Ultimate St. Croix Guide & Itinerary

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is known for its food, beaches and local island living. Free from mega-resorts and crowded shores, St. Croix is the perfect Caribbean getaway to experience the simplicity of island life outside of the gates of an all-inclusive. After spending a few months living on the island, I’ve compiled a guide to help you plan your ultimate St. Croix itinerary.

When to Go

Peak tourist season is from December to March. This is when the island is the coolest and it attracts tourists who come to escape the cold winter on the US mainland. Another time to consider visiting is during hurricane season, which is from August to November. Although this is a very unpredictable time of  year, as long as you invest in flight insurance and check refund policies, it can be a great time to visit. Flights and hotels are at their cheapest, and tours and restaurants are less crowded. The weather is at its hottest this time of year, but so is the water.

How to Get There

The most popular way to get to St. Croix is by plane. No need to research airports for this trip, since the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport is the only one on the island.

How to Get Around

The easiest way to get around on the island is by renting a car.  I recommend renting as early as possible, since there are a limited amount of cars available. Size-wise, I recommend choosing a small SUV at a minimum. Although the roads have come a long way in the past five years, there are still plenty of potholes and stretches of uneven pavement. Lastly, on St. Croix,  driving is on the left side of the road. It takes an adjustment, but it is relatively easy because the largest road there is a four- lane highway.

Planning Your St. Croix Itinerary

St. Croix has two main towns: Christiansted, which is on the eastern side of the island, and Frederiksted, which is on the west. To put it bluntly, the eastern side is the wealthier side of the island and is home to most of the upscale restaurants, resorts and large private estates. On the western side, you’ll find the best beaches, the rainforest and the cruise ships that have come to dock. It only takes about 40 minutes to drive from Christiansted to Frederiksted, but it’s worth considering which side of the island you want to stay and spend more time on when planning your St. Croix itinerary.

Where to Stay

1. The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer is the only luxury resort on St. Croix and is located on the eastern side of the island. Complete with a spa, golf course, tennis court and a private villa, it’s a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons. As featured on The Bachelorette, The Buccaneer offers several romantic packages for the ultimate couple’s getaway. 

2. Carambola Beach Resort

Tucked away behind Mount Eagle on the northern side of the Island, you’ll find Carambola Beach Resort. It’s a hidden retreat with tropical treehouse-style bungalows where you will find unparalleled views of the beach and of the mountains (as shown in the cover picture of this guide). 

3. The Fred

The Fred, a boutique adults-only resort, is the newest hotel on the island. It is located steps away from the beach in Frederiksted, making it the perfect spot to sit and watch the sunset over the water.

4. Hotel on the Cay

Hotel on the Cay is one of the most unique places to stay in St. Croix, as it is located on its very own private island, Protestant Cay. The island is a five-minute boat ride away from the Christiansted boardwalk, and a ferry service shuttles visitors back and forth on a daily schedule. In addition to the hotel, Protestant Cay has an outdoor bar, a restaurant and a beautiful beach for sunbathing and/or swimming. 

5. Colony Cove

Colony Cove Resort is a gated community of condos overlooking Sugar Beach. Each unit has a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, living room and terrace. This is a great place for a long- term stay, since it is more of an apartment, versus being a typical hotel room. 

6. VRBO

If you’re looking to stay in a rental property, I recommend browsing VRBO. Airbnb is available in St. Croix, but VRBO – which is essentially the same thing – has many more options from which to choose.  Depending on how many people you’re traveling with, there are some gorgeous estates for rent that are situated in the mountains  that would make for an unforgettable vacation. 

What to Do

1. Sandy Point Beach

Sandy Point Beach is part of the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge and is closed April through August due to turtle nesting season. This beach is a local favorite and is exactly what you think of when you picture pristine sand and clear, turquoise Caribbean water. The only caveat here is that since it is a Wildlife Refuge, there are no amenities and there is little-to-no shade. However, if you’re a beach lover – it’s a must see – even if you just stop by.  

2. Rainbow Beach

Rainbow beach, located on the western side of the island, is a very lively spot that has water sports, rental beach furniture and an outdoor bar/restaurant. My favorite thing about this spot is that there is music playing  all day long, which really sets the vibe for a great beach day. Get yourself a noodle, relax in the water, and float your worries away.

3. Buck Island

Buck Island Reef is a national monument about one hour north of St. Croix. Famous for its elkhorn reef and unique variety of marine wildlife, it has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The best way to explore Buck Island is through a guided tour. Available here are full-day and half-day tours, snorkel trips and more. Most of the tours leave from the Christiansted boardwalk.

4. Point Udall

Point Udall is the easternmost point of the United States. It’s located right off the main road and is a popular place to watch the sun rise. At the point, there’s a sundial monument and a great view. Visiting is by no means a full-day activity, but it’s a cool place to stop, take some pictures and cross off the bucket list. 

5. Tide Pools

The western side of the island is home to St. Croix’s lush rainforest. Take a scenic 40-minute hike through the forest to explore the Carambola tide pools hidden along the coast. You can visit them by yourself or through a guided tour. Although beautiful, the pools are rocky and the waves can be very strong at high tide, so make sure to bring water shoes and proceed with caution.

6. Bioluminescent Bay

St. Croix is home to two of the world’s bioluminescent bays, which in my opinion, are some of earth’s most magical natural wonders.  Bioluminescent bays are full of microorganisms that, when agitated, produce light – think underwater fireflies. The best way to visit these bays is through a nighttime kayak guided tour. I highly recommend this one, since the glass-bottom kayaks really provide you with an extraordinary experience. Before going on the tour, I had a hard time finding out what to expect, since it’s extremely hard to capture these lights on photographs or on video. So, I’ve written a review here detailing exactly what it is like. To sum it up, on a dark, clear moonless night, it’s like you’re floating somewhere in space, surrounded by shooting stars. 

>> Related Post >> What it’s Actually Like to Explore a Bioluminescent Bay

Where to Eat

Out of the three US Virgin Islands, St. Croix is known for having the best food, and it does not disappoint. From juicy burger joints to fresh-caught seafood, to vegan delicacies, this island truly has it all. Since there are so many great places to eat here, I’ve devoted a full blog post to them linked here *coming soon*.  

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As for coffee,  there are no chain or local coffee shops on the island. However, for those of you (like me) who need a daily caffeine fix, I’ve included here my favorite local coffee spots. 

1. If you are driving from the airport to Frederiksted on the Queen Mary Highway, you’ll see a yellow and blue gas station on your right. Inside the gas station there’s a small bakery, but most importantly, an espresso machine! Stop in for the best latte you can get on the island. 
2. My second favorite spot for coffee is at Polly’s at the Pier in Frederiksted. They serve their iced coffee with coffee ice cubes and also have a whole menu full of fun, frozen drinks.

Know Before You Go

Although St. Croix is still part of the US, there are a few big differences between it and the mainland. Here’s a summarized list of a few things you should know before you go:

• There are no chain drug stores on the island: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid etc. If you need any prescriptions or specific medication, make sure to pack them in advance.
• There is no large hospital on the island. There are medical centers and a small, local hospital in Christiansted, but the closest hospitals with greater resources are in St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. 
• Similar to the rest of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix is expensive. Since most goods are imported, food, cars, and materials all come at a high-price.
• All beaches are public. Resorts may charge you a fee for using their amenities, but otherwise you are legally permitted to enjoy any beach on the island.

Sample St. Croix Itinerary

This guide is meant to be used to help you create a personalized itinerary, but if you need a jumpstart, I’ve outlined two samples below. The first itinerary is tailored for the explorer: someone who wants to go, go, go and loves to partake in physically-active adventures. The second is tailored for someone looking for a relaxing getaway: a luxury experience to escape from everyday stress and to create new memories.

St Croix Itinerary For the Explorer

St. Croix Itinerary For a Relaxing Getaway

St. Croix is a warm and welcoming island, only a few hours from the US mainland. Planning a trip? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below. I hope you have the best time exploring local favorites and soaking up the island sun.

Safe travels,

-Kira

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