It’s one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean: St. John, the most charming island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and a haven for naturalists, artists and beach-seekers alike. It’s a little slice of heaven, about 60 percent of which is covered by national park land. Here are 15 photos that will make you want to book your flight.
It all begins in Cruz Bay, the small town that’s home to the island’s ferry dock with regular service from St. Thomas throughout the day.
Small cafes like Cafe Livin are the place the define the laid-back sensibility of St. John.
The entrance to a place that’s truly special: Trunk Bay.
Trunk Bay is the Mecca of beaches in St. John.
While Trunk Bay is definitely the island’s most popular beach, Maho gives it a run for its money in the beauty department. The best part? During the week you can often find a totally empty stretch of sand for yourself.
There’s a special mix of colors and hues here, blues and greens you may never find anywhere else.
The Virgin Islands is painkiller country, so make sure you try one at the island’s popular spot, The Beach Bar, in Cruz Bay.
This is Caneel Bay, the island’s most prestigious resort and home to one of its loveliest beaches.
The resort is set on a 170-acre peninsula filled with ruins from an 18th-century sugar plantation. (Don’t miss a meal at the property’s Sugar Mill Restaurant.
The island’s hilly landscape offers some spectacular vistas, no matter where you look.
St. John is a haven for boaters from around the Virgin Islands (particularly nearby Tortola) and the wider Caribbean. Just take your dinghy and enjoy the ride.
At its heart, Cruz Bay is a small Caribbean town with a big heart.
But yes, the story really begins and end with the beaches here — crystal clear, with soft waves and instant tranquility.
So what are you waiting for?