The Best 8 Things to Do in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Welcome to our travel blog, where we bring you exciting adventures from around the world. Today, we are thrilled to share our latest escapade in the Caribbean paradise of St. Thomas. Over the past eight years, my husband Jon and I have been captivated by the beauty and charm of this tropical haven. Each visit has left us yearning for more. This year, we are back to explore some new activities on the island, and give you an updated 2023 guide to “The Best Things To Do in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands”.
If you’re new here, my name is Camilla, I’m a travel photographer, and I make travel series from all over the world here on my blog, and on YouTube. I’m here to inspire your next adventure, and find the best places for you to stay around the world. My husband Jon and I just spent 2 weeks in the Virgin Islands, and this is a list of the top 8 activities we think you HAVE to do next time you visit! This is the third year we make a Top Things To do on the island list, so if you want to watch our previous episode, you can watch the 2022 episode here “Top 9 Things to do in St. Thomas 2022”, and the “Top 10 Things to do in St. Thomas 2021” here. But now, let’s find out what’s new on the island in 2023!
Our first recommendation is an adventure you won't want to miss. Imagine yourself as a pirate, on a boat, in the Caribbean, looking for treasure, while enjoying some rum! Well, then Join a thrilling treasure hunt with a fantastic local company called Tropical Treasure Hunt. I’ve always wanted to do a Treasure Hunt, so I was so excited to try the Salty Piracy Adventure! This experience is a collaboration between the Tropical Treasure Hunt and Seahorse Water Taxi. Two local companies here in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. You can think of this as an Escape Room, just better, you get to be out in nature, enjoying the sun, swimming with turtles in crystal-clear waters, and exploring various beaches. If you want to check out our entire experience, you can watch our YouTube video here or below, where we will bring you along for the entire day! Not only is this a fun experience, but it's also great for adults and team-building activities.
Booking and more info about the Tropical Treasure Hunt can be found on their website here.
2. Hull Bay Farm & Beach Experience with Lunch
Next up, experience the ultimate adventure with Trek Lokal's Hull Bay Farm & Beach Experience with Lunch! Join us as we embark on this exciting tour, led by our knowledgeable guide Eddie. Our journey begins at Drake's Seat, a stunning lookout point offering breathtaking views of St. Thomas and its surrounding islands. From there, we venture to Hull Bay Farm, where we meet Zoe, who introduces us to the enchanting gardens and shares fascinating insights about exotic plants and fruits. Eddie, our Trek Lokal guide, adds to the experience with his wealth of knowledge. To top it off, we indulge in delicious homemade ice cream made from fruits grown on the farm.
Afterward, we head to the tranquil Hull Bay Beach, where we enjoy moments of relaxation and serenity. The beach, frequented by local fishermen, offers a peaceful escape. To satisfy our appetites, we visit Nomad, a beloved local spot. We have the pleasure of meeting one of the owners and savoring delectable cuisine. For an authentic and immersive local experience in the US Virgin Islands, we highly recommend booking with Trek Lokal.
If you need help or advice planning your next vacation to the US Virgin Islands, then contact TrekLokal! It’s so convenient and affordable, and we know several of you that watch our videos have used TrekLokal and had great experiences, so we can’t recommend them enough!
Booking and more info about TrekLokal can be found here.
Drake’s Seat in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
3. Visit the British Virgin Islands
If you want to see a whole other side of the Virgin Islands, then make sure to include a trip to the British Virgin Islands on your itinerary. This was the first time Jon and I made it to the BVI’s, and we had the best experience of our life! There is WAY too much to include in this blog post, so I am making a dedicated blog post and video about this too! But for now, these are the main things you need to know:
1. How to get there: We suggest hiring a captain like Christian from Let’s Play VI, he knows every corner of the Virgin Islands, and you won’t find a better, more knowledgeable, and fun captain than him!
2: What island should you visit? We trusted Christian completely, and he showed us around at all the must-see places, like Jost Van Dyke, The Baths, and Anegada Island, plus some hidden gems.
And lastly, 3 where should you stay? There are so many incredible places to stay here, but I can say for sure, that we definitely stayed at one of the most unique places in the BVI’s, and I’m very excited to show you in our upcoming blog post! But here is a link if you want to book The Diamond Reef Estate or check it out for yourself. You can watch the full tour in this YouTube Episode of “British Virgin Islands - 3 Day Itinerary”!
4. Check out the Carnival and Festival Scene
St. Thomas is renowned for its vibrant festivals, and attending one is an absolute must. The USVI has one of the largest festivals in the Caribbean each year, and it’s such a unique and colorful celebration of local culture and heritage! The whole island of St. Thomas comes to life, and prepare to dance for hours. Depending on what you’re into, there’s also a new EDM festival on the island now, Sol Seeker Festival. This year, we had the privilege of attending the first festival, and it was so much fun. The festival went on for three days, with a lineup that included top DJs like Alan Walker, Sam Feldt, Kaskade, and Jonas Blue. It was an unparalleled celebration of music, unity, and pure bliss. If you want to see how the festival went down, you can check out last week’s YouTube episode here, where we take you behind the scenes for 3 days!
5. New hotels and Airbnbs to check out
Now, let's talk about new accommodations. During our stay in St. Thomas, we discovered a new gem that stole our hearts—the Pink Palm Hotel. This exquisite hotel has the perfect blend of luxury, tranquility, and breathtaking views. From the moment we stepped into the lobby, we were greeted by an ambiance of elegance and comfort. The friendly staff made us feel right at home, ensuring that every aspect of our stay was nothing short of exceptional.
Our room at the Pink Palm was a sanctuary of relaxation, offering breathtaking ocean views from our private balcony. The spacious and tastefully decorated interiors provided a haven of comfort after long days of adventure. The Pink Palm's pool area, surrounded by lush tropical greenery, offered the perfect spot to unwind and soak up the much-needed Caribbean sunshine. If you want to see the full tour of this hotel, you can check out last week’s YouTube episode here!
Pink Palm Hotel in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Our second accommodation is Limetree! This is definitely not a new accommodation, but it’s the first time we stay here, so we’re excited to show you! We rented our apartment on Airbnb from the host Anna. Her timeshare apartment was beautiful and we loved our time there. It’s a bit remote, but that is exactly what we wanted for a few days of work. The property also has everything you would need, restaurants, a mini-mart, a beach, a pool, and tennis court, etc. You can find the Airbnb listing here if you want to stay there.
Limetree Resort in St. Thomas, US. Virgin Islands
6. Visit St. John, US. Virgin Islands
If you're up for more adventure, make sure to venture to St. John and visit the picturesque Maho Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is definitely not a new activity, but more of an iconic must-mention activity. Getting there is a breeze—simply catch a ferry from St. Thomas, or hire a boat. Once you arrive, you'll be greeted by pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and awe-inspiring hiking trails. Don't forget your snorkeling gear, and be prepared to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of the underwater world. We’ve been here so many times, and in my opinion, a St. Thomas vacation is not complete without a trip to St. John! I have dedicated videos from St. John, so please feel free to watch that, and let me know in the comment section if you’ve been there or if you’re planning to go!
For our seventh recommendation, we suggest a visit to Lovango Cay Beach Club. Lovango Cay is a private island in the district of St. John, in the United States Virgin Islands.This hidden gem offers crystal-clear waters, incredible snorkeling opportunities, and a peaceful beach club atmosphere. There are a couple of really beautiful places you can stay on the island as well, and we will definitely be staying there next time we visit the USVI! If you want to check out our experience last time we were here, you can check out the YouTube video below.
8. Visit Hans Lollik Island or Water Island
Last but not least, let's talk about Hans Lolik and Water Island. These lesser-known islands provide a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Enjoy pristine beaches, breathtaking views, and a laid-back atmosphere. It’s a lot easier to get to Water Island, you can simply take a ferry from St. Thomas. While Hans Lolik is only accessible by a private boat, and you have to bring food and beverages yourself since there’s nothing on the island. I love that though, but if that is too remote for you, you always have the option of water island. Regardless, get out on the water, and enjoy all the beauty these Caribbean islands have to offer!
And there you have it—the updated top eight things to do when you visit St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We hope you found this blog post helpful in planning your next trip. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments below. Make sure to follow along over on YouTube for next week, as we embark on a real-life treasure hunt! Until next time, happy exploring!
Love,
Camilla Johannesen xx
