Two National Parks, One Perfect Caribbean Escape: Why St. Croix Should Be Your Next Island Adventure

When someone brings up national parks, my mind instantly drifts to the vast, surreal landscapes of the Grand Canyon. Or the sight of bison grazing in Yellowstone’s golden meadows.

Mention the Caribbean, though, and I’m swept somewhere entirely different: turquoise waves lapping against white-sand beaches, the sun warming my skin, and the crisp, sweet sting of a rum cocktail in hand.

Two totally different travel daydreams, right?

Surprisingly, they overlap more than you’d think. Beyond its 63 designated National Parks, the National Park Service manages over 400 sites across the U.S. These parks range from rugged monuments to historic landmarks.

And tucked away in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the island of St. Croix is home to two of them. The protected marine wonderland of Buck Island Reef National Monument and the colonial charm of Christiansted National Historic Site.

Tropical Beauty and Lesser-Known History

When I first began planning my trip to St. Croix, which is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, I wasn’t thinking about U.S. history. Not a bit.

I was looking forward to those sensory experiences that everyone thinks about when they’re excitedly preparing for travel to a Caribbean destination.

While I found all the things I expected to find in abundance, I also discovered a slice of U.S. history that was never in my schoolbooks.

For the traveler who wants to combine a relaxing warm-weather beach break with collecting more stamps for their parks passport, St. Croix is worth adding to your list of explore-worthy spots. The phrase “Best of both worlds” comes to mind.

Best St Croix Tours & Excursions

An Unincorporated Territory – What Does That Mean?

The USVI is an unincorporated territory of the United States. The citizens are U.S. residents who can serve in the military but can’t vote in federal elections.

However, a non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives oversees their interests. For U.S. travelers, it means no passport is required for entry and no need for an international phone plan, although visitors do pass through a customs check upon exiting.

Buck Island Reef National Monument

As the name suggests, this is an island and is only accessible by boat. Located 1.5 miles from St. Croix, this 176-acre island and surrounding reef (the total area for the island plus surrounding protected waters) is over 19,000 acres.

Buck Island was brought into the Park Service by President John F. Kennedy and was later expanded by President Bill Clinton.

Today, it’s a spot for bucket list snorkeling and is one of the few fully protected marine areas that the Park Service oversees.

I visited Buck Island Reef National Monument as part of a private charter set up by the resort we stayed at in St. Croix, The Buccaneer.

The resort can set up or recommend all types of excursions that allow visitors to explore St. Croix outside of the beautiful resort. Although I admit to being quite tempted to stay put.

The name of the charter was Buck Island Charter, and we sailed on the Dragonfly with Captain Carl. The Dragonfly is all wind-powered, as is her sister vessel, the Teroro II.

It was a magical afternoon on the water. We anchored off the coast to explore the reef – the boat supplies fins and snorkel masks.

One of the crew members took us on a guided tour of one of the reef’s three underwater interpretive trails. Here we saw all sorts of colorful fish, sea turtles and even a barracuda.

Captain Carl has a reference card on board to help snorkelers identify the different aquatic life forms that can be spotted in the waters off Buck Island. I’ve snorkeled throughout the Caribbean, and this tops my list of epic spots to explore underwater.

The water is clear and at a comfortable temperature for swimming. It was one of the most enchanting days of snorkeling I’ve had in a while. It made me smile to know I was combining my love of all things underwater with being a devoted National Parks traveler.

Read More: These 4 National Parks in the U.S. Are Perfect for Families

On the Shore

Although the real party happens underwater, most commercial tours drop anchor off Buck Island’s pristine Turtle Beach.

The island itself is rustic, with a few picnic tables and a restroom. There is a storyboard that gives the history of the island and information on local flora and fauna and the Island Crest Trail. The trail, moderately challenging and rocky, treats visitors to gorgeous views of St. Croix.

You’ll need about an hour and some sturdy shoes to climb up and get back down. I didn’t do the hike because I didn’t know about the trail when I signed up for the charter and didn’t have appropriate footwear.

The main draw, though, is the beach. I saw turtles swimming not far from the shore and I didn’t feel cheated out of the hiking experience. However, I’d like to return and do the hike, just to cross that off my bucket list.

The charter companies will take care of the necessary park permits needed to visit the island.

Although there’s no ranger station, you can walk to Deidreich’s Point and get a picture of the Buck Island Reef National Monument Sign. Your guide can point you in the right direction, but make sure your stop time is adequate to make the 45-minute trek.

Looking for an Endurance Challenge?

Visit St. Croix in November and take part in the Coral Reef Swim Race. The most challenging event is the five-mile swim from Buck Island to The Buccaneer Resort’s Mermaid Beach. However, there are two races of a lesser distance for anyone not ready for the ultimate endurance event.

Even if you don’t sign up to swim, the race has a wholesome spirit of community, and the November St. Croix weather makes it a perfect time to visit the island.

Christiansted National Historic Site

Christiansted National Historic Site is located in the center of one of St. Croix’s two cities. It is a well-preserved fort that the Danish occupied before they turned over the island to the United States. St. Croix was a territory of Denmark from 1734 until 1917.

The fort’s five buildings tell the story of life under Danish occupation.

The fort is in the center of Christiansted. Its buttery yellow buildings are easy to spot from just about anywhere downtown.

The waterfront has a boardwalk with a fun collection of boutiques and eateries. Set aside a dedicated morning to explore the fort, then grab lunch and ice cream.

Read More: Paradise With a Past: Discovering St. Croix’s Rich Colonial Heritage

About the Fort

Built in 1749 by enslaved Africans, the fort was designed to defend the island and provide safe anchorage for vessels. It also served as a trade hub for the sugar cane market and, unfortunately, as an auction site for enslaved persons.

The more positive story is that Denmark was the first country to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1803, well before the United States.

The fort was demilitarized in 1878 and served as a jail, police station and courthouse until 1952, when it became part of the National Park Service. Its original name was Virgin Islands National Historic Site.

Five historic buildings sit on a seven-acre site that’s easy to navigate, with paved paths and streets connecting the structures. Two of the buildings are on the other side of a public road, so look both ways.

There is a park ranger presence at Fort Christiansted, but guided tours aren’t currently offered.

It’s easy to get a sense of the fort’s history by reading the storyboards dotted around the property. The storyboards are very well-maintained and comprehensive. A self-guided tour is offered on the NPS app.

There’s a small visitor’s center with brochures and a self-service park passport stamp station, complete with slips of paper for anyone who didn’t pack their National Park Passport.

I confess, I didn’t bring mine and had no idea that the island had not one but two NPS sites when I planned my trip, so this was a happy surprise. The site is free to explore.

As a Kid in the Caribbean, I Wished for a War…

If you’re a Hamilton fan, you’ll recognize those words as lyrics from Rise Up, where Alexander Hamilton introduces his origin story, mainly based on personal ambition.

Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis but moved to St. Croix as a child, where he lived until he left for America.

As you walk through the grounds of Christiansted National Historic Site and the streets of Christiansted, you’re very possibly retracing Hamilton’s footsteps as he looked out upon the sea, wishing for a way to a bigger life.

Caribbean History is U.S. History

The promise of sun and sand is probably going to be what entices you to plan a trip to St. Croix. However, understanding how our history is intertwined with the Caribbean, particularly the U.S. territories, adds some depth to what you experience when you go.

The average tourist might not realize how much Caribbean culture has influenced the music, art and food we enjoy, and what significance the islands played in the Revolutionary and Civil wars as a supply route.

The best part of this unexpected history lesson is that it doesn’t have to be either or. You can have your dreamy beach resort experience and take some time to peel back another layer by learning the history at Christiansted National Historic Site.

Carving out space in your day to dig a little deeper doesn’t take away from the attributes that make island time so tempting.

Getting There

Getting to St. Croix from the United States is easy. As mentioned, there’s no passport required. I flew from Miami and the flight was an easy two-and-a-half hours. There were no customs or immigration to deal with, so I grabbed my bag and was quickly on my way.

I took a taxi to the Buccaneer Resort, which is about a 30-45 minute drive from the airport. Taxis are readily available; they hang out near the baggage claim.

But word to the wise, bring your folding money. Most don’t take credit cards and I got a blank look when I asked if they took Venmo. Since this is a U.S. Territory, you’ll use your dollars.

Where to Stay in St Croix

The Buccaneer is a 138-room family-owned legacy resort in Christiansted with swoonworthy ocean views. The resort has three beaches, onsite golf, tennis, plus other activities such as lawn games and entertainment.

The resort also has gourmet restaurants (very memorable tacos, pizza, and ultra-fresh sushi) and the extensive breakfast buffet is included in the room price.

The Buccaneer is a short drive – around 10 minutes – from Christiansted National Historic Site and it’s easy to set up a trip to Buck Island Reef National Monument from the resort.

Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.

Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:

• Sun, Sand and Sea: 3 Top Caribbean Island Escapes
• Island Fun: A Guide to the Top 15 Island Adventures in St. John, USVI

Author Bio: Jill Robbins is a freelance writer covering lifestyle, travel, health, and commerce. Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Business Insider, AAA, and other publications. Jill lives in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, although she’s usually somewhere else.

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