The US Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands are located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean (between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea) and are comprised of approximately 50 islands and cays, the largest of which are St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island.
You can easily visit all three islands during their stay. St. John is only 20 minutes away from St. Thomas by ferry. Regularly scheduled small-plane service, sea planes, hydrofoil and commercial airlines link St. Thomas and St. Croix. The inter-island flight takes about 20 minutes. Helicopter service also connects the islands.
There are 50 islands in the USVI Archipelago . St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas are just the biggest and most popular. But the others ranging in size from the sparsely populated Water Island to uninhabited rocks jutting out of the clear, blue sea cast an equally enchanting spell of mystery and romance. St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, lies entirely in the Caribbean Sea. St. John and St. Thomas, 40 miles to the east of St. Croix, lie between the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Water Island, the "Fourth Virgin Island," is the newest addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands family. Located off of picturesque Charlotte Amalie Harbor, this tiny Caribbean jewel is home to a gorgeous white-sand shore called Honeymoon Beach.
The islands were formed about 100 million years ago, from the undersea crust that rose to the surface because of volcanic eruptions. St. John, the smallest of the three major islands, is an environmentalist's dream. Two-thirds of St. John is protected by the National Park Service. Among the 40 beaches on St. Thomas, Magens Bay is "one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world," according to National Geographic Magazine. There is less than a 5 degree Fahrenheit difference in temperature from winter to summer. Warmer days are cooled by pleasant trade winds.
Colourfully costumed stilt dancers known as "Mocko Jumbies" can be seen throughout the islands in festival parades. The name refers to Jumbies, mischievous elf-like spirits of 13th-century West-African traditions. Technically, kallaloo is a soup made of seafood and greens. But the word also refers to any mess, as in: "What a kallaloo!" Limin' (lie-min) means groovin', layin' back, relaxing, enjoying the day. The Love Bush is an indigenous plant on which honeymooners carve their initials. Soursop is a popular island drink made of soursop fruit, milk, water, sugar and spices. Cruzan Rum is one of the USVI's biggest exports and one of its most popular souvenirs. Distilled on St. Croix since the 17th century, the rum is found in many of the islands' tropical drinks. Banana daiquiris are said to have first been made at Mountain Top on St. Thomas.
Cuisine
Although restaurants in the U.S. Virgin lslands feature international cuisine, including French, Japanese, Italian and Chinese, visitors are encouraged to try a variety of West Indian specialities, including fresh local fish and Caribbean lobster. There's no shortage of nightlife in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Folk music, calypso, jazz, blues, reggae and rock can be heard at hotels, restaurants and bars.
Shopping
Born to shop? With no sales or luxury taxes and no customs duties on items such as watches, cameras, liquor, jewellery, perfume, china and leather goods, the U.S. Virgin Islands is a free port for visitors. U.S. citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping quota of $1,200 twice that of any other island in the Caribbean and three times that of European countries. The readers of Caribbean Travel & Life voted Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas the "best duty-free shopping port" in the Caribbean. Mongoose Junction on St. John is a shopper's paradise and ths newly built King's Alley Walk on St. Croix has added even more stores to the quaint town of Christiansted.
St Thomas
For many reasons, St. Thomas is a favourite destination for vacationers from all over the world. With 40 beautiful beaches, world-class dining and overlooks offering spectacular views. Visitors to the island will be amazed by the beauty they discover. According to National Geographic Magazine, Magens Bay is "one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world." The island's lush, green foliage and colourful tropical flowers provide the perfect backdrop for every vacation. With its quaint shopping arcaded and waterfront restaurants, downtown Charlotte Amalie can entertain visitors for days. Some of the best deals in the Caribbean can be found in the shops that line the downtown streets. The U.S. Virgin Islands duty-free status makes this bustling market a shopper's paradise.
Unlimited watersports are also available for visitors who like recreation. Scuba divers will thrill at the colourful marine life found in the crystal-clear waters that surround St. Thomas. The reefs surrounding the island, teem with stingrays, pufferfish moray eels and every type of Caribbean reef fish. Flat Cay, near the southwest end of the island, features coral-encrusted ledges, tunnels and swim-throughs. Wrecks found around the west end of the island, such as the WIT Concrete and the WIT Shoal are great dives. 100ft 30m visibility is not uncommon at these sites.
Golfers looking to tee off while enjoying a spectacular view of the Caribbean will want to try the 18 holes at famous Mahogany Run Golf Course. Good luck to all who attempt the course's Devil's Triangle a trio of cliffside holes so challenging that anyone who completes them without a penalty is awarded a special certificate.
The US Virgin Islands offer some of the best dive spots in the Caribbean. On St Croix, Cane Bay Reef, Davis Bay and Salt River Bay are popular diving spots known for their 13,000-foot deep sub-sea canyon and steep diving walls. Pillsbury Sound between St. Thomas and St. John offers several shipwrecks, encrusted with brightly coloured sponges and coral. Off St. John, large boulder and rock formations such as Carvel Rock and Congo Cay offer interesting dives through unusual coves. There are over 60 dive sites regularly dived around the islands.
Accommodations
Whether you're looking for a luxurious resort overlooking the Caribbean or an inn with a view of the harbour, St. Thomas has the ideal getaway spot for you - there is accommodation for every budget.
Getting There:
Every Friday Air 2000 flies direct to St Thomas from London Gatwick and there are many connections through Puerto Rico and Mainland US. Just 1,500 miles southeast of New York City the islands are easily reached by air and sea from anywhere in the U.S. The islands are a 3-1/2 hour non-stop flight from New York City; 3-1/2 hours non-stop from Baltimore; 3 hours non-stop from Atlanta; and 2-1/2 hours non-stop from Miami. American Airlines, Delta and USAir offer regularly scheduled flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several smaller airlines also service the islands.
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Blue Island Divers
St Thomas by Mik Carr
Scuba Diving Magazine Guide to the US Virgin Islands
Best After Touch Down
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