The 3-island nation of the U.S. Virgin Islands is located between Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands in the northern Caribbean Sea. The island group consists of St. Thomas, the most developed and the most visited, neighboring St. John which is two-thirds state park, and St. Croix, the largest but least visited island which lies about 40 miles to the south. These three lush, green islands rise from the azure blue waters of the Caribbean Sea creating three distinctively different tropical island destinations. The U.S. Virgin Islands were bought from the Danes in 1917 for $25 million which has to be considered the land deal of the century.

St. Thomas is the most popular and most visited of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tourism replaced sugar cane production in the 1960’s and today more than 2 million visitors come here each year. Two-thirds of the tourists who visit St. Thomas arrive by cruise ships while one-third come to stay on the island. St. Thomas is the most populous of the three islands and much of the island is developed with either businesses or homes. Charlotte Amalie is the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the main city on St. Thomas. The city is located very close to the cruise ship terminal and is a mecca for duty-free shopping. The city has many walking trails and is great for sightseeing.

St. John is located just 6 miles to the east of St. Thomas and can be reached easily by ferry boat or water taxi. This island is very different from St. Thomas and has two-thirds of its land area as a national park. There is no congestion or traffic here and most accommodations are small-scale. Getting back to nature is what St. John is all about and a 4-wheel drive tour through the island will offer some of the most dramatic and panoramic vistas to be seen anywhere in the Caribbean. St. John’s main town is Cruz Bay and most of the accommodations, restaurants, and shopping are nearby. If you are staying on St. Thomas a day trip to St. John is an easy and rewarding day trip. Diving, snorkeling, and fishing activities are everywhere and boating and sailing are top-notch.

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and very different in its look and feel. Located 40 miles south of St. Thomas, it can be reached by direct air flights, sea planes from St. Thomas, or by boat. St. Croix is not as mountainous as the other two Virgin Islands and its geography changes from very dry cactus-covered hills in the east to a small rainforest in the west. The two main towns are Christiansted on the northern coast and Frederiksted on the western coast. Accommodations range from small inns to large resorts with one resort having the only casino in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Activities include horseback riding, golf, fishing, boating snorkeling and diving. A day trip to Buck Island on the northeast coast is a must with its beautiful white sand beaches and translucent turquoise waters. Great restaurants and duty-free shopping can be found in both of the larger cities. Of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is the most different with regards to its economy. The Cruzan Rum factory distills one of the most popular rums in the Caribbean and the Hess Oil Company operates the largest oil refinery in the western hemisphere along the southern coast. These companies have generated income and many jobs for the island.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are some of the most visited islands in the Caribbean and their physical beauty is breathtaking. Pictures don’t do these islands justice, so visit this trio of island paradises and take home wonderful pictures in your camera and in your mind.