Top 5 Cruz Bay Tours: See St. John’s Best

So, you’re going to St. John and Cruz Bay, right? That is to say, a fantastic decision. St. John, with its amazing beaches and very green hills, seriously is a super special spot, that’s for sure, too, and Cruz Bay acts like, almost, a charming entryway into it all. Instead of sticking to one beach – even though they really are gorgeous – give some thought to exploring more of the island. This guide’ll walk you through, arguably, the five top tours you could enjoy there, to give you ideas on your adventure, showing what really makes St. John amazing.

1. Island Hopping & Snorkeling Tour

There is nothing quite like cruising the waters off St. John, so it is something a snorkeling tour will allow you to do, actually! These adventures aren’t just simple boat trips, but so too do they bring you to several smaller islands and bays around St. John. Plus you often visit spots only locals really seem to know, places to see that the average tourist doesn’t even realize exist. What makes these tours cool? Basically, they offer some amazing chances to go snorkeling in crystal-clear spots, which allows you to spot colorful fish, maybe even some sea turtles if you are very fortunate. The boats are frequently catamarans, by the way, providing really a smooth, comfy ride. Too, lunches and drinks are often included, which means you, seemingly, can just enjoy the beautiful waters without worrying.

When I was on St. John some years ago, honestly I hopped on one of these, and it stands out as like a top experience. Stopping off at secluded beaches you can only get to by boat felt very cool, very private, it felt as if you were on your own isolated slice of heaven. Then there was the snorkeling – the coral reefs there are bursting with life and that made me want to continue exploring. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (St. John Snorkeling Tour)

2. Eco-Hike Through the Virgin Islands National Park

St. John is home to an incredible national park, more or less covering more than half the island, which is pretty astonishing. An eco-hike really lets you experience the beauty inside. As it turns out, the trails range from straightforward, in a way, paths, to rather challenging climbs, but virtually all let you see amazing views and bits of local plant and wildlife, that I can attest to. Guided tours tend to be very interesting, so they offer facts regarding the history, the botany, and also the animals living around there.

Eco-hikes are very awesome. A guide showed my group, so to speak, old sugar plantation ruins which were completely intertwined with new plantlife – seriously super fascinating! Also, some of the views down to the Caribbean Sea were outstanding. It’s really amazing. As a matter of fact, this sort of adventure makes you grateful for both the nature plus the past of the area. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (National Park Hike)

3. Sunset Sail from Cruz Bay

Picture it. So, that is to say, calm waters. So, golden sunlight that, in a way, makes everything sparkle. That, really, is what you could enjoy by having a sunset sail. Departing directly from Cruz Bay, which is super handy, this kind of trip usually takes you out as the sun dips just a bit, really painting the sky with oranges, pinks, plus purples; often with the outline of neighboring islands far away. Many of them provide cocktails and snacks too, which turns a simple boat trip straight into a very enjoyable small party happening over water. Very often, that is the backdrop for romantic moments and picture-perfect snapshots.

One time I shared a sunset sail experience with friends and to be honest we honestly agreed it was so incredibly special. Having a drink in your hand as, seemingly, you’re talking to the rhythmic sounds created by waves – it feels luxurious and completely, actually, relaxing, and, in fact, these kinds of nights genuinely illustrate the easygoing island lifestyle. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sunset Sail)

4. Kayak and Paddleboard Tours of the Mangrove Lagoons

Fancy doing something rather calmer plus a bit more immersive? So consider the guided kayak and paddleboard tours happening inside the mangrove lagoons, honestly. These places provide amazingly tranquil waters and are virtually jam-packed with wildlife. As a matter of fact you could see anything ranging from baby sharks right down to countless seabirds; pretty much it being their special, cozy hangout. So, very often, instructors also inform you about just how the mangrove ecosystem performs a really essential role around the coast, protecting land and supporting underwater habitats.

Exploring in these protected waters gave, it almost seemed, a chance to get very near to nature; even touching wildlife safely. I distinctly recall a tour guide mentioning all concerning the crucial jobs mangroves perform against shoreline breakdown which provided much greater detail and meaning as compared to staring off only from just any coastline itself. It turned from being simply an entertaining afternoon to a real experience where everything became interesting. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Kayak Tour)

5. Jeep Tour Around St. John

Now, how about actually driving about a lot while still learning, yet? Think of booking up any guided Jeep adventure round the island if your approach would be ‘get on-the-road’! These experiences often bring one around less-traveled routes in St. John, for example the incredibly rocky shoreline roads as well as, seemingly, uphill vantage spots – presenting you viewpoints ordinary cars would never have managed, actually. It’s possible for guides sharing local legends too relating island sights which will cause you to look not simply at amazing views, arguably though, with a bit of setting too, you know!

Doing all that backroad sightseeing with somebody that understood all its stories created, at the end of the day, a deeper feeling and much better trip totally. Stopping-off abruptly on a remote hilltop so our group could enjoy some unobscured panoramic scenery of two waters mixing into an ocean provided recollections which printed more powerfully upon my soul, to be honest. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Jeep Tour)

Read our full review: Cruz Bay Sightseeing Tours Full Review and Details