Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
With a string of gorgeous beaches, incredible snorkeling, sugar plantation ruins and lovely short hikes, Virgin Islands National Park is a one of a kind place to visit and a fantastic National Park. In many ways, this park is different than other parks as it covers most of the Island of St Johns and you will find restaraunts, hotels and houses not directly in the park but scattered around.
Below you can see our suggestions for the best things to do in Virgin Islands National Park. If you are planning a visit, you may want to start with:
Overview of Visiting Virgin Islands National Park
Unlike many National Parks that have a long list of hikes, much of your time at Virgin Island National Park with be spent relaxing at gorgeous beaches and snorkeling. There are a few hikes but these are generally easy and short. The National Park covers about 60% of St John and while there are some fees for visiting specific beaches, there is no fee to drive into the park.
The only way to get to the park (and St Johns in general) is by taking a boat from St Thomas or Tortola. From here the best way to explore is by renting a car. Note that rental cars are hard to find and often require a 3 day mininum so book this early. You can also take a taxi around the island or take a tour.
In general, most people stay in Cruz Bay or a nearby hotel/resort. We rented an VRBO In Cruz Bay and loved getting to try the different restaurants in town.
While there are limited facilities in the park, we found that there are more than other parks and there are often beach bars and small shops to grab things along the way if you need them.
Leave No Trace: Pack out trash and respect nature to keep the park pristine
Cell Service: Spotty in remote areas— especially in the eastern part of the island – download maps in advance.
Map of Things to do in Virgin Islands National Park
Things to do in Virgin Islands National Park
Below are some of our favorite things to do at Virgin Islands National Park
Explore Trunk Bay Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, Trunk Bay features crystal-clear water, white sand, and an underwater snorkeling trail with plaques describing marine life. Trunk Bay is one of the only places that you need to pay to park. The best view in the entire park is right up the road from Trunk Bay looking back over the beach.
Trunk Bay is also home to the Underwater Snorkeling Trail.
Snorkel at Maho Bay
A top spot for snorkeling, Maho Bay is known for calm waters and sea turtles grazing on the seagrass near the shore. Keep an eye out for stingrays and tropical fish, too! Maho Bay is easy to reach and there is a road that runs along the beach with some bars and food and places you can rent water toys and equipment. We spent a full day at this beach and recommend arriving early to get a parking space.
Visit Cinnamon Bay Beach & Ruins
Enjoy one of the longest beaches in the park, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. Nearby, explore the historic ruins of a former sugar plantation.
Take a Hike
There are several excellent hiking trails on the beach. Many of our favorite hikes were actually walks to beaches so are included in the description of the beaches above. Our overall favorite hike was to Ram Head. This offered a little of everything with a beach, options for snorkeling and a fantastic view over the shoreline.
Hike the Reef Bay Trail: This challenging but rewarding 2.2-mile (one-way) trail takes you through lush rainforest, past petroglyphs carved by the Taino people, and ends at historic sugar mill ruins.
Hike the Lind Point Trail to Honeymoon Beach: This moderate trail starts near Cruz Bay and leads to Honeymoon Beach, a secluded beach with golden sand and clear waters—perfect for swimming and relaxing.
Explore Salt Pond Bay & Ram Head Trail: Salt Pond Bay is a quiet spot with great snorkeling, while the nearby Ram Head Trail offers a scenic coastal hike with stunning views over the Caribbean Sea. See more about the Rams Hear Hike.
Kayak and Paddleboard in Hurricane Hole
This mangrove-lined bay is a great place for kayaking and paddleboarding, offering calm waters and the chance to see marine life up close, including fish, rays, and coral. We did not get the chance to visit Hurricane Hole but we did drive past it.
Visit Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins
Learn about the island’s history at this 18th-century sugar plantation, which includes well-preserved ruins, a windmill, and stunning views over the water.
Discover Waterlemon Cay and Bay and Leinster Bay Beach
A must-visit for snorkelers, Waterlemon Cay has some of the best coral reefs and marine life in the park, including colorful fish, rays, and occasional reef sharks. To get to this beach you will park at the Annaberg Sugar Plantation and walk an easy 0.8 miles to get to the beach. From here you can swim 0.2 miles to the cay. Take caution as there are currents in the area. The snorkeling here and on the beach was some of the best we’ve even done. We say rays, turtles and so many fish.
Enjoy Sunset at Peace Hill and Walk to Denis Beach
A short, easy hike leads to Peace Hill, where you’ll find breathtaking panoramic views of the island—perfect for sunset photography or a peaceful moment. This is a great view at any time of the day but sunset is fabulous. I also recommend walking from here downhill on the established trail to Denis Beach. I’ve also seen this called Oppenheimer Beach.
This is right next to Jumbie Beach which is also a great beach with a shorter walk. We prefered Denis Beach and it we had almost the whole beach to ourselves.
Take a Boat Tour to the Lesser-Known Cays
Explore the remote islands and cays surrounding St. John, such as Hassel Island or the quiet beaches of Leinster Bay. Many boat tours offer snorkeling stops. There are many boats that offer tours and you can also rent your own boat in Cruz Bay. Note that the rental boats tend to be smaller and can be difficult in windy conditions.
This snorkel tour gets fantastic reviews and was recommended to us.
Visit the Elaine Ione Sprauve Library & Museum and Stop at the Visitor Center
For history lovers, this small museum in a restored plantation house features exhibits on the culture, history, and people of St. John. The Visitor Center right in Cruz Bay is small but worth visiting to get an overview of the park.
What we did: I've been to St Johns and the National Park several times. Most recently we spent 3 days exploring after spending a week sailing in the BVI. Our top things to do including hiking to Rams Head, relaxing at Denis Beach, Seeing the Sugar Plantations Ruins and snorkeling at Leinster Bay
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