November 15, 2022

St. Croix | US Virgin Islands – 7 Day Travel Itinerary and Guide

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Complete St. Croix Travel Itinerary: 7 Days Exploring the Island

Planning a trip to St. Croix? Lucky you! This island has so much to offer, from incredible beaches and hiking trails to delicious food and a rich history. To help you make the most of your time on the island, here’s a 7-day St. Croix itinerary packed with the best things to do in and around the island. When you’re done, you’ll have everything you need for a perfect Caribbean vacation.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable Caribbean vacation, look no further than St. Croix. With its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture, there’s something for everyone on this island paradise. This 7 day itinerary will help you make the most of your time on the island. Let’s get to planning!

PS – Before you head to St. Croix and discover the beauty of the Top St Croix Attractions, during your 7 Day St Croix. Travel Itinerary, as listed below, check out these 20+ Travel Hacks and Resources, that will elevate your Travel experience to a different level all together.

Your 7 Day St. Croix Travel Itinerary

Day 1: Frederiksted and Rainbow Beach

Day 2: Explore Frederiksted

Day 3: Hike to the Annaly Tide Pools at Carambola

Day 4: Head to Christiansted!

Day 5: Buck Island Reef National Monument

Day 6: Wake up with Point Udall and Isaacs Bay Beach

Day 7: Last day of your St Croix Itinerary! Depart After a Trip to Protestant Cay

Contents

Complete St. Croix Travel Itinerary: 7 Days Exploring the Island

St. Croix Itinerary Day 1: Frederiksted and Rainbow Beach

Welcome to St Croix! You’ll land at the STX airport, which is equidistant from St. Croix’s two cities – Frederiksted and Christiansted.

You’ll want to pick up a rental car at the airport before heading to Frederiksted. Frederiksted is the smaller and quieter town of the two, making it a perfect way to ease into your vacation. Arrive in St. Croix and check into your hotel or rental property. Take some time to relax and explore your surroundings, then head to the beach for a swim and some stunning sunset views.

Rainbow Beach is located in Frederiksted and is one of the most popular and beautiful beaches on St. Croix. It’s the perfect spot to get some sunshine on your first day. You can bring your own or rent snorkel gear on the beach. There are also plenty of watersport options to choose from if you want a more exciting day on the beach.

At the end of the day, enjoy live music, sunset views, and a classic USVI rum runner at Rhythms at Rainbow Beach.

St. Croix Itinerary Day 2: Explore Frederiksted

The US Virgin Islands are full of history to explore! After a day in the sun, it’s time to check out what Frederiksted has to offer!

Head to Fort Frederik, an 18th-century Danish fort located in Frederiksted Historic District. You can take a self-guided tour of Fort Frederik and see one of the many protected landmarks in St. Croix. The Fort Frederik Museum is also a great spot to visit while you learn about the history of St. Croix.

Just a short walk down the road, you’ll see Frederiksted Market Square. Wander around Frederiksted and enjoy the city area. This is where the action is! Market Square is home to restaurants, duty-free shopping, and sightseeing.

Before sunset, you can hit the Frederiksted Pier. This is a hidden gem for snorkeling and diving. You can fish off the pier, or just jump in the water to cool off! Most importantly, it faces the west, so you can watch the unobstructed view of the sunset over the horizon.

St. Croix Itinerary Day 3: Hike to the Annaly Tide Pools at Carambola

For the adventurous souls, this 5 miles hike can be a bit challenging, but one of the most popular things to do in St. Croix.

Annaly Bay Tide Pools are naturally formed pools found on St. Croix’s North Shore. You’ll want to head out early to avoid hiking home during peak sun times. Hike through the rain forest of St. Croix to the breathtaking views of the tide pools. It’ll be more than worth it!

Depending on the weather, the water can be rough and the terrain difficult to maneuver around, so be cautious during this trek. On a calm day, enjoy splashing around, swimming, or even do some snorkeling around the natural pools. Be sure to keep an eye out for turtles, stingrays, and other marine life!

You’ll begin and end this hike at the Carambola Beach Resort. This is a great spot to spend a night or two if you want to explore the North Shore a bit.

St. Croix Itinerary Day 4: Head to Christiansted!

For day 4 of your St. Croix Itinerary, head to the East side of the island to Christiansted for downtown exploration. Christiansted is the busier and more lively town in St. Croix. You’ve enjoyed a few relaxing days exploring nature on the west side of the island. Now is the perfect time for some excitement!

Check into one of the many places to stay in Christiansted and hit the Christiansted Boardwalk and enjoy some waterfront restaurants and bars. In the morning, you can have coffee and brunch at Caroline’s Breakfast and enjoy lunch and dinner at 40 Eats and Drinks or Too Chez.

Don’t forget to do some shopping in downtown Christiansted and take advantage of the duty-free benefit in US Virgin Islands. US Citizens can take home $1600 worth of duty-free shopping every 30 days!

If you’re looking for more of the rich history of St. Croix, visit the oldest site in Christiansted and head to Fort Christiansvaern Historic Site, one of the best-preserved and largest colonial forts in the Caribbean.

St. Croix Itinerary Day 5: Buck Island Reef National Monument

Day 5 of your St. Croix Itinerary is sure to be a favorite! Buck Island National Reef Monuments is one of the most beautiful, lively, and colorful coral reefs in the Caribbean. Buck Island is a can’t-miss activity in anyone’s St. Croix itinerary, so be sure to plan your trip ahead of time.

The Buck Island National Reef is a protected monument located off the coast of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The reef is home to a wide variety of marine life, including sea turtles, coral, and tropical fish. You can even spot a few sharks circling around this reef!

You can only get to this island by boat, and there are many tours operating full and half-day excursions to this breathtaking piece of paradise. Visitors can snorkel or scuba dive to explore this famous reef. Buck Island National Reef is an extraordinary place to see the wonders of nature and experience the beauty of the underwater world.

When you get back from your excursion, stop by one of St. Croix’s many rum shacks for a refreshing drink before finding some classic Caribbean dining.

St. Croix Itinerary Day 6: Point Udall and Isaacs Bay Beach

Make your way to the easternmost point of St. Croix…and the easternmost point of the US, Point Udall! Being the easternmost point, it’s also the first place in the US that sees the sunrise in the morning! Talk about a perfect way to start your day.

Point Udall serves as a monument that was built to celebrate the new millennia and marks the first spot of daylight in the US. As you can guess, not only are the views from the lookout point breathtaking, but you can also enjoy a scenic ride down when the sun is up.

From there, make your way to Isaacs Bay Beach for snorkeling and watersports. The trailhead to Isaac’s Beach begins near Point Udall and is only a short 20ish minute walk to get there. This beach will likely be quiet and calm and is the perfect place for snorkeling and swimming. It’s also great to cool off in the water after your short hike!

St. Croix Itinerary Day 7: Depart After a Trip to Protestant Cay

Although it’s always sad to end your vacation, especially a Caribbean one. For the last day of your St. Croix Itinerary, make the most of it by booking a later flight and spending one last day enjoying the Caribbean sands and waters in St. Croix.

A unique spot to hit in Christiansted is Protestant Cay (pronounced “key”). It’s a short ferry ride from the Christiansted Boardwalk and will take you to a private cay where you’ll find “Hotel on the Cay”.

Hotel on the Cay is one-of-a-kind, as it’s the only structure that lives on the cay. You can rent a room from Hotel on the Cay, or buy a day pass to enjoy the secluded, private-like island feel. There are watersports and rentals on the cay to enjoy a full day before your flight on this incredible beach.

Though I would suggest making the trip, if you want to stay on St. Croix for your last day, you can also try out Tamarind Reef Beach or Buccaneer Beach.

When you’re drained from your last day in the sun, depart to the St. Croix Airport afterward, feeling relaxed, refreshed, and sun-kissed! We hope you had an amazing trip and that you’ll come back to visit us soon!

What is St. Croix Known For?

St. Croix is known for having open space, beautiful beaches, and unlike some Caribbean islands, two downtown areas with lively restaurants, entertainment, and excitement. USVI is well known for its duty-free shopping for US citizens. It’s also the largest of the three US Virgin Island territories.

Most notably, Buck Island Reef National Monument is just a boat ride away from the Christiansted Pier. It’s one of the most popular spots in the Caribbean for snorkeling and home to Turtle Beach, one of the most beautiful white sand, clear water beaches in the world.

If you’re looking for an island that has it all, St. Croix is worth visiting.

How Many Days Do You Need in St. Croix?

While no vacation to St. Croix will ever be long enough, 7 days is actually the perfect amount of time to spend in St. Croix! If you want busier days and are able to pack everything in to one trip, you could see everything on the island in 4-5 days, but it definitely won’t be as relaxing!

If you need to prioritize, the most important things to do in St. Croix are Buck Island Reef National Monument, Annaly Tide Pools, and exploring Christiansted and Frederiksted.

St. Croix 3 Day Itinerary

Really in a rush and need to squeeze everything in a long weekend? Or, maybe you want to spend more time exploring the other US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas and St. John. Either way, here’s a quick St. Croix 3 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive early and hike to Annaly Tide Pools. Drive over to Frederiksted to explore downtown, visit the National Park, spend the afternoon at Rainbow Beach, or visit the historic sites.

Day 2: Make your way to Christiansted and hop on a tour to Buck Island Reef National Monument. Spend the afternoon at Hotel on the Cay and grab dinner and drinks in downtown Christiansted.

Day 3: Wake up with the sunrise at Point Udall, go to Issacs’s Bay Beach for snorkeling and swimming, then hop around some of the beaches around Christiansted before heading to the airport!

What is the Best Time of Year to Go to St. Croix?

December to April is the best and most popular time to go to St. Croix. This is also the heaviest tourist season. If you want to avoid hurricane season and crowds, try heading to St. Croix in November or April/May.

Hurricane season officially goes from June 1 to November 30 in US Virgin Islands. You can find great deals during this time, and still enjoy the island, but you might run into some afternoon showers.

As long as there’s not a hurricane, and don’t worry – the Caribbean always has their eye on hurricane watch – the weather in St. Croix is always warm and enjoyable.

Hopefully, this St. Croix Itinerary is everything you need and more to start planning your next Caribbean adventure. St. Croix is a beautiful island with so much to offer. Whether you’re planning a family trip, romantic getaway, or solo vacation, you can take advantage of this 7 day itinerary.

Also, check these articles if you want to have a look at some of the other Travel Itineraries published here: