Active Vacation Guide for the Virgin Island National Park

More than half of St John Island is national park land, with 40% under water. Depending on the sport or activity, you will want to plan your trip to fit the weather. Great times to visit the park are during the early spring and summer months, March through October. However, winter vacations to the island also have much to offer.

Touring the park starts with a visit to the visitor center in Cruz Bay. The center offers exhibits, videos, brochures, maps, books, and activity schedules. Rangers can arrange guided hikes and snorkeling trips as well as where to find campgrounds, historical sites, and cultural demonstrations. The Visitors Center Provides weekly programs ranging from Bird Watching to guided snorkeling. Evening programs are the hit of vacations at the Cinnamon Bay Amphitheater located at the campground. Evening programs range from stargazing to cultural monodramas about life of the Caribbean natives.

Hiking trails in the park ranges from easy to difficult, with some having steep rocky uphill terrain. Many trails interconnect that allows an experienced hiker the ability to create his or her own trail. Guided tours of the five our Reef Bay Valley gives the hiker opportunities to see petroglyphs, sugar mill ruins, and many of the islands birds and tropical forests. The guided hike includes transportation to the tail head and boat pickup to return hikers to Cruz Bay visitor's center. The cost is about $21 for the guided hike. Other hikes such as the Annaberg area trails lead through mangrove forest and shallow reef flats. The trail provides the hiker with sights of land crabs, sea birds, and small tidal marine life. It is recommended that the hiker wear light colored loose fitting clothing for protection against insets, sunburn and thorny bushes. In addition, the liberal use of insect repellent is a necessary agent against mosquitoes and sand flies.

The waters around the island's park are a popular cruising playground for boaters all over the world. Sailing and boating is the only way to explore many of the Virgin Islands hidden harbors and diving spots. Charter operators provide short-term excursions as well as several week vacation excursions. You have many options, power or sail, crew or unscrewed. The national park has marine resource protection rules and regulations that require boat visitors to follow. Including how and where to anchor and moor for the night. Anchorages and moorings are available for overnight stays in most of the bays. Moorings in Park waters are limited to 14 nights during a 12-month period and payments are a self-registration fee of $15 per night.

Camping on parkland is restricted to Cinnamon Bay. The site has tented cabins and cottages equipped with cooking supplies and linens. The campground has a store on the premises that offers food and other supplies. There is also a camp cafeteria. Reservations are mandatory during the high season. Maho Bay also has a privately owned campground with tent cabins stocked with cooking supplies. The Maho Bay campground facilities include a store and meals served in a central dining area.

Fishing is permitted with hand rods and line within park boundaries. Spiny lobster is open year round and can be caught by hand or snare. Conch season is October through Jun. Limit catch is two per person per day. Fishing is not allowed in Trunk Bay, nor is spear fishing allowed in any part of the national park waters. Deep-sea fishing is available through charter boats and other outfitters on the island.

Snorkeling and diving one of St John's many bays is not to be missed on an active vacation. Snorkeling and Scuba is permitted in areas adjacent to beaches. Trunk Bay has a self-guided snorkeling trail complete with underwater signs. However, scuba is prohibited in Trunk Bay. Local dive and snorkel shops provide rental gear and offer off shore trips. Snorkeling is a great way to see the coral reefs, fish, and other marine life. At the Cinnamon Bay Beach Shop, a swimmer can rent mask, snorkel, flippers, and vest for a day of swimming with the fish. Swimming with the turtles and dolphins is a great afternoon entertainment.

St John's beaches are great for a little relaxing sunbathing. Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Hawksnest Bay have changing rooms, snack bar and gear rentals. The Trunk bay beach also has a souvenir shop. A life guards are on duty at Trunk Bay, but may not be available at the other bay beaches. A few of the beaches also have picnic areas with tables, grills and restrooms.

Finally, a kayaking trip from Bay to Bay is a great way to explore several areas at one time. Kayaks can be rented in Cruz Bay at one of the water sport outfitters. Alternatively, Cinnamon Bay campground supplies great kayaking, along with rentals and paddling instruction. For those that want a little more excitement, can rent a windsurf board and play in the prevailing trade winds of Cinnamon Bay. Alternatively, on the southern tip of the island in Coral Bay, exploring by kayaking is a wonderful experience. Especially in Hurricane Hole where are four smaller bays that invite exploration. However, kayakers must keep an eye for local fishermen nets in the water.