They run during the day and are not on a set schedule. Your subscription could not be saved. Small boutique hotels, resorts and private villas abound on the island. Provide locals with respect and try not to be patronizing or condescending. Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1:00pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean. It's a variation on leaving from points north like we did, and if you're too far south when you try it, it doesn't work. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? Airlines that fly to St. Thomas (STT) You have several options for which airline you choose to travel with to St. Thomas. The answer depends on you - your skill level, your tolerance for discomfort and pounding your boat, how much you like offshore sailing, and how much time you have. St. Thomas-St. John School District operates public schools on Saint Thomas. Carrying a passport can still be a good idea as hopping between islands from St. Thomas is fairly easy, and a passport is required for travel to the British Virgin Islands such as Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Good manners and formality are highly esteemed. The US Virgin Islands are 40-50 miles east of Puerto Rico; and about 1106 miles southeast Miami, Florida. Breathtaking View! Hi, many thanks for the information was most helpful. Hotels have been built from the West End to the East End, and in recent years, Saint Thomas has become a busy cruise ship port and vacation venue. Im thinking I-65, but Im not sure my wife will. However, the other islands are close enough together that you can clear out of Tortola and only add a few more hours travel time to St. Martin. This air travel distance is equal to 1235.95 miles. If you have a couple of months to explore and gunkhole in the Bahamas on the way down or you don't like long offshore trips, you may have the time to make the Thorny Path a little less prickly. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing This gives you plenty of time to wait for favorable conditions and better weather, make night passages to avoid wind, and avoid the worst of the pounding. Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving United States. How to Get There from Anguilla: You can fly from Anguilla to St. Thomas direct on Air Sunshine in about 45 minutes. To give you some examples, I re-created the route we took through the Caribbean, starting from the British Virgin Islands and working our way through the Leeward and Windward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean before heading west for Panama and the canal. Sitting nearly 4 miles east of St. Thomas, St. John is the smallest (only 20 square miles) and least populated of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Great answer. The transfer occurred on March 31, 1917, behind Fort Christian before the barracks that now house the Legislature of the U.S Virgin Islands. Not a sailboat but powered by two gas engines, basically Chevy 350 V8s. Wonderful info.. thanks you kindly.. Am looking into Bahamas to Grenada arriving in Grenada before may ..will be in Bahamas in January.. Any advise is greatly appreciated Prefer short overnights and pleasant seas :-) In this article, I'll show you what to expect. Taxis are readily available and there are also drivers that run dollar rides via safaris. A safari is a truck thats been outfitted with bench seating in the back. Many people get to Georgetown and stop, because the trades get more insistent and the stops further apart. However, because the islands are a U.S. territory, most cars are imported from the mainland United States and therefore the steering column is located on the left side of the vehicle. Heading further south, the Windward islands start with Martinique, then St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. However, petty crime still occurs in tourist areas so it's important to take the proper precautions. The arc of Caribbean islands begins off the coast of Florida and extends all the way to South America. Of the three islands, St. Thomas is the middle island in terms of size. Their combined land area is about 195 square miles (505 square kilometres). St. Croix , St. Thomas is known for having one long ridge of hills running east and west through the center of the island with smaller ridges branching off from the center. Things to Do in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 1. A season in the Caribbean - what a dream vacation or a plan for a sabbatical! Since you can't sail that straight line, if you're in a hurry you can sail offshore. [yearneeded]. The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. Carrying a passport can still be a good idea as hopping between islands from St. Thomas is fairly easy, and a passport is required for travel to the British Virgin Islands such as Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Coral World is a marine park located on the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. Car rental agencies are located at the airport as well as near the main cruise ship dock and large resorts. Maybe a follow up article on the options returning from virgins or points south back to Florida or other ports along the east coast? ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. March is the driest month, receiving 27 millimeters (1.1in) of rainfall over 8.1 precipitation days, the least of any month. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Free WIFI! Great article. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. And, unlike Florida, temperatures here are typically in the 80s during the day and the 70s at night all year round. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. The islands are not known for great facilities for visiting yachts, though the sailing there is lovely. Dont rush things have patience and consider your time here as a chance to relax and enjoy a nice breather. But the answer is a bit more complicated, so we'll give you some detail about why. Learn More{{/message}}. Because there are further breakdowns and groupings you may hear which come from which European powers dominated which islands politically and culturally during the 17th through 19th centuries. It has hills and valleys and relatively few flat areas. View job listing details and apply now. This column is for archipelagos and destinations with multiple islands. Your subscription could not be saved. There are no airports on St. John so you must fly to St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport (code STT) and travel from there. The only way to get to the St. John, in the US Virgin Islands, is by boat. You can reach the British Virgin Islands by ferry from Charlotte Amalie. Distance Between Puerto Rico and St Thomas. The Roques Archipelago is one of the more popular spots, but check current conditions before planning a visit. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Water Island is 2 miles long and to 1 mile wide. Nearby Saba isn't recommended as a strong wind anchorage, either. 9034 GD Marsum While there has historically been no ferry service between St. Thomas (or any of the aforementioned islands) and St. Croix, as of January 2019, a brand new ferry service will be operating between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Gallows Bay, St. Croix for $50 one way or $100 roundtrip. Additional terms apply. 9034 GD Marsum Your travel time can differ by up to 2h 42m. The total straight line flight distance from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,256 miles. Jamie Cail, 42, was found . Leaving Crown Bay, St. Thomas. The Friday schedule leaves St. Thomas at 8 a.m. and St. Croix at 4 p.m. Sheltered harbors aren't as common as you'd like, nor are ports with marinas and supplies. Since 2012 he's been cruising the world with his wife and living aboard full time. [23], During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of French Catholic immigrants known as the Chacas came to St. Thomas from the St. Barthlemy islands to the east, forming one community of fishermen and one of farmers.[24][25]. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing The boyfriend of a US swimming star found dead at their home on the Virgin Islands was jailed for ten years after a violent brawl in 2007, according to sources. The distance line on map shows distance from Puerto Rico to St Thomas between two cities. There are 10 airlines flying into STT: Spirit Airlines. St Thomas is a small island with 32 square miles . This was inherited from what was the then-current Danish practice at the time of the American acquisition in 1917. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. It ends in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. There aren't any Caribbean destinations beyond Trinidad. This is usually an upwind slog, also without many good safe harbors. Even a day sail is exhausting if you spend the entire day getting beat up and tipped on your ear while bashing upwind. Thirteen of the 14-member territorial board officials met by way of a teleconference between St. Thomas and St. Croix. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. St. Croix is 84 square miles in size, 22 miles long and the widest point is a little more than 6 miles. You can hop a ride on a safari by sticking out your arm when you see it approaching. While you are in the tropics and it is warm, the prevailing wind patterns and navigational requirements can turn the time you aren't lounging on a beach into some pretty unpleasant sailing. In Dominica's two major cruising ports, organized and helpful "boat boys will greet you. A few days after celebrating the 60th year of free elections in the Virgin Islands, the V.I. At least theres are no land and reefs around to hit like there is on the Thorny Parth. Although the island is just 31 square miles, youll find a variety of attractions and even two cities with hot spots for exciting nightlife options as well. Turns out that owning a boat is pretty affordable. There is widespread community transmission globally. Whether taking a boat trip, scuba diving, parasailing or snorkeling, call the outfit before you arrive on island to make reservations. St. Thomas is a safe destination for your next Caribbean vacation. Where the "island" column is blank on departure, it's a repeat of the row above. [citation needed], In 1915, David Hamilton Jackson traveled to Denmark and convinced the King of Denmark to allow freedom of the press in Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix. Every hour, one of the ferries departs Red Hook, St. Thomas, and the other Cruz Bay, St. John, crossing each other along the way. Answer 1 of 4: What is the one-way fare on a taxi for two people from the airport (STT) to Wyndham St. Thomas Margaritaville Resort? Thirteen sovereign island nations and a dozen dependent territories make up most of the islands, and ten countries in Latin America have Caribbean coastline. Explore the grottoes, arches, and chain of tidal pools formed by eroded rocks along the beach. Like countries in Europe, the majority of outlets on St. Kitts operate with a 230 voltage, unlike the United States and St. Thomas, which use 110 voltage. Protected by Hassel Island, the harbor has docking and fueling facilities, machine shops, and shipyards and was a U.S. submarine base until 1966. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Rodney Bay in the north has most of the marine services, though the scenic Pitons near Soufrire in the south is a popular departure point. In 1685, the Brandenburgisch-Africanische Compagnie took control of the slave trade on Saint Thomas, and for some time the largest slave auctions in the world were held there. To get a sense of the thorniness of crossing this stretch of water, take a closer look at where this route goes through the Bahamas. This is okay, though you sail more miles you're looking to avoid getting hammered sailing upwind for days. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? We are aim to start in November 2024, should have a budget for a yacht of approximately 40000, could you give us some advice on what type of yacht would best suit the trip we have planned and what kit/equipment we should look to take. This is a destination meant for relaxation there is no need for a tie or a fancy dress. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. St. Thomas Airport to St Croix Airport: CAPE AIR tel: (800) CAPE-AIR SEAFLIGHT tel: (340) 714-3000 NO PASSPORTS NEEDED BETWEEN ST.THOMAS - ST CROIX - ST JOHN and PUERTO RICO Ferry to WATER ISLAND. Luggage fees may apply. If your cruising speed on the rhumb line is different or youre tacking back and forth all over the place, adjust times accordingly. The United States Virgin Islands are a group of several dozen islands and cays located in the Caribbean, about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) southeast of Florida, 600 miles (966 km) north of Venezuela, 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico, and immediately west and south of the British Virgin Islands.. Many heading down island from the BVIs leave from Virgin Gorda, as it is the furthest island to the east. Because the Florida coast is a couple of hundred miles further west than a northern starting point like Hampton, VA, the total distance is pretty similar because you have to get back east. The U.S. Virgin Islands lie near the boundary of the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate . St. Thomas is in the U.S. Virgin Islands and is just east of Puerto Rico and Haiti. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Despite a high crime rate, St. Thomas has plenty of beaches, safe tourist areas, hotels, and resorts where visitors are rarely affected by violent crime. You do this while waiting for favorable (or less unfavorable) weather and winds. The cheapest flight from Tampa to Saint Thomas Island was found 42 days before departure, on average. I am wanting to bring my 37 ft Chris Craft to the Virgin Islands. Saint Thomas is divided into the following subdistricts (with population as per the 2020 U.S. Census): From 1796 a small Jewish community developed in Charlotte Amalie. There are 1112 mi between Florida and Saint Thomas Island. The U.S. Department of the Interior took over administrative duties in 1931. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions.