Plan your trip to Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
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Elevation: 87 meters
Time Zone: America/St_Thomas
Local Currency: USD
Latitude: 17.7396955
Longitude: -64.738755
Nearby Airports: STX, SSB, JCD
St. Croix is the largest island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Christopher Columbus visited St. Croix on his second voyage to the New World in 1493 and named the island “Santa Cruz” (Holy Cross), which became a major export of sugar in the late 1700s. The ruins of over 150 sugar plantations are still visible along the hillsides of Christiansted and Frederiksted, the two major towns on St. Croix.
The island, which became a U.S. territory in 1917, is filled with a diverse assortment of plant life including giant cacti on the eastern side of St. Croix and rain forest on the western end, which features Blue Mountain. To help protect the islands’ unique ecology, St. Croix locals host several workshops and garden tours through the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute, a certified Organic and Green Globe forest farm. Many of St. Croix’s native plants are also found in the St. George Village Botanical Gardens, where tourists can stroll through a cactus garden and an orchid house.
Visitors can also explore the protected waters and lush habitat of St. Croix by kayaking through Salt River—the historical landing site of Columbus’ expedition—or snorkeling in the underwater National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument.
Top Trips: road trips to Saint Croix
How Far Is It: distance to Saint Croix
Go where no other boats can. Plan your kayaking vacation with our expert tips on how to choose the right type of trip and find recommended tours.
St. Croix is celebrating the New Year with the much-anticipated return of popular cruise lines to the Caribbean island destination after several years of little to no cruise ship activity.
You don’t have to dive deep to explore a vibrant undersea world in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Check out our dive expert’s top spots.
A St. Croix dive shop offers scuba programs especially geared toward kids to help them learn about the wonders of the deep blue Caribbean Sea.
Immerse yourself in the diverse cultural mix of Caribbean and Danish influences on a vacation to the most populated island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Grab your sailing gear and head out on a boating adventure in the waters around St. John and St. Thomas.
Chill on gorgeous beaches, ply Caribbean waters, tour historic attractions and shop duty-free on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John—while leaving your passport at home.
Check out these top accommodations and activities for families planning a vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
