Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
beaches on the southwest and west coasts are beautiful, but the snorkeling is even
better. The islet's interior is filled with cactus, wild frangipani, and pigeonwood.
There are picnic areas for those who want to make a day of it. Boat departures are
from Kings Wharf in Christiansted; the ride takes half an hour. For more information,
see the section “A Side Trip to Buck Island,” later in this chapter.
Your best choice for a beach in Christiansted is the one at the
Hotel on the Cay.
This white-sand strip is on a palm-shaded island. To get here, take the ferry from the
fort at Christiansted; it runs daily from 7am to midnight. The 4-minute trip costs $3
round-trip, free for guests of the Hotel on the Cay. Five miles west of Christiansted
is the
Palms at Pelican Cove,
where some 1,200 feet of white sand shaded by palm
trees attracts a gay and mixed crowd. Because a reef lies just off the shore, snorkeling
conditions are ideal.
Recommended highly are
Davis Bay
and
Cane Bay,
with swaying palms, white
sand, and good swimming. Because they're on the north shore, these beaches are
often windy, and as a result their waters are not always calm. The snorkeling at Cane
Bay is truly spectacular; you'll see elkhorn and brain corals, all some 750 feet off the
Cane Bay Wall. Cane Bay adjoins Route 80 on the north shore. Davis Beach doesn't
have a reef; it's more popular among bodysurfers than snorkelers. There are no chang-
ing facilities. It's near Carambola Beach Resort.
On Route 63, a short ride north of Frederiksted, lies
Rainbow Beach,
with white
sand and ideal snorkeling conditions. Nearby, also on Route 63, about 5 minutes
north of Frederiksted, is another good beach, called
La Grange.
Lounge chairs can
be rented here, and there's a bar nearby.
Sandy Point,
directly south of Frederiksted, is the largest beach in all the U.S.
Virgin Islands, but it's open to the public only on weekends from 10am to 4pm. Its
waters are shallow and calm, perfect for swimming. Try to concentrate on the sands
and not the unattractive zigzagging fences that line the beach. This beach is protected
as a nesting spot for endangered sea turtles. Continue west from the western termi-
nus of the Melvin Evans Highway (Rte. 66). For more on visiting the refuge, see
p. 177.
There's an array of beaches at the east end of the island; they're somewhat difficult
to get to, but much less crowded. The best choice here is
Isaac Bay Beach,
ideal
for snorkeling, swimming, or sunbathing. Windsurfers like
Reef Beach,
which opens
onto Teague Bay along Route 82, East End Road, a half-hour ride from Christiansted.
You can get food at Duggan's Reef (p. 166).
Cramer Park
is a special public park
operated by the Department of Agriculture. It's lined with sea-grape trees and has a
delightful picnic area, a restaurant, and a bar.
Grapetree Beach
is off Route 60 (the
South Shore Rd.), wide and sandy, with calm water. The beach is flanked only by a
few private homes, although the beach at the Divi Carina is a short walk away.
5
FUN IN THE SURF & SUN
St. Croix can offer many outdoor adventures. In the east, the terrain is rocky and arid,
getting little water. But the western part of the island is lush, including a small “rain
forest” of mango, tree ferns, and dangling lianas. Between the two extremes are beau-
tiful sandy beaches, rolling hills, and pastures—all of which can be explored. Water-
sports galore abound, including boating, sailing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, hiking,
and windsurfing.
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