Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE ACTIVE VACATION PLANNER
There's no rule that says you have to confine yourself to a beach chair within arm's
length of the bar while visiting the Virgin Islands (though there's no rule against it,
either). You will have endless opportunities to sit by the surf sipping rum drinks, but
remember that these islands offer more than just a coastline. Coral reefs and stun-
ning beaches provide breathtaking backdrops for a variety of watersports, from snor-
keling to sea kayaking and sailing, and there's also plenty of golf, tennis, hiking, and
even horseback riding. This section presents an overview of the outdoor activities on
the Virgin Islands. See individual chapters for more specific information on locations
and outfitters.
Activities A to Z
BICYCLING
It is possible to rent bikes on some of the islands, and bike riding can
be a wonderful way to explore the islands.
Water Island Adventures
(
&
340/775-
5770;
www.waterislandadventures.com) offers guided bike tours on Water Island, off
of St. Thomas. Tours depart from St. Thomas, where you'll take a ferry to Water
Island—from there the biking tour begins. On St. Croix, contact
Freedom City
Cycles
(
&
340/227-2433;
www.freedomcitycycles.com), which, in addition to
offering bike rentals, can arrange guided bike tours of the island. A 2- to 3-hour
mountain biking tour begins at sea level and climbs through the rain forest on both
paved and unpaved roads, costing $50 per person.
CAMPING
The best campsites in the Virgin Islands are on St. John, at
Maho Bay
and
Cinnamon Bay
(the Cinnamon Bay campground is considered one of the finest
campgrounds in the Caribbean). Both facilities are open year-round and are so popu-
lar that reservations need to be made far in advance during the winter months. In the
British Virgin Islands, the best campsite is Tortola's
Brewers Bay Campground,
which rents tents and basic equipment and is open year-round.
FISHING
In the past 25 years or so, more than 20 sportsfishing world records have
been set in the Virgin Islands, mostly for the mega blue marlin. Other abundant fish
in these waters are bonito, tuna, wahoo, sailfish, and skipjack. Sport-fishing charters,
led by experienced local captains, abound in the islands; both half-day and full-day
trips are available. But you needn't go out to sea to fish. On St. Thomas, St. John, and
St. Croix, the U.S. government publishes lists of legal shoreline fishing spots (contact
local tourist offices for more information). Closer inshore, you'll find kingfish, mack-
erel, bonefish, tarpon, amberjack, grouper, and snapper.
On St. Thomas, many people line-fish from the rocky shore along Mandahl Beach,
which is also a popular spot for family picnics. The shore here is not the best place
for swimming, because the seafloor drops off dramatically and the surf tends to be
rough. On St. John, the waters in Virgin Islands National Park are open to fishermen
with hand-held rods. No fishing license is required for shoreline fishing, and govern-
ment pamphlets available at tourist offices list some 100 good spots. Call
&
340/774-8784
for more information.
GOLF
The golfing hub of the Virgin Islands is the challenging
Carambola Golf
& Country Club
(
&
340/778-5638;
www.golfcarambola.com) in St. Croix. Also
on St. Croix is the excellent course at the
Buccaneer
(
&
340/712-2100
), just
outside Christiansted. The highlight on St. Thomas is the
Mahogany Run
2
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