St. John is one of the most luscious islands in the Caribbean, with beautiful green mountains always surrounding you and crystal clear turquoise waters as far as the eye can see. Laurence Rockefeller actually donated the land years ago to the government to establish it as a National Park. This ensured the island would be kept in pristine condition, so now you can imagine why St. John’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world (and that I’ve ever seen).
In this post I share my experience island hopping in the British Virgin Islands and my time spent on St John. If you are planning your own trip here I hope my tips and advice will help you to have your best trip to the Caribbean.
BEACH HOPPING
After flying into St. Thomas, St. John is a quick 15-minute ferry ride away. The toughest part about the island is choosing which beaches to go to! Trunk Bay and Honeymoon Beach are more popular since they are easily accessible from town, offer water sport rentals, and have bathrooms nearby. Whilst at these beaches don’t miss out on the underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay or the breathtakingly clear waters at Honeymoon Beach.
The easiest way to avoid the “which beach should I go to” dilemma is to rent a dinghy. This small 4 person max boat is perfect for beach hopping around St. John. We went through Calypso charters and had an absolute blast, hiring a dinghy gives you the freedom to make your own day trip and to spend as much or as little time as you want in different places. Head over to Watermelon Cay or Maho Bay for some amazing snorkeling; we saw tons of fish, stingrays, starfish, and sea turtles!!
ISLAND HOPPING
When in St. John the question isn’t if I should rent a boat, the question is when should I rent a boat? The best part about the Virgin Islands is that they’re close in proximity, so it’s easy to not only beach hop, but to island hop as well. Since you can explore St. John on your own with a dinghy rental, have your captain take you over to one of the many other Virgin Islands instead.
Looking for a good time? Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke has a lively and fun beach party vibe. Don’t forget to order their famous drink, the “painkiller”! Looking for an unforgettable swim? Head over to the tiny island of Sandy Spit, which has crystal clear water and perfect white sand. (Fun fact: Corona commercials were filmed here!) Getting hungry? Boat to Willy T’s, a “pirate” ship off of Norman island with delicious fresh fish. Jump off the top of the ship if you’re feeling adventurous!
The options for beach and island hopping from St. John are truly infinite. You can’t go wrong as every beach has sparkling turquoise water, soft sand, and a beautiful view of islands off in the distance. I hope you get to experience this yourselves one day!
Have you visited the British Virgin Islands? Share your own tips and favourite beaches with our readers in the comments below. Read Next > Paradise Found At Remote Harbour Island
By We Are Travel Girls Contributor Julie Disch
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Kylee says
How GOOD are the painkillers from Soggy Dollar though?! I could possibly survive on them alone.