St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, is one of the most fun places in the Caribbean. With so many unique things to see and do, there are endless experiences. In this article, we’ll share the best St. Croix excursions.
Whether you’re a local looking for fun things to do or planning a St. Croix vacation, explore the best activities below. From historical kayaking tours of the Salt River Bay and self-guided walking tours to snorkeling and diving trips, there’s something fun for everyone.
If you're visiting St. Croix for the day on a cruise, you can do most of these activities in half a day or less. Taxis are also available and often at the pier where cruise ships dock, but we recommend booking your transportation ahead of time.
Boat Trip to Buck Island
One of the most popular St. Croix tours is Buck Island Reef National Monument with Big Beards Adventure Tours. Buck Island, which protects a small, uninhabited island about a mile and a half north of St. Croix, is only accessible by boat.
You can take a half-day or full-day guided tour on Big Beards’ catamaran from Christiansted in St. Croix to Buck Island. Spend a few hours or the day cruising, snorkeling, and hanging out on the beach.
ATV Tour in the Rainforest
Get adventurous while exploring St. Croix on an ATV tour with Gecko’s Island Adventure. This is a fun experience, no matter how long you’ve lived here or the number of times you’ve visited St. Croix.
There are a few guided tour options, including the following:
Gecko’s Original ATV Tour - a two-hour tour that covers 15 miles of tropical terrain
Xpedition STX - a two-hour tour that takes you to mountain-top vistas, historical sites, and beautiful beaches
Sunset ATV Tour - a two-and-a-half-hour tour through the rainforest, past sugar mill ruins, and picturesque island scenery and ending at the beach, where you can enjoy a glass of champagne at sunset
To drive an ATV, you must be 18 years or older, and passengers can be five years or older.
Kayaking Tour in the Biobay
One of our favorite St. Croix excursions is kayaking the beautiful Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve with Virgin Kayak Tours. This is one of the best ways to enjoy St. Croix's beautiful scenery, relax, and learn about the local culture and history all in one activity.
Salt River Bay is a preserved natural area with over 2,000 years of history. It’s home to one of only ten studied super glow biobays in the world, meaning the bioluminescence glows year-round.
Whether you want to see the biobay glow at night or enjoy a daytime tour, there are various tour options:
Bioluminescence Kayak Tour - The most popular guided tour where you experience the biobay at night and see a rare and magical underwater light sparkling in the water
Sunset & Moonlight Biobay Tour - A guided evening tour when the bioluminescence may not be as bright due to the lack of contrast from the brightness in the sky; you can often still see many of the glowing organisms as you enjoy the peaceful bay during sunset and moonrise, learn about the bay’s history, and see unique ecological features
Historical & Ecological Day Tour - Spend a relaxing morning kayaking the Salt River Bay on a guided tour as you learn about local history and ecology and enjoy St. Croix’s natural beauty (This is also a great option if you’re visiting St. Croix for the day on a cruise!)
Self-Guided Salt River Tour - If you prefer to explore the Salt River Bay on your own, you can rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for a half or full day and create your own adventure
All Virgin Kayak Tours kayaking adventures use the Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayaks, which make it easy for anyone to enjoy their experience. The pedal kayaks are perfect for beginners, pros, children, and adults. They are comfortable, sturdy, and easy to navigate, no matter the weather or currents.
Zipline Through the Rainforest
Go ziplining with Carambola Zip Line for a unique experience in the rainforest for anyone ten years and older.
You’ll take a scenic open-air safari bus ride to the top of St. Croix, then go ziplining through the rainforest and enjoy some of the Caribbean’s best views. During your tour, your guide will also share unique St. Croix stories and history.
Carambola Zip Line also offers transportation if you're a passenger on a St. Croix cruise ship or staying in a hotel.
Guided Food Tasting
The Taste of Twin City Food Tour is one of the best St. Croix excursions for foodies. During the tour, you'll enjoy six local cuisine tastings in downtown Christiansted and learn about St. Croix's role as the culinary gateway to the Caribbean.
During your three-hour food tour, you’ll try a Crucian lunch, the famous bush tea, and other local favorites. Immerse yourself in St. Croix culture while dining at locally-owned restaurants and learning about the origins of local food and drinks and other history dating back to the early 1400s.
Each tour is a small group, so you can appreciate a personalized, intimate experience. The tour is also suitable for all ages and most fitness levels.
Snorkel or Dive at the Frederiksted Pier or Cane Bay
St. Croix is one of the best snorkeling and diving destinations in the Caribbean! Experience the clear-blue waters and diverse marine life, including colorful coral reefs, fish, anemones, and turtles.
Two of the best places to snorkel and dive on St. Croix are the Frederiksted Pier and Cane Bay. Both areas are beautiful, with the pier being more for snorkeling before or after exploring Frederiksted town and Cane Bay being ideal for a beach day.
If you’re snorkeling or diving at the Frederiksted Pier, you can rent gear or join a guided tour at Cane Bay Dive Shop or SCUBA dive shop at Molly’s. Sweet Bottom Dive Center at Cane Bay also offers rental equipment and tours.
It’s important to note that the pier isn’t accessible for snorkeling or diving on cruise ship days, so it’s best to go to Cane Bay.
Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour
If you want to explore Christiansted, St. Croix’s historic downtown area, you can take yourself on a historic walking tour.
There are many unique historical sites to see, including Fort Christiansvaern, which the Danish built in 1749, and the Government House, where Governors of the Danish West Indies lived.
A self-guided walking tour is one of the best ways to spend the day in town. You can explore the area and stop along the way to eat, drink, and shop.
Guided Fishing Trip
If you’re looking for St. Croix excursions that take you fishing, we recommend Silver Kings Fishing. All trips include everything you need for a memorable and successful fishing experience, including rods, reels, lures, flies, and baits.
Silver Kings Fishing’s guided trips include:
Kayak Fishing - Take a Hobie Pedal-Drive Kayak for a fun, saltwater fishing experience
Fly Fishing - Kayak to St. Croix’s remote Flats and Reefs to fish for Trophy Tarpon, Bonefish, Snook, and Permit fish
Beach Fishing - Enjoy casual beach fishing to some of the best spots on St. Croix
Hiking Adventure
One of the best things to do on St. Croix to explore nature and enjoy your own adventure is hiking. There are several unique trails with varying difficulty levels, where you can see some of the best views of the Caribbean.
Some of our favorite places to hike on St. Croix include:
Goat Hill - A 3.5-mile, moderately challenging hike that takes you to 360° ocean views
Annaly Tide Pools - A 4-mile, moderately challenging hike to one of St. Croix’s most popular tourist attractions, tide pools you can explore and cool off in
Hams Bluff Lighthouse - An 0.8-mile, moderately easy hike to a historic lighthouse and beautiful scenery
Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve - A 3.6-mile moderately easy hike, which can easily be shortened, that takes you to a quiet beach perfect for relaxing or snorkeling
Sailing Tour of the Salt River Bay
If you’re looking for private St. Croix excursions on the water, 8th Flag Charters is one of the best. The author of The Eighth Flag, Stanford Joines, spent 30 years sailing the Caribbean and now leads historical sailing tours.
You can take a private tour with your group and captain to explore the beautiful Salt River Bay. Relax on a two-hour historical tour or take a romantic sunset sail.
St. Croix Excursions: Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful and are excited to enjoy the best of St. Croix tours. If you're visiting St. Croix, we recommend booking as many excursions as possible to enjoy the island's unique history and culture, delicious food, and beautiful scenery.
Ready to start planning your St. Croix activities? Book a kayaking tour to explore the scenic, historical Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.
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