St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands National Park

Welcome to Paradise.

Virgin Islands National Park located on the Island of St. John is a tropical paradise full of amazing things to do: white sand beaches, jungle ruins, underwater worlds and more!

We visited St. John National Park, our 43rd park, in November 2021. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is national park, making it a unique destination for visitors. Stunning white sand beaches are the highlight of this national park but the park features stories of native Taino people, enslaved and free Africans, and an incredibly unique culture.

St. John was ravaged by the one-two punch of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and is still making a gradual comeback. The famous palm trees that lean out over the water were almost entirely destroyed. The Caneel Bay Resort remains uninhabitable but the surrounding beaches are still enjoyed by tourists! The white sand beaches, crystal clear waters provide perfect snorkeling conditions. Just remember to look – don’t touch!

A few of our favorites

Getting around
The first day we took the car ferry from St. Thomas to St. John and were able to explore the park with our Jeep. The second day we chartered a sail boat with Max Charters to explore from the Sea.

Junior Ranger Badges
Acquire from Cruz Bay Visitors Center

Swim with turtles
in their natural habitat at Maho Beach

Smoothies and sandwiches at North Shore Deli to eat on the road!

Cruz Bay shopping
Many wonderful shops along the wharf and surrounding streets.

Snorkeling

Suggested Hikes
Caneel Hill Trail, Reef Bay Trail, Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop And Accessible Trail

Tour the Catherineberg Ruins

Trunk Bay Sunset

Where We Stayed
The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas