Ultimate Travel Guide to St. Croix U.S. Virgin Island Caribbean Vacation
Getaway to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Dreaming of warm Caribbean seas, toes in the sand and tiki huts with your favorite tropical drinks. Saint Croix USVI is the perfect destination for a couples winter getaway. Off we flew to the US Virgin Islands for an unforgettable experience. We kissed our four children goodbye, as well as, Michigan’s dreary snow and cold!
“This picture perfect island checks all the boxes: outdoor adventures, breath taking natural beauty, delicious cuisine, local culture and history. It’s the perfect romantic getaway for couples to connect and create memories together.”
From the plane I watched the lights of the airport diminish, just as my stress seemed to disappear too. Let me help reduce your pressure and planning time by sharing tips, highlights and details about all the things you need to know for a perfect vacation getaway to Saint Croix. Here you can find the best recommendations for where to stay, eat, and play!
We spent 7 days in this Caribbean Island as a couple, plus my husband has returned several times for work, learning a lot from locals while navigating the island. Check out our detailed recommendation for the Best Things to Do in Saint Croix.
Stunning sunsets on the island
Why We Love it!
As an active couple who love exploring new places, St. Croix offers tons of unique outdoor adventures that aren’t crowded and touristy. Discovering secluded beaches was common during our stay.
As the largest of the US Virgin Islands, Saint Croix boasts the clearest turquoise blue waters, sink your toes in sand, eclectic Caribbean cuisines and rich history and culture. There is so much to see and explore, we advise at least a week-long stay.
Haven’t got a passport; not a problem for American citizens since passports are not required in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Plus it’s a quick 3 hour flight from most airports on the East Coast, meaning more time spent relaxing on the island.
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Map of Saint Croix
Best of Saint Croix
Attractions and Things to Do
Explore the Beaches in St. Croix
With 23 different beaches to chose from, there are tons of options depending on your mood, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Get away on a secluded beach like Shoy’s Beach, or get active and have fun with lively ones like Rainbow Beach. Rainbow Beach features beachside restaurants with music, volleyball, and great rental packages for kayak, paddle board and snorkel gear.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best beaches on the entire island where you can see sea turtles or head to these off the beaten path beaches in Saint Croix if you want to avoid crowds.
Explore the Island of St. Croix
There are multiple ways to explore and view this gorgeous island by foot, by boat, on horseback or even ziping through the trees. Each tour is given by helpful guides and provides a glimpse into the history and culture of the Crucian people. A few to highlight include the following.
Hiking on St Criox
St. Croix is a wonderful place for hiking. Considered the most rural of the main U.S. Virgin Island, there are flourishing rainforests on the western side, as well as, rugged coastlines to explore. There are 7 different hikes that the park service maintain on the island, all with stunning views. One challenging, but amazing hike is to the Annaly Bay tidal pools, read all about it here.
Horseback Riding
If hiking isn’t your thing, let the horses do the work as you splash through the sea and ride on trails through the rainforest. Have you ever seen images of couples galloping on horseback along the beach, well this could be you! There are multiple places that provide tours, check out our recommendations here.
Guided kayak trips with Bush Tripe Echo Adventures
Explore the Caribbean Sea in St. Croix.
Explore the wonderous world under the waters. With warm 80 degree water, it’s an ideal time to experience snorkeling or scuba diving. Saint Croix is known for its breath taking underwater trail by Buck Island, it’s truly world renown.
Take a day trip by boat out to Buck Island Reef National Monument, this magnificent underwater trail along the vibrant coral reef is home of thousands of colorful fish. By far the highlight of our entire trip! We swam besides sting rays, turtles and even a lemon shark. There are many options for guided tours with renting equipment. Sail on an all inclusive day trip on Captain Big Beards Catamaran for a day of adventure.
Another incredible experience is a glowing Sea Thru Kayak trip through Salt River Bay National Preserve. This natural phenomena of bioluminescent occurs in only 7 other places in the entire world. Check the timing of your trip to correspond with the new moon phase for an optimum experience. It is well worth a visit for this one-of-kind experience. Bush Tribe Echo Adventures offer various hiking and kayaking adventures.
Explore the History and Towns
I hope you like rum! Tours are plentiful on the Island since it’s the home of two rum distilleries, Cruzan Rum and Captain Morgan. Schedule your tour to learn about the entire process and the history of this generational craft, plus there is rum tasting on both tours.
Artisanal shopping The two main towns offer handmade artesian goods in Frederiksted and Christiansted, which is all duty free. Enjoy meandering through the stores and old buildings which hold a lot of architectural interest and history.
Where to Stay /Accommodations
Utilize the map above to get an idea of where you would like to stay on the island. St. Croix is the largest of the four islands ( 28 miles long, 7 miles wide) so depending where you stay does pose a factor for transportation. Basically there are two towns on the Island, Frederiksted on the Western edge and Christiansted on the Northeast shore.
Saint Croix has a variety of options for accommodations from water front condos, budget conscious hotels, B&B’s, and even all inclusive resorts. Utilizing VRBO for deals on beach front condos or Bookings.com for the best resorts and hotels.
Our view from Club St. Croix Condos
Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort If you’re a fan of golf, splurge and stay at this golf resort, which includes breakfast in the mornings.
Diva Carina Beach Resort and Casino An all inclusive resort located on the East end of the Island.
King Christian Hotel A historic hotel in downtown Christiansted with views of city and an outdoor pool.
Carabola Beach Resort With beach front views, this four star resort has a pool and fitness center with top notch amenities.
The Fred An adults only boutique style hotel in Frederiksted
Club Saint Croix Tennis Private beach front condos with a beach side pool and gorgeous views. Includes an attached restaurant with drinks & yummy cocktails, plus a private beach. A quieter place with many retirees. After staying here, I fell in love with playing pickleball! Definitely hit the happy hour specials!
Dining Restaurants in Saint Croix
Those with a passion for food will get a treat for their tastebuds with local Crucian dishes, Caribbean and seafood options for an eclectic dining experiences.
Savant Dine in a romantic lit courtyard as you enjoy some of the best dishes on the Island. Definitely worth splurging for this food, one of our favorites of the entire trip. They focus on sourcing the freshest ingredients from farm to table. Call ahead for reservations.
Fred This stylish pool side restaurant is connected to The Fred boutique hotel in Frederiksted. It has views of the beach and is one of the newest places to dine on fresh seafood and crab cakes.
La Reine Chicken Shack When vacationing you gotta talk to the locals and find out the best place for authentic Crucian food like oxtail and ribs. The smells of rotisserie chickens rotating on skewers will have your mouth watering at this local restaurant.
You’re guaranteed to get delicious food with beachfront views. Lots of seafood options and fresh produce grown on the island at Duggan’s reef.
Rum Runners Restaurant is located right on the Pier in Christiansted, St. Croix. With a gorgeous view of the harbor, this a great spot for dinner, with everything from steak to seafood options. Plus it’s great location for people watching and viewing fish from the pier deck, we got to see silvery tarpons gliding through the water. Tarpons love congregating around piers in hopes that people will throw some leftover there way.
Looking for a lively crowd, head to this bar and grill beach restaurant. Stay awhile as you have dinner, drinks and stay for the fun. There is entertainment every night with musicians, salsa, bingo and crab racing. Great spot for kids and the whole family. Read about our crab winning the grand prize here.
Polly’s At The Pier If you’re in the quaint historical town of Frederiksted for shopping or visiting the beach, this casual place has amazing breakfast of waffles or breakfast burritos. Lunch options include wraps, gourmet grill cheese and salads.
Grocery Store- During our stay we enjoy making our own breakfast at the condo, drinks and snacks to cut down on the cost. We grabbed groceries at Plaza Extra East, everything is more expensive on the island than mainland.
Getting Around/ Transportation
Fly into the Henry E. Rohlson International Airport (airport code: STX)
Walking, taxi or a rental car are the three options for transportation in Saint Croix. The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. Choosing to rent a car during our stay, which I highly recommend, allowed us freedom to set our own time schedule and explore the entire island. Remember though, in Saint Croix you drive on the opposite side of the road, which only took us a couple days to adjust to during our week-long stay. Your best bet is to reserve your vehicle at the airport ahead of time with Rentalcars.com.
Safety As a young female, I felt safe running solo in the mornings and exploring by myself when my husband was working. Never once during our stay did I feel unsafe. On the two occasions, I took a taxi, Club Saint Croix recommended a specific driver and we utilized his services when needed.
Typical Cost
How much money will you need for your trip to the US Virgin Islands? This is a rough estimate for a weeklong trip for two people= $2,300- 2,800, depending on multiple factors.
Accommodations $150- $250 / night
Rental Car $45 / day
Taxi $25 per person to/from the airport in a taxi
Meals/day $50- 100
Beer/ Drinks $6 – $10
Best Time to Visit/ Weather in Saint Croix
The U.S. Virgin Islands can be visited year round. Expect a temperature range between low 70’s to high 80’s. Plus, the water temperatures are pure heaven, in the low 80s. A quick run down of the seasons.
Winter - Ideal weather for those wanting to escape the winter
Spring Due to spring break the prices are the highest prices and largest crowds.
Fall The least busy and the cheapest time to travel.
Summer continues to get a steady amount of visitors.
Tips
Driving is on the opposite side of the road in Saint Croix, so keep to the left side.
Head to the Western shoreline beaches for the best romantic sunsets as you walk hand in hand with your lover
One beach that does have extra amenities and water sport rentals is Rainbow Beach.
Beach combers keep your eyes peeled for fragments of Pottery called Chaney, which can be found around the island.
What to Pack
High level sunscreen Look for a non-mineral based Chemical sunscreens (non mineral based) are banned in the USVI to help protect our coral reef systems. We recommend purchasing Reef Safe Sunscreen ahead of time because everything is more expensive on the island.
Snorkel Gear
You can rent snorkel gear, but having your own is definitely beneficial. We brought our own US Divers Snorkel Gear with bag, which helped us take advantage of swimming at many secluded beaches and opportunities to swims close to sea turtles, sea horses and sting rays that we spotted in their natural habitats while at various beaches.
Under Water Camera
I highly suggest bringing an underwater camera. Disappointed with so many missed once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, like swimming by a lemon shark, sea turtles and sting rays, we immediately purchased the Proshot Underwater Camera case upon returning from our trip which turns your phone into your own underwater camera. We have used it at beach and pool multiple times and love it.
FAQs About Visiting St Croix
Is St. Croix safe for tourists?
St. Croix is safe for tourists. When traveling anywhere, use common sense in your journeys.
What is the best month to go to St. Croix?
Saint Croix is beautiful to visit all year round, although the best months to visit St. Criox is March and June, when rainfall is low and temperatures are more moderate
What is St. Croix known for?
St. Croix is known for it’s top notch snorkeling and scuba diving. Outside of the town are white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and stunning views. Tourists will love duty-free shopping, delicious cuisines, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing.
Can US citizens travel to St. Croix easily?
Yes, Saint Croix is in the U.S. Virgin Islands so American citizens can travel to St. Croix and between the four U.S. Virgin Islands easily. No passport is required for US citizens which avoids a lot of hassle and stress. The currency is the U.S. dollar.
What are people from Saint Croix called? What Language is spoken in St. Croix?
The people of St. Croix are called Crucians. They speak English, although accents vary between islands.
Can’t wait for you to experience this beautiful Caribbean Island. You definitely won’t regret it! Follow Discovering Anew for more travel guides.
Are you planning a romantic getaway to St. Croix and looking for couples activities? Discover the best secluded beaches, romantic dining, and unforgettable experiences that Saint Croix has to offer. Check out our personal recommendation for Buck Island snorkeling, kayaking in the bioluminescent bay, couples massages, and secluded beaches on your Caribbean vacation.