St. John

Welcome to the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands! Saint John is small by most standards, just 20 square miles in area, but vast in abundant, unspoiled forests, mangroves and coral reefs.

Sparsely populated by just under 3,000 islanders, Saint John offers a look back in time to a Caribbean that attracted the likes of pirates like Blackbeard and Bluebeard and dozens less famous or feared. Resident and migratory birds find shelter in the forests of the Virgin Islands National Park which covers half the island. Cuckoos, hummingbirds and warblers can be seen, and heard here, and while dolphins cavorting at the surface are a common sighting in the waters surrounding the island, hawkbill and green turtles are also often spotted in the clear seas.

Amenities on Saint John vary from eco-friendly cabins or camp sites, to luxury hotels and villas. So whether you are looking to be close to nature, or want to take a stroll through the shops in the historic town of Cruz Bay, Saint John has what you are looking for. Ferries arrive daily from St. Thomas and St. Croix with visitors looking to explore our tiny island treasures, like the hiking trails, ancient ruins and national park.

Shopping on Saint John runs more towards local, eclectic hand-painted clothing, handmade jewelry, art and pottery rather than the global brands associated with the duty-free shops on St. Thomas.

After sundown, Saint John becomes even more relaxed. The vibe here is very laid back, with reggae music and jazz, open air watering holes and street bars and the sounds of steel pan drums. Many visitors like to wander away from their resort and find themselves mingling with the locals in Coral Bay’s more colorful bars or “hanging out” in Cruz Bay to get that tiny island feel that is Saint John.