Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Water Wonderland
At Trunk Bay, divers and snorkelers can
follow the
National Park Underwater
Trail
(
&
340/776-6201
), which
stretches for 650 feet and helps you
identify what you see—everything from
false coral to colonial anemones. You'll
pass lavender sea fans and schools of
silversides. Rangers are on hand to pro-
vide information. There is a $4 admis-
sion fee to access the beach.
hued tropical fish. Haulover Bay is a favorite among locals. It's often deserted, and
the waters are often clearer than in other spots around St. John. The ledges, walls,
and nooks here are set very close together, making the bay a lot of fun for anyone with
a little bit of experience.
Beginning swimmers can experience a snorkel-like adventure with
Virgin Islands
Snuba Excursions
(
&
340/693-8063;
www.visnuba.com) at Trunk Bay. Divers
use special equipment that allows them to breathe easily through a tube attached to
an air tank above water. You'll see and experience everything as any other snorkeler
would. Children ages 8 and up can participate; the fee is $65 per person.
SEA KAYAKING
Arawak Expeditions,
based in Cruz Bay (
&
800/238-8687
in the U.S., or 340/693-8312; www.arawakexp.com), provides kayaking gear, health-
ful meals, and experienced guides for full- and half-day outings. Trips cost $100 and
$75, respectively. Multiday excursions with camping are also available; call their toll-
free number if you'd like to arrange an entire vacation with them. These 5-day trips
range in price from $1,250 to $1,450.
WINDSURFING
The windsurfing at Cinnamon Bay is some of the best any-
where, for either the beginner or the expert. The
Cinnamon Bay Watersports
Center
(see above) rents high-quality equipment for all levels, even for kids. Boards
cost $25 to $65 an hour; a 2-hour introductory lesson costs $80.
More Outdoor Adventure
Along St. John's rocky coastline are beautiful crescent-shaped bays and white-sand
beaches—the interior is no less impressive. The variety of wildlife is the envy of natu-
ralists around the world. And there are miles of
hiking trails,
leading past the ruins
of 18th-century Danish plantations to panoramic views. At scattered spots along the
trails, you can find mysteriously geometric petroglyphs of unknown age and origin
incised into boulders and cliffs. The terrain ranges from arid and dry (in the east) to
moist and semitropical (in the northwest). The island boasts more than 800 species
of plants, 160 species of birds, and more than 20 trails maintained in fine form by the
island's crew of park rangers.
Thanks to the efforts of Laurance Rockefeller, who purchased many acres of land
and donated them to the United States in 1956, the island's shoreline waters, as well
as more than half of its surface area, make up the
Virgin Islands National Park.
The hundreds of coral gardens that surround St. John are protected rigorously—any
attempt to damage or remove coral is punishable with large and strictly enforced
fines. Visitors must stop by the
Cruz Bay Visitor Center,
where you can pick up
the park brochure, which includes a map of the park, and the
Virgin Islands National
Park News,
which has the latest information on park activities. It's important to carry
a lot of water and wear sunscreen and insect repellent when you hike.
4
131
