What You Need to Know About Crossing Between The Virgin Islands.

Have you ever dreamt of swimming around one of the most wonderful live coral reefs, perhaps, just chilling in some of the best paradisiac beaches in the world or watching stunning sunsets from your villa, whilst having some warm and tropical breeze?

If this sounds like a dream, you cannot miss travelling between the marvellous Caribbean Virgin Islands.

The Virgin Islands are a group of islands spread out in a small cluster around the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean sea. There are 112 islands in total, from which 82 of them are U.S territories and the remainder of the 30 islands belong to Britain.

Not all of the islands are inhabited, in fact, only, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island are inhabited in the cluster of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). When it comes to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada are the only ones inhabited.

These islands are not only famous for their beauty but also because of their flora and fauna. Mongooses, iguanas, big lizards, over 160 species of birds and fabulous marine life are among the range of animals that will most likely encounter when hiking around tree lines or national parks.

Oh! and you should be cautious about tarantulas, scorpions and the occasional garden snakes!

Not only the wildlife is impressive on these islands, but also, the flora. These islands are rich in tropical fruit trees that give in unique and interesting tropical fruits, such as genips, sugar apples and starfruits. Also, you can’t miss seeing Flamboyant trees, which are vibrant and colourful trees that bloom in the summer months and are just glorious.

Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend going there in the months from May to December as it is the rainy season and although your trip might be overall cheaper, I am not sure it would be worth it. As it can rain on these tropical islands!

The best time to visit in our opinion is during the drier months of the year from January to April. We would particularly recommend the month of February, it is a sweet spot, not too expensive and not too crowded yet with awesome climatic conditions.

Although it is not particularly difficult to cross between the Virgin islands, there are still a series of tips and things to know before doing so. As they are a bit isolated, there are a whole set of rules and schedules of means of transportation to get to each of the islands.

There are a few options when it comes to transportation across the Virgin Islands. There are boat charters, ferries and different flying options.

Keep on reading this blog post to know a bit more about what things to know when crossing these islands, particularly by ferry. This was our transportation of choice because it was the cheapest and most convenient too.

Before we go into details about those things to know when crossing The Virgin islands, let’s check out each island’s highlights for you to have a better idea of how to start this journey.

How to Cross Between The Virgin Islands? Tips for hopping The Virgin Islands.

Whilst most travellers may think that hoping around The Virgin Islands is something only affordable by the rich, the reality is, that there are options for all budgets. Whilst focusing on only a single island trip can be great and there is plenty to do on just one island, why stop there?

Travelling between The Virgin Islands can be an incredible and not that expensive activity if you know what to do.

Crossing between these islands is set in a convenient way for both tourists and citizens/residents alike. It can be done via plane, boat charter or ferry. Although flying can be less troublesome on some occasions, particularly on these islands it might be counterproductive.

This is because is quite time-consuming, there are no airports in all of the islands, it is quite pricey and oftentimes is not a direct route. It can have its advantages like watching the aerial spectacle that is flying over the islands. However, the ferry lines are very well established and set up for convenient transportation between the islands. It is also the cheaper way to do it and it doesn’t take a long time.

What things do you need to know about crossing between The Virgin Islands?

1. Crossing between St. Thomas and St. John can only take 20 minutes and not only do you need to pay the fare of the ferry ride but also, $2.50 per person as tax costs.

   Saint Thomas is a pretty big island, which capital is Charlotte Amalie, located very close to Puerto Rico (about 64 km).

   

   Staying near Red Hook, the main ferry port is a convenient way to start this journey. Alternatively, it is also possible to catch a ferry in Charlotte Amalie, the capital. These ferries run pretty much every hour and it only takes about 20 minutes, via direct ferry to reach Cruz Bay, Saint John Island.

   Saint John Island is another popular island within the US Virgin Islands. it is a small but gorgeous island pretty much consisting of the Virgin Island National Park (over 60% of the territory). It is our favourite one, where it is possible to find the most pristine, relaxed and secluded beaches on these islands. Some of these incredible beaches are Cinnamon Bay, Hawsknest Beach and Honeymoon Beach.

   There is no airport on this island, which makes it harder to start this journey on St, John. However, it is easy enough to catch the ferry from Saint Thomas, as they are scheduled very often and many companies are operating this route.

   Arriving in Saint John is quite an exciting experience, we were kindly received by the locals with free shots of Cruzan Rum, as rum is the local liquor made on the islands, and they claim that their Cruzan rum is “the most honoured rum distillery in the world”

   Most cocktails are made with it and it is pretty affordable!

2. Crossing between the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix can be a bit challenging, as you can do it via ferry (not available every day) or via plane which can be costly. The ferry fare rounds to 60$ and it takes about two hours. The plane ride, although quicker, it is much pricier going around $189 one-way only.
3. Having a pretty clear idea of which islands you want to explore is important as a crossing between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, can be a frustrating and pricey experience. Those ferry rides go beyond the hour or even two hours, on top of clearing customs, border taxes and high ferry fares.
4. If wishing to cross between both clusters of Virgin Islands (USVI and BVIs), ensure you have checked the plane ticket prices for both, as sometimes, the difference can be pretty big even beyond the 500-600$ and then you can simply cross to the other cluster via ferry.
5. Ensure you are on time to catch the ferry as they are usually very much on time. Also depending on the island, you intend to cross, the waiting line to get your ticket can be pretty long and you might miss your boat. St. Thomas to Tortola is a perfect example of a route that goes through this hassle.
6. Do not forget your passport. This is particularly important if you are crossing between the USVI and the BVIs even around the islands in the same cluster, you might get asked to identify yourself.
7. Minors close to over the age also need notarized permission from parental guardians plus a valid passport to be able to enter The Virgin Islands and to hop in between the islands.
8. Be aware of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) travel warnings and safety advice. There are some concerns that tourists and visitors should be aware of when reaching the disembarking area on St. Thomas Island, particularly and the rest of the island generally.It is not uncommon for tourists to experience episodes of pickpocketing, small theft and scams from either people around the boat terminals, vendors and other people hanging around that area.
9. Be aware that the airport in St. Thomas is shocking. It is an island full of hills and mounts where the plane is going to land when travelling to St. Thomas. For those who fear flying, hang in there for 20 minutes as it can be a bit scary! We wish someone warned us!
10. Take with you and only pack the essentials. This includes only taking a backpack, honestly. If you get a carry-on or even a big bag you will regret it big times. It is very uncomfortable and not practical at all to travel to The Virgin Islands full of things. Also, do not count on bringing your SIM card from overseas, even from the US mainland. Those providers do not work in The Virgin Islands. You need to get a SIM card over there.
11. Rum is the liquor of The Virgin Islands. They are famous for their distilleries and the tasty rum they produce. Watch out for scams in tourist stores or even vendors who want to charge you big money for those bottles. Simply go to the groceries store! You can find them there, cheaper and locally made.
12. It is highly recommended to stay in a hotel in an all-inclusive, half-included plan or in accommodation with a kitchen where you can cook a couple of meals. Food is mega expensive in The Virgin Islands, like crazy expensive.
13. People on these islands are extremely friendly and polite. Sometimes, as tourists, we tend to be focused on our holiday times and forget our manners. It is crucial to always say hello, goodbye and thank you. We mean it! It is not well received otherwise. They are so friendly that sometimes they might give you extra discounts for being polite to them. Be aware of “the island time rule”. Islanders do take their time to do things and provide services and things go much slower than on the mainland. So relax and chill!
14. It is an absolute must to get up early when it comes to crossing the Virgin Islands. This is because you are not the only tourist in this paradise! If you want to enjoy your day excursions, secluded beaches, etc, make sure you rock up early, otherwise, you will find crowded reefs and busy spots.
15. When it comes to safety in The Virgin Islands, make sure you watch out for general safety in your surroundings. The most common incidents are breaking into cars, pickpocketing, and snatching on the streets, particularly in after-hours bars.
16. When it comes to crossing between St. Thomas and St. Croix, make sure you prepare a bit of money! Historically, there wasn’t a ferry line operating to reach this island, but a couple of years ago a new line started operating from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Island and Gallows Bay, St. Croix Island, for 100$ plus taxes round-trip.
17. When it comes to crossing between St. Thomas and Tortola or Virgin Gorda, ensure not to miss your ferry, particularly on your way back to St. Thomas, otherwise, you will be in big trouble. There are usually not a lot of these ferries scheduled and they are usually full. Go to the terminals with a lot of spare time. Also, bear in mind that travelling to the British Virgin Islands from the US Virgin Islands is a bit more involved as you need to pay taxes and clear customs in both ports which sometimes can take up a fair bit of your holiday time.
18. Crossing from St. Thomas Island to John Van Dyke Island is easy in terms of ferry possibilities. They run daily from the main port in St. Thomas Island and the island is full of great food and fun!
Travelling to this British Virgin Island just like with the others described above will be a bit expensive, you will need o clear customs and pay taxes too.
19. Lastly, crossing from St. Thomas Island to Anegada is a bit of a hassle as it is the farthest island in the British Archipelago. This stunning surrounded by pristine coral reefs is a bit remote with no direct ferry from St. Thomas. It will require to travel to Tortola Island to clear customs there, as well as to pay the taxes per person and from there take another ferry from Virgin Gorda Island.

How many days do I need in the US Virgin Islands?

The answer to this question is obviously “it depends” it depends on your preference as a traveller. That said I would recommend spending at least a week to 10 days, hopping around a couple of the different islands to make the most out of your trip.

This is not only because each island is different and gorgeous but also because this trip itself is perhaps not one of the cheapest, so you might as well check out other islands around too. Some of them are also pretty close to each other so it won’t take a whole lot of your time.

This is our preference and how we did, we spent almost two weeks and we took it semi-slow to fully enjoy each step, as the whole idea of island hopping is to relax and not to be stressed out jumping around all the time.

Which Virgin Island is the best to visit?

All of the islands in The Virgin Islands in both clusters are incredibly beautiful, surrounded by blue waters and pristine beaches. All of them are delightful.

Which islands to visit also depends on other personal factors, like the price of the flight, the price of the ferries, shopping and the time available.

The question is, which island to pick in terms of the vibe you are after for your holiday break?

If you are after beach time, sipping cocktails and nightlife, then St. Thomas Islands is perhaps one of the islands that should be on your itinerary.

If you are after some nature-oriented holiday, then St. John Island can be a pretty good option for you.

Lastly, if the vibe you are after is more luxury, hippy and some touch of nature, then Tortola is the island for you.

Allow for time enough to pick at least 4-5 islands from both the US and the British cluster of The Virgin Islands.

There you go! Now you know the essential things to know when it comes to crossing between The Virgin Islands, whether you want to be more focused on the US Virgin Islands or The British ones.

All the tips regarding transportation and procedures to be trouble-free around these paradisiac islands! Ensure your travel documents are in order, get a local SIM card, shop for food and alcohol in groceries stores, watch out for scams and be cautious of your surroundings and lastly enjoy so so much as this place is heaven!