St. John Island Guide: Things to Do
Activities List:
St. John is a picturesque little island that offers nature lovers an array of activities to partake in. One of the most popular activities is going to the beach, and that makes perfect sense considering many of the islands' fine sandy shorelines are protected by the National Park Service. For those interested in beach hoping visit the Beach Guide. An Attraction Guide and Shopping Guide are also available.
Get a bird’s eye view of St. Thomas and St. John and perhaps neighboring islands on an aerial tour! Aerial tours are available on St. Thomas by helicopter and on Cessna aircrafts. The pilot will point out popular sights and areas. An excellent option for photographers! Tours can range from 20 minutes to one hour and range in price from $99 to $120 a person.
St. John is quite mountainous. Bike tours and rentals are limited. Half day and full day tours range from $45-$90.
Rent a boat and plan your own itinerary; stop at a few snorkeling spots, have a nice picnic on a deserted beach or a fun family trip to a neighboring island. Boat rental operators will provide directions and advice on good locations to visit. You can also rent a dinghy for near shore exploration and beach hopping!
There are video slot machines in independent locations on St. John; primarily at bars and restaurants. There are no casinos on St. John; the only casino in the U.S. Virgin Islands is on St. Croix.
Culture in the Virgin Islands is Caribbean meets American, so plan on enjoying it by taking in a local event, trying local food or listening to a local band perform. You might plan your visit around Carnival or during a Jazz or Blues Festival.
Day Charters (Snorkel Trips, BVI Excursions, Sunset Sails)
Enjoying the magnificent waters around St. John will be the highlight of your vacation. Sail or motor into quiet coves, snorkel beautiful reefs and just bask in the delightfully warm sun and tropical breezes. Or take a sunset sail and enjoy the tranquil beauty and romance of Caribbean evenings.
Eco-Tours & Park Adventures
Explore the wonderful natural environment around St. John by taking a guided kayak, hobie catamaran, hiking or snorkeling adventure trip into ecologically fascinating areas and through the Virgin Islands National Park. Tours typically include a guide that describes history, ecology and fauna as you go along.
Some 21 world records in fishing have been set in recent years in the Virgin Islands; evidence of the amazing experiences that are in store for anglers! Take an offshore fishing charter and test your luck at catching a marlin or enjoy a few hours of inshore fishing for snook and bonefish.
There are no golf courses on St. John, however a short ferry ride away on St. Thomas is Mahogany Run Golf Course. There is a miniature golf course on St. John. Tennis courts are available at island resorts and non-guests often are allowed to pay a fee and use the courts. There are public courts in Cruz Bay. A few vacation rental homes include tennis courts among their amenities, so a tennis lover might consider renting such a vacation home for their stay.
The Virgin Islands National Park is located on St. John and it offers over 20 hiking trails. They vary in length and difficulty.
Enjoy a horseback or donkey ride while visiting St. John. Take a sunset or full moon ride. Trail rides on St. John are generally on the east end of the island through semi-dry forest trails and typically last 2 to 3 hours.
The Virgin Islands (USVI and BVI) are made up of more than 120 islands and cays. There are eight inhabited islands, four in the U.S. Virgin Islands and four in the British Virgin Islands. Each island has it's own unique atmosphere. Ferry service and inter-island air travel makes island hopping possible.
Island Tours ~ Scenic Drives
St. John has several lookout points that provide stunning views, historic sugar plantation ruins, scenic drives and the gorgeous scenery of the Virgin Islands National Park. How you take it all in is up to you. The most popular option is an island tour by taxi, but you can also rent a car and take a self guided driving tour.
Jet skis are available in single and double riders and are often rented out by the ½ hour. Availability is limited and there are restrictions on where they can be taken. The few water sports operators that have jet skis offer them as part of guided jet ski tours. Kayaks are available at some beach resorts and provide an invigorating way to explore the beach and coastline.
Interested in enjoying the waters around St. John and want to feel the exhilarating rush of knowing how to sail whether on a basic level or advanced. You can, sailing lessons are available on St. John and on St. Thomas, which is just a short ferry ride from St. John. Courses include different levels from basic to advanced.
Parasailing is a high-flying sport and offers a great way to view the islands from the air and the sea. Parasailers sit in a harness attached to a parachute that lifts off from a boat deck. Soon the person is sailing high in the air, soaring to heights of 500 feet.
Explore corals and gorgonian forest of sea fans. Swim among turtles, parrotfish, blue tangs and so much more. Dive operators are familiar with the various dive locations and can safely guide you to and around them. They can take you out for the first time, teach you to dive, get you certified and instruct you for higher levels of dive certification.
Snorkeling and Super Snorkeling
With the use of a mask and snorkel you can float on the surface and admire marine life below or super snorkel and explore from under water. View gorgeous coral reefs and an abundance of fish.
Spas are available at resorts; they offer massages, body wraps, facials and an assortment of other services to help you pamper yourself while on island. Private masseuses are also available.
Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing (or Kiteboarding)
While many people come to the Virgin Islands for beaches, snorkeling, sailing, scuba diving and a great number of other water sports, the waters around the islands also beckon surfers to challenge the waves and winds!
Whales migrating from the North Atlantic are sometimes seen in the waters around the Virgin Islands (roughly December through March). The humpback whale being the most popular. Educational whale watching excursions are typically announced by environmental groups a few weeks prior to their intended outing. Such tours are most popular around February-March.
St. John offers rest, relaxation and an adequate amount of sporting activities. Plan the activities you would like to do most and have a great vacation!
