The Best Day Trips from St. Thomas

Apr 17, 20243 min read

One of the perks of visiting St. Thomas is its proximity to other beautiful spots in the Virgin Islands. We’ve listed a few of our favorite day trips from St. Thomas below. Each of these are less than a 1.5 hour boat trip from St. Thomas, so you can explore a new island and still make it back to your St. Thomas condo or villa at night. We’ve detailed how to get there and what to bring, but if you still have questions, our complimentary concierge service is always available to help our guests with trip planning!

St. John

Distance from St. Thomas: 20 minutes by boat

Passport needed: No

Quick, convenient and plenty to do - St. John checks all the boxes when it comes to finding the perfect day trip from St. Thomas. This island is home to the world-famous beaches of the Virgin Islands National Park, challenging hikes and historic ruins to explore. You can catch the car or passenger ferry from Red Hook on St. Thomas’s East End, or our concierge can help you plan a St. John tour or snorkeling trip.

Travel Tips: St. John is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, so U.S. citizens won’t need a passport to visit, but you will need a driver’s license or a government-issued photo ID. If you’re catching the ferry, be sure to arrive early and note the last ferry departure time back to St. Thomas.

Water Island

Distance from St. Thomas: 10 minutes by boat

Passport needed: No

If you’re looking for slow-paced island living at its finest, Water Island is just the ticket. The smallest of the four U.S. Virgin Islands is a quick, inexpensive ferry ride from Crown Bay Marina in Charlotte Amalie. There are no taxis on Water Island, but you can rent a golf cart (reservations recommended) and head to the island’s most famous spot, Honeymoon Beach. The calm water here is perfect for swimming, and once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can walk over to Dinghy’s Beach Bar for lunch. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike to Fort Segarra, an abandoned WWII-era structure with tunnels and underground rooms perfect for exploring.

Travel tip: As with St. John, U.S. citizens do not need a passport to visit the island. If you don’t want to rent a golf cart, you walk from the dock to Honeymoon Beach.

Jost Van Dyke

Distance from St. Thomas: 50 minutes by boat

Passport needed: Yes

Jost Van Dyke is home to White Bay, the ultimate “good vibes” beach, where you can relax on the famously soft white sand, enjoy world-class people watching and visit the many beach bars and restaurants tucked between the palms. Try the Soggy Dollar Bar’s original Painkiller recipe (the drink was invented here, according to local legend) or head over to the legendary Foxy’s for lunch and live music

Travel Tips: Jost Van Dyke is part of the British Virgin Islands, so you’ll need a passport to visit and you’ll be charged a customs fee upon entering. There are no docks in White Bay, so all visitors arriving via boat must swim or wade to shore.

Virgin Gorda

Distance from St. Thomas: 1.5 hours by boat

Passport needed: Yes

There’s no place in the world quite like the baths at Virgin Gorda. This natural playground of boulders, pools and light-filled grottos has become one of the most famous and photographed places in the Virgin Islands. Once you’ve finished exploring the baths, you can stop at nearby Norman Island for snorkeling or visit Saba Rock, a tiny island-turned-resort, for lunch.

Travel Tip: American citizens will need a passport to visit Virgin Gorda and will pay a customs fee. Bring cash to cover the $3 entry fee to the Baths. You may also want to wear waterproof shoes or sandals to help you navigate the boulders.