive on the left), taking a taxi, or a bus.

The Closest Airport to USVI National Park is Cyril E King Airport on St Thomas

Ferry from St Thomas to St John from the airport

Taxis are plentiful on St Thomas, especially in popular places like the airport, cruise, and ferry terminals, and shopping areas.

🚗 You’ll want to have cash on hand for your fare as most taxis only accept cash. 

Taxi rates from Cyril E. King Airport in Charlotte Amalie St Thomas to the Red Hook ferry terminal are $15 if there is one person, and $11 per person if there are more than 2 people. 

The ferry from Red Hook (St. Thomas) to Cruz Bay (St. John) is about 20 minutes and costs $6.00 each way. The ferry runs every hour between 6 am and midnight. You can purchase ferry tickets at the terminal or online here. 

We did ours online and it saved us from having to wait in line for tickets. You’ll want to get to the ferry terminal about 30 minutes early. 

There is another ferry terminal in Charlotte Amalie, the West Indian Dock. Taxi rates from the airport to this ferry terminal are $7 for one person and $6 for 2 or more people. 

The ferry from West Indian Dock to Cruz Bay takes about 40 minutes and costs $12 each way. There are fewer times available for this ferry, so carefully check the schedule to be sure you understand it. You can find the ferry schedule from Charlotte Amalie to St John here. 

Ferry from St Thomas to St John from the cruise ports

If you are visiting as a port of call on a Caribbean Cruise, you’ll most likely need to come from St Thomas.

Many cruise lines visit the Virgin Islands each year. Once we were in St Thomas with 5 other ships, but by heading to St John we still didn’t notice it being crowded.

There are 2 cruise ports in St. Thomas, West Indian Co. Dock, and Crown Bay Dock. No matter which your cruise ship docks in, you will be able to easily catch a taxi to the ferry terminal. 

If you are visiting on a cruise, you NEED TO TAKE THE RED HOOK FERRY. You will NOT have time to take the West Indian Dock Ferry. 

The taxi from the cruise port to Red Hook Ferry Terminal is about $10 per person and the drive takes about 20 minutes. 

🚢 Be sure and err on the side of caution time-wise if you are cruising. You’ll need at least an hour to get from St Johns to the cruise ports. 

Getting from Cruz Bay to Virgin Islands National Park

Taxis are easy to find when you get off the ferry and in front of the most popular beach areas. Most taxis on St John are open-air-type trucks where benches are put in the back. 

Taxis are not metered, and rates are charged by the destination. We paid $7 to go from the ferry terminal to Cinnamon Bay in February 2022. 

You can check current St John taxi rates here. If you have rented a car and plan to drive to the beaches, remember to drive on the left. The roads are narrow and windy and on steep hills.

Parking is extremely limited at the beaches and you’ll see vehicles parked along the roads outside the popular beaches. 

Where to Stay at Virgin Islands National Park

If you plan on staying on St John, be prepared to spend some big bucks. One way to make the experience a bit more budget-friendly is to camp. 

Camping in the Virgin Islands National Park can only be done with reservations. The Cinnamon Bay Campground is located right on the beach. More information about camping at Virgin Islands National Park can be found here. 

Of course, if camping isn’t your style you can definitely find a nice hotel to stay in while visiting the Virgin Islands National Park. You could also stay in a hotel on St. Thomas and ferry over for day trips. 

➡️ Book a hotel in St John or St Thomas

Best Time to visit Virgin Islands National Park

Is there a bad time to be in the Virgin Islands? Probably not, but that being said, there are times that are better than others.

The winter is windier and drier, while the summer months are the rainy season. 

Hurricane season is June 1- November 30. 

When it is very windy, the snorkeling conditions aren’t as good.  Try snorkeling in the morning when the winds are not as strong.

History of St John and Virgin Islands National Park

Historically speaking, Virgin Islands National Park has much to offer. There are signs of the area being inhabited as early as 770 BC. Not much is known of these inhabitants, including where they originated from. 

We do know that they had no agriculture, and ate fish and plants. They appear to have lived in caves, or in the open. 

Around 200 AD people started migrating from South America to St John and brought pottery-making and agriculture with them.

You can visit Trunk Bay and see an example of what their villages might have looked like. They made stone tools and grew cotton.

In the 1400s the island was occupied by the Tainos. They were the first people to greet Christopher Columbus. The Tainos had their own spoken language and elaborate religious and political lifestyles.

They raised crops like sweet potatoes, sculpted with stone and shells, and traveled by canoe. Columbus named the island Santa Cruz and introduced sugarcane farming. 

In 1672, Danish sailing vessels arrived in St Thomas, and in 1675 they laid claim to St John. In 1718, St John was formally occupied by the Danish Settlers. There were 20 planters, 8 soldiers, and 18 slaves. At this time, Sugarcane and Cotton were the main crops here.

By 1905 most of the land was used for only cattle farming.

In 1917 the United States purchases the Danish West Indies for 25 million dollars in gold. 

In 1952 Laurence Rockefeller donates land to establish Virgin Islands National Park and it officially became a National Park in 1956. 

Virgin Islands National Park FAQs

Virgin Island National Parks Wrap Up

As you can see, Virgin Islands National Park may be off the beaten path but is well worth the effort of a visit. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but in the short time I was there this beautiful park captured a piece of my heart, and I cannot wait to get back there.