Things to Do in St John

Choose from 6 Fun Things to Do in St John

Henley Cay

Off the shores of the stunning island of St. John, Henley Cay is a short boat ride but seems worlds away. Comprised of 11 isles, its crystal clear turquoise waters make it a draw for water activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. Much of the reef is located in shallow water (from 3 to 15 feet,) so visibility is often best just off the shore. Though it has a history dating back to the 18th century, it’s uninhabited today.

Its bay and cove are protected and receive fewer visitors than other snorkel spots on the island. Colorful corals, sea fans, and tropical fish are easily seen, and many consider the snorkeling at Henley Cay to be world-class. Angelfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and wrasse are a few of the common fish species spotted often. Tours of the cay typically leave from Caneel Bay and combine kayaking and snorkeling the reefs.

Practical Info

Henley Cay is accessible and visible from St. John’s North Shore. It takes only about thirty minutes to kayak to it from there, or a powerboat charter is another option. Most visitors will hire a guide for the duration of their visit.

Henley Cay, United States Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands

From $ 89

Virgin Islands National Park

The majority of St. John is covered by the Virgin Islands National Park, a stretch of preserved wilderness all the more remarkable when you consider how much of the island was once cleared for sugar plantations.

Get the most out of this natural wonder on hiking trails which crisscross the island. None takes more than two hours to complete, but they cover a surprising range of topography and vegetation as well as historic sites such as the eerie plantation ruins of Annaberg. And there’s no better way to end your walk than a swim at one of St. John’s superb beaches, such as beautiful Trunk Bay in the island’s northwest.

The park also protects the island’s reef, with public access allowed at the mangrove bay of Hurricane Hole, east of Coral Bay. Snorkeling is a popular activity all along the coastline.

Practical Info

Head for the park’s visitors’ center in Cruz Bay, the point of arrival for ferries from St. Thomas, to pick up maps and tips for further exploration. The park covers about two-thirds of the island as well as significant off-shore areas.

St John, US Virgin Islands

Visitor Center open 8am - 4:30pm

Free

From $ 49

Hawksnest Bay

One of the most beautiful and most convenient beaches on St John, Hawksnest Bay is a favorite for families with children and visitors coming from the ferry docks at Cruz Bay. Swaying palm trees line the narrow beach, which has restrooms, grills, and a shaded picnic area.

Hawksnest Bay faces east and gets lots of morning sun, and shade arrives earlier than on other St John beaches. For beginning snorkelers, an offshore reef is a short swim away, set in shallow waters where novice divers can see a cornucopia of colorful fish, corals, and sea creatures. Ambitious snorkelers will find much to discover farther out, where large, orange elkhorn coral brighten up the deeper waters.

If you want to get away from the crowd, head over to Little Hawknest: a quiet stretch of white, sandy beach, lying west of the main beach.

US Virgin Islands

From $ 89

Honeymoon Beach

Honeymoon Beach is both convenient and out-of-the-way, a good choice for those who want to avoid the crowds at spots like Trunk Bay, but still appreciate a few on-site amenities. The beach is accessible by trails and serves as an area for watersports enthusiasts. Travelers can grab a kayak for a paddle up the coast before diving in to snorkel alongside the tropical fish that school around the rocks.

Practical Info

Honeymoon Beach is on the Lind Point Trail and can be reached via hike from the town in Cruz Bay. It's also just south of the Caneel Bay Resort, where visitors can park for a fee and take a shorter trail. It can get crowded during mid-day, when sailing tours stop here for a beach break.

North Shore Rd., just before the Caneel Bay Resort, Cruz Bay, St. John 00831, US Virgin Islands

From $ 49

Annaberg Sugar Plantation

Back in its heyday, the Annaberg Sugar Plantation was one of 25 facilities on the island producing sugar, along with molasses and rum. All that remains today are ruins, but they are an important reminder of St John’s past, and visitors can walk a trail that leads them through important structures such as slave quarters, windmills and factory remains.

Learn about 18th- and 19th-century sugar production and the importance of Annaberg, where slaves were brought in to clear the dense hillsides and terrace the slopes, allowing for farming. Slaves were also involved in actual sugarcane production and completed tasks like planting, harvesting and processing. When slavery was later abolished, the plantation was subdivided into small farms.

Evidence suggests there were at least 16 slave cabins at Annaberg, each constructed using branches woven together with a mud, coral and lime mixture called daub. Visitors can see placards depicting the areas where these slave cabins once stood and also view Annaberg's windmill, a key structure from the 1800s and one of the tallest windmills on St John at 38 feet tall.

Several factors contributed to Annaberg’s ultimate demise, including its steep and rugged terrain, which provided only marginal growing conditions; the introduction of the sugar beet, which could be grown in a multitude of climates; and the end of slavery in the British West Indies. The final nail in the coffin for Annaberg was the 1867 hurricane, earthquake and tsunami.

Practical Info

Annaberg Sugar Plantation is located on the north shore of St John, west of Mary’s Point in the Maho Bay quarter. There are no official visitor hours for Annaberg itself, but the Cruz Bay Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. There may be occasional live cultural demonstrations at the site, including basket weaving, baking or agricultural techniques utilized at the plantation.

Leinster Bay Rd, St John, US Virgin Islands

From $ 89

Caneel Bay

Caneel Bay is one of the first beaches you come to as you drive up North Shore Road out of St John’s main port, Cruz Bay. Much of the coastline here is monopolized by an extensive resort, but they guarantee access to Caneel Bay and their restaurants adjacent to the beach are accessible also.

The area was once a plantation and the ruins of the old sugar works make an atmospheric detour. The beach itself is a three-dimensional postcard, while snorkelers will delight in sting rays, barracudas and other sea life.

Practical Info

Caneel Bay is in western St. John, a few minutes’ drive from the port of Cruz Bay. Nearby Honeymoon Bay can only be reached via a (short) forest trail, so it’s even more secluded, though largely without facilities.

St. John, US Virgin Islands

Free

From $ 89