Things to do in the US Virgin Islands

Besides the plethora of duty free shopping on hand, some other things to do in the US Virgin Islands include some excellent swimming, snorkeling and diving. The deep sea fishing here is also very good, as is the sailing with many sheltered bays to navigate through. Surfing and windsurfing are also great here, but mostly in the winter months. For those who want to stay on land, there are some good hiking opportunities on the island of St. John.

Swimming, Diving and Snorkeling

With a number of beautiful beaches in the US Virgin Islands, it is of little surprise that the swimming, diving and snorkeling opportunities here are world class. Warm water temperatures and crystal clear waters off the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix and Saint John mean that you can discover a wealth of marine life here. Turtles, rays, barracudas, sharks and a wealth of tropical fish and coral, make swimming, diving and snorkeling here truly special.

On St. Thomas, Hull Bay and Magens Bay have some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. On St. Croix, the north shores of the island offer some exceptional diving with numerous dive sites to enjoy. Night-diving here is also very common. The Cane Bay drop-off, the North Star All and the Butler Bay wreck all offer some great dives.

Sailing

The US Virgin Islands offers some of the best sailing in the world. There are several tour companies on the islands that rent boats and offer some great sailing trips and excursions. On the island of St. Croix, you can enjoy some lovely three and five day sailing vacations, where you can learn how to sail with an experienced crew.

Fishing

Fishing is very popular in the US Virgin Islands with several national and international deep sea fishing tournaments held year every year. In the spring and summer months, marlin is the fish to catch, while in the fall, sailfish and wahoo are common. In the winter months, dorado can be caught here.

Surfing and Windsurfing

The best time to come surfing or windsurfing in the US Virgin Islands is in the winter when the waves are big and fast. You can catch some awesome swells at Hull Bay on the island of St Thomas. One thing to remember is to bring your own surf board and as there are not many surf rental shops around.