July 7, 2004

Beautiful Island Paradise of St. John

Page
1
2
3
4
5
6

The first time we saw St. John was on a snorkeling expedition of the U.S. Virgin Islands. We anchored off the northern tip of Francis Bay and had our first glimpse of Cinnamon Bay and its bright beach. It was so tantalizing we were already making plans to camp on the beach for a week.

Caneel Bay

Sun n’ Rain

St. John is always beautiful, and so it was when we arrived one fine sunny day. But that night a steady tropical downpour cleansed the island for two solid days. During this time we hiked about and explored the island by car. The tight road coils through the jungle and all over the island with sharp turns and drops. Remember to drive on the left side, per original British custom. When it rained the winding roads were dangerous and 4-wheel drive was necessary.

When the sun came out the forest was fresh, the water sparkled and the beach beckoned. We alternated between hanging out on the beach, snorkeling, and shoreline hikes.

The Main Road, St. John

An Island Park

Most of St. John is part of the national park system. The corridor of the roadway is virtually invisible from the beaches or the ocean. With minimal trace of human existence in sight, most of St. John maintains an aura of a haven in a remote archipelago.

Trunk Bay

As you can see, the island is given over to lush jungle vegetation common to tropical regions. Some wild donkeys have free run, and there are lots of land crabs, hermits crabs and lizards lurking about. It's a great place to live if you can handle an island, and a healthy dose of commercial civilization is just an brief jaunt away in Saint Thomas.

Getting to St. John

Swim! You can also get to Saint John from Saint Thomas by vehicle ferry or passenger ferry. Thomas is like John's older brother — more cosmopolitan and well-developed. It acts as a gateway to its more expensive little brother. Cruise ships and small amphibious aircraft arrive frequently in Charlotte Amalie. Thankfully, most of the island of Saint John remains in fairly pristine condition like Isla Mujeres, another one of our favorites. Both are island paradises with unique character.

Plantation Building

Near Trunk Bay is an old plantation building out on a point. It's a simple cylindrical structure with an excellent view of the whole coastline. Elsewhere are similar remnants of the once-thriving sugar industry in the Virgin Islands. This particular building is one of the more curious antiquities. It's situated right off the main road at the end of a short trail. Out on its promontory it distinctly resembles a lighthouse.