Extra-Virgin Island Sun, Sand, and Sport, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Trip

Three-fourths of St. John consists of the Virgin Islands National Park and we are staying in the secluded and undeveloped south side by Little Lameshur Bay where few people venture; therefore this trip has earned the title “Extra-Virgin."

Find out why St. John is so pristine as we explore and gain a respect for this mountainous island through snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking. Thanks to philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, St. John is very different from St. Thomas, where hotels claim the best beaches and private homes dominate the views. 

Over 5,600 acres of the Caribbean around St. John is included within the national park due to its coral and marine life, which we will experience as we snorkel out from various beaches and during a half day trip from our own private 40-foot trawler. Danish colonial sugar plantation ruins and ancient petroglyphs are also part of our adventure.

Participants do not need to prepare meals on this trip, all meals are provided by our place of lodging, the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS).

Day 1: All participants will be picked up at the Cruz Bay Dock by 2:30 p.m. for a leisurely trip to our remote and rustic eco-camp, VIERS, at Little Lameshur Bay on the southeastern side of the island. The nearest airport is St. Thomas. Ferries from two locations on St. Thomas run frequently to Cruz Bay. Early in the evening, we will have a get acquainted party and evening meal at VIERS.

Day 2: After an early breakfast we will drive to Reef Bay trailhead, in the middle of St. John. Our hike will take us through moist sub-tropical forest into dry forest and eventually to Reef Bay where a boat will take us back to VIERS, for lunch. This hike incorporates a variety of plant life such as kapok, Indian locust ad sandbox tree. We will see some fascinating ruins including Josie Gut Sugar Estate and the well-preserved remains of the Reef Bay Sugar Mill. Additionally, we will take the short Petroglyph Trail and view the rock carvings attributed to pre-Columbian Taino people. If it has abundantly rained recently, we may get an extra treat in seeing the waterfall by the pools. Hike is three miles. After returning to VIERS and having lunch, grab your swimsuit and head off to Little Lameshur Bay for sunning, swimming, and snorkeling. Enjoy a slide presentation about the ocean life and conservation concerns in the area.

Day 3: After breakfast we will drive to Cruz Bay for a day of kayaking on the beautiful Caribbean Sea. We will take breaks on beaches for snorkeling and swimming and have a picnic lunch on a deserted cay. The kayaks are two-person and instruction will be available for those new to kayaking.

Day 4: We will drive to the north shore after breakfast and wade in the shallows at Leinster Bay with a National Park Service Ranger and learn about sea and plant life. It follows along brackish water, with a mangrove forest along the shoreline. Later we will visit the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins. Here we will see cultural demonstrations and learn the history of producing raw cane-sugar and its two valuable byproducts, rum and molasses. Incredible views over the Caribbean and the neighboring islands will be ours as we picnic with our packed lunches. We will then walk along a flat trail for a mile, to a prime snorkeling spot at Waterlemon Bay and spend some time snorkeling before returning to VIERS.

Day 5: We will hike to Ram Head to a cliff 200 feet above the Caribbean Sea for magnificent windswept scenery. Along the way, we will pass by a unique blue cobble beach, then switchback up the hillside. Iguanas have been known to frequent this area. The trail skirts the north side of Salt Pond, an area good for viewing wading birds. We will hike Drunk Bay Trail then back to Salt Pond Bay Beach. Turtles are commonly seen here. Then we go up and over the hill and down to the water's edge to gaze in wonder at the natural outdoor art on the shore. Then it is back to Salt Pond Bay Beach for sunning, swimming and snorkeling before returning to VIERS. Hike is four miles.

Day 6: We will have a half-day private boat trip on a 40-foot trawler and will sail around St. John making various stops to snorkel the wondrous reefs around the island. We will hear local history and sea stories and learn about Tektite. Be prepared to see anything from pipefish to stingrays and lots of coral. Afternoon will be spent at VIERS with a farewell swim and snorkel at Little Lameshur Bay. We hope to offer a plant walk late afternoon and drumming by a local musician after dinner.

Day 7: Today is our last meal together and it will be the customary delicious VIERS breakfast. We will pack up and clean our cabins as we prepare to leave VIERS in the morning for Cruz Bay. Departing flights from St. Thomas should be scheduled for late afternoon.

Please note: Most evenings after dinner, we will have discussions regarding present and past island life, animal and human. These will be casual open discussions with time for questions and answers. The staff at VIERS will lend a hand during some of these sessions. The majority of the staff is comprised of volunteers who have been volunteering at VIERS over the years. The staff is a wealth of information. Just wait and see! 

The leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the goals outlined in the itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our control may cause us to modify the itinerary in order to ensure the safety and well being of the group. We have a plan B ready to go just in case!

This is definitely a shorts/cutoffs/swimsuit trip. Pack accordingly. Transportation from Cruz Bay to VIERS has little room for luggage. Do not worry about wrinkled clothing. This trip is not a fashion show. If you pack more than you need, you may have to park it on your lap. This will become cumbersome during the 45-minute trip to VIERS over narrow hairpin curve roads. You may bring your personal snorkel gear; however, you could save some space and rent this gear at VIERS for a small fee.

So come along with us on this island adventure. Get up close and personal with nature. See how the Virgin Islands National Park and United Nations (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve protect St. John's various and fascinating habitats.

Getting There

There are numerous daily flights to St. Thomas. From St. Thomas air terminal, you need to take a taxi to a ferry dock. There are two ferry docks in St. Thomas called Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook. Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook both provide ferry service to Cruz Bay, St. John. You need to take a ferry that will get you into Cruz Bay no later than 2:30 p.m. on day one of the trip. On day one, we will meet you at the dock in Cruz Bay no later than 2:30 p.m. for the ride to VIERS. The leader can supply more detailed information. We advise that you fly into St. Thomas on Saturday and stay overnight there or on St. John pre-trip. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

VIERS is situated at the base of Bordeaux Mountain on the southeast shore of St. John. VIERS’ remote location provides many opportunities for visitors to easily discover the local environment. At VIERS you are "in nature" -- you are part of the ecosystem. You are just minutes from being able to hike to a mountaintop or swim in the Caribbean.

We will have single-bed dormitory-style accommodations and non-dormitory-style cabins for couples at VIERS, a rustic eco-camp consisting of 18 buildings, including cabins, classroom, library, office, restrooms, outdoor (but private) showers, and a dining hall with kitchen. VIERS will try to provide us with two-person rooms (sometimes with double beds for couples), but this is not guaranteed. Single travelers will be matched with others of the same sex. Some rooms have private toilets and sinks, others do not. 

The kitchen staff, comprised of VIERS volunteers, provides three meals a day in the dining hall. Oh, and yes, the master menu has a vegetarian option! We will help in the dishwashing of our own dishes and housekeeping of our cabins. Our first meal will be dinner on day one and our last meal will be breakfast on day seven.

Trip Difficulty

Ocean kayaking is physically challenging and participants should be in good shape to enjoy the half-day of sea kayaking. The majority of the week will be spent snorkeling and hiking, in that order. Snorkeling is also challenging, especially swimming off the trawler 100 feet or so to the mangroves, then in the opposite direction to our undersea-guided tour (noodles and some life jackets will be available). The hike up Ram’s Head can be windy and sunny. Some participants have found hiking poles to be helpful for the rocky incline. Being aerobically fit will increase your chances of a pleasant trip! Most hiking trails are hilly and exposed to the sun and with humidity can create challenges if you are not fit.

Equipment and Clothing

Bring quality rain gear, a water bottle, insect repellent, a daypack, snorkeling gear (or you may rent it on the island), and personal first aid kit. A hiking pole(s) are also strongly recommended. Expect warm days and cooler nights, with rain in the late afternoon. Sun protection is critical. You will need a long-sleeved "travel" shirt, sandals, light fleece top, shorts, swimsuit, and support walking shoes. Cotton or cotton blend is more comfortable than polyester in the tropical weather. Please bring a camping mug or cup marked with your name. We plan to do half-day trip on a trawler, if you are susceptible to sea or motion sickness please bring preventative medication and/or an acupressure wristband in case the seas are choppy on our boat trip.

Sunscreen does come off in the water and it damages coral reefs, in particular those with the additive Oxybenzone – please do not bring a sunscreen with this product. Better choices should list Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, which are now available in transparent formulas. Additionally a dive skin or rash guard shirt is great for covering up from the sun while snorkeling and means reduced sunscreen in the water.

References

Maps:

• ITMB Publishing Ltd., U. S. Virgin Islands: An International Travel Map.

Books:

• Sullivan, Lynne, Adventure Guide to the Virgin Islands.
• Nellis, David W., Seashore Plants of the South Florida and the Caribbean.
• Raffaele, Herbert, A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Kaplan, Eugene H., Peterson Field Guides' Coral Reefs: Caribbean and Florida.
• Kalplan, Eugene H., Peterson Field Guides' Seashores: Southeastern and Caribbean.
• Singer, Gerald, St. John Off the Beaten Path.
• Muilenburg, Peter, Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light.

Conservation

VIERS is operated by Clean Islands International, a U.S. non-profit, non-governmental environmental organization dedicated to providing educational and technical assistance to Caribbean Island communities for the preservation of their environment. Among other projects, they run special experimental studies on water conservation and solar energy.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.