The US Virgin Islands are perhaps some of the most underrated islands in all the Caribbean. Like neighboring British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands are still relatively low-key, making it an even more attractive tourist destination. St. Thomas is the main island of the US Virgin Islands and perhaps the most beautiful with towering peaks and lush green scenery.
I’ve been to St. Thomas about 4 or 5 times now and have come to learn that this island is special. What’s surprising is that for such a small island there is much to see if you know where to look. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, is beautiful from above, and afar and especially great if you love shopping but I can acknowledge that there is some soul missing from it and it feels somewhat forgettable.
There are some highlights but once again you have to know where to look. For instance, if you walk around the Emancipation Gardens near where the outdoor markets and major shopping are, you will get to see the islands Danish past (the US bought the islands from Denmark in the early 1900’s). We had lunch at Jens Island Cafe and Deli and the owners showed us where the Dutch use to buy and sell slaves as well as the remnants of a hotel. Today the building has turned into shopping stores.
We started our morning not in the city but over to perhaps the most renowned beach that St. Thomas has to offer, Magen’s Bay. Just a 20 minute drive over the steep mountainous middle part of the island, Magen’s Bay is located exactly north of downtown Charlotte Amalie and costed a somewhat steep 8 dollars per person for a one way trip. However the beach is one of the best in Caribbean with some of the best scenery, so it’s worth it.
So what is there exactly to do at Magen’s Bay? Like most beaches in the Caribbean, the beach offers chairs to relax in, food, drinks, and some water activities like para-sailing, jet-skiing, paddle-boats and snorkeling. I found the food and drinks to be somewhat pricey and there honestly wasn’t that great of a choice. However if you only plan to spend a couple of hours you can always go back to Charlotte Amalie and eat there.
I did something that I’ve always wanted to do, stick my go-pro underneath the water! It didn’t take pictures of much but it was still cool to bring it with me in the ocean. I took a lot of unique shots that I normally wouldn’t have taken. Photography is a big deal for me and I’m always looking to get that next unique shot.
Speaking of unique shots, once you’re done with Magen’s Bay, ask your taxi driver to take you to the viewpoint that overlooks Magen’s Bay called Mountaintop Viewpoint or Drake’s Seat. It’s only like a 2 minute detour from your way back to the city and it’s so worth it. Word is that this was the viewpoint was the viewpoint Francis Drake looked out from when he was on the island in 1585.
Back in Charlotte Amalie you now have the rest of the day to shop (if you came by cruise) or at least grab a meal. I came by cruise so I spent the rest of my time looking at some of the shops but I’m not buying any jewelry so I literally got nothing from St. Thomas. If you do want jewelry the Caribbean is an actually a great place to buy due to the variety of stones, brands, and pieces of jewelry to choose from. Also you are saving with price and tax, so it’s something to consider.
Consider looking into the more historical side of Charlotte Amalie. Some of the buildings are still there, especially in the very center of the city. Sometimes a local will point them out to you. If you have more time on the island consider traveling to other parts of the island for differences in beach or viewpoints. I have been to one other beach called Coki Point Beach. Personally I think Magen’s Bay was still the better beach.
Remember that you don’t need a passport to come to the USVI and there are several direct flights a day from the US and other countries. It’s also possible to fly to St. Thomas and connect to even smaller islands like Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and St. Croix (British Virgin Islands you will need a passport).
images by: shawnvoyage, lance lee
