13 Best St. Croix USVI Things to Do: My Personal Favorites!

The Annaly Bay Tide Pools are one of the coolest hidden gems in St. Croix!

Getting there takes a bit of effort, about a 1-hour hike, but that’s part of the adventure. The trek keeps the crowds down, so when you finally roll up, it feels extra special.

The trail drops you off at a rugged little pebbly beach.

Head left, scramble over some rocks, and boom, you’re at the tide pools. The water is clear and that perfect shade of turquoise.

Every now and then, a rogue wave crashes over the rocks, spilling in like a temporary waterfall and keeping everything constantly refreshed. It’s super cool to watch.

Definitely wear your bathing suit under your hiking gear so you can jump right in. Floating around in those calm, crystal-clear pools after the hike is pure bliss.

Buck Island was made a National Monument in 1961, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

The island is famous for two things:

1. Great snorkeling
2. Turtle Beach, a strip of perfect white sand that looks unreal

Here’s the deal: you can’t just show up and go on your own. You need to book a boat, and only 5 operators are approved by the National Park Service (their site has all the info).

We went with Llewellyn’s Charter and could not have been happier. They only take 6 passengers, and it’s a legit sailboat. No engine smell, just clean air and the sound of the wind in the sails.

Keeping the group small is a huge perk. The last thing you want while snorkeling is getting smacked in the face with someone’s fins while 15 people crowd around the same fish. With Llewellyn, it felt chill, spacious, and way more enjoyable.

Highlight moment: swimming through a massive school of Jacks. Pure magic.

My husband and I are pretty hardcore snorkelers. We’ve done the Maldives, Moorea, Belize, Bonaire, Australia, Indonesia, Seychelles, St. John, and a bunch more spots.

With all that experience, I have to say Frederiksted Pier in St. Croix still ranks as one of the most unique places we’ve ever snorkeled.

Getting in is a little awkward, but once you’re in, it’s easy. Just swim along the pier and weave between the pylons. At first it feels a bit spooky under there since it’s darker, but you get used to it fast.

The payoff is insane. Every single pylon is covered in bright coral and sponges in reds, oranges, and yellows. It feels like an underwater gallery. If you slow down and peek in the cracks, you’ll find tiny gems like decorator crabs and brittle stars hiding out.

We also checked out the rocks to the left of the pier (when facing the water) and found even more highlights: a family of squid, a school of blue tang, and a swirling bait ball.

If you are a diver, it gets even better. Many divers report seeing octopuses and eels, especially on night dives.

Bottom line: if you love snorkeling, Frederiksted Pier is a must. Don’t forget your snorkel gear. I’ve linked my tested gear list that I bring on all my “snorkations.”

And if you want more, check out my St. Croix Snorkeling Guide below for the top sites on the island!

If you love good food, you absolutely need to try the spit-roasted, slow-cooked rotisserie BBQ chicken at La Reine Chicken Shack.

Honestly, Costco could learn a thing or two here.

You know you’re onto something special when you pull up and find yourself standing in line with a bunch of locals.

Even President Joe Biden, Martha Stewart, and Andrew Zimmern from the Travel Channel have stopped by this humble spot.

La Reine is a laid-back, barn-style restaurant serving up hearty dishes like stew chicken, roast pork, meatballs, BBQ ribs, conch, mahi-mahi, and tilapia.

They’ve got plenty of tasty sides too such as baked macaroni, coleslaw, cassava, plantains, and baked beans.

But whatever you do, don’t skip their signature half roast chicken for $15 USD, which comes with rice, beans, and salad.

Even better, if they’re running their special, ½ roast chicken plus two Johnny Cakes for $10.25 (cash only), jump on it!

My husband and I were obsessed with the chicken’s crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. I can also personally recommend their BBQ ribs and baked macaroni. So, so good.

For current hours and daily specials, head over to La Reine Chicken Shack’s Facebook page.

Located on the secluded eastern end of the island right before you reach Point Udall, Isaac and Jack Bay offer beautiful clear waters, coral reefs, and soft white sand beaches.

They are also home to nesting populations of green and hawksbill turtles.

After you reach the small parking lot, it takes about 20 minutes to reach Isaac Bay and an additional 20 minutes to reach Jack Bay. The hike is not too challenging, but it is HOT!

There is no shade, so be prepared with plenty of water, a hat, and sun-protective clothing.  

We also brought our snorkeling gear and took a refreshing swim in Isaac Bay before finishing our hike out to Jack Bay.

The winds and current made snorkeling a little challenging, but it was still fun to see a few tropical fish and even a lobster as we navigated our way around the water.

Full details on this hike + snorkel adventure can be found in my guide below. 

Get some gas, and then grab some of the best local food at Ziggy’s Island Market. They have plenty of open-air seating in the back.

Wash everything down with a cheap bar at their adjacent Libation Station.

What is Ziggy’s known for?

Rotis and curries and their incredibly friendly service!

Unfortunately, when we got there, they were just making a fresh batch of their curry which was going to take another few hours.

We opted instead for their Ziggy’s Famous Cubano, which was good but I wish I had been able to try one of their Island Curry Dishes.

They consider themselves the “The Original Home of the Lime in Da Coconut.” This delicious Caribbean tropical drink is made with Coco Lopez, fresh lime juice, Key lime and coconut rum, vanilla, and citrus.

Since Rainbow Beach faces west, this location offers some great sunsets as you sip on that delicious cocktail.

We also ordered some delicious Mahi tacos with two different sauces: ginger citrus aioli and spicy aioli. So fresh and delicious!

If you picture that perfect Caribbean postcard with soft white sand and turquoise water, that’s Sandy Point Beach.

It’s part of the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, which means access is limited. It’s only open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm, and from April 1 to September 1 the beach is closed completely for turtle nesting season.

A few things to know:

• Parking is easy with multiple lots
• The beach is huge (about 2 miles long), so even if it looks busy you’ll find space
• No facilities and no shade, so bring a hat, sun-protective clothing, and plenty of water
• No chair or umbrella rentals
• No snorkeling since there’s no reef

We went for a swim, and it was incredibly relaxing, but without shade we didn’t stay too long. Still, it’s absolutely worth visiting for the sand and water alone. 

Fun fact: the last scene of the 1994 film Shawshank Redemption was filmed here.

I’m not sure if the Taste of Twin City Food Tour still brings people to Thomas Bakery, but that’s where I first heard about it.

That was enough for me to add it to my list!

They’ve got two locations in St. Croix, but the downtown Christiansted spot seems to be the busiest.

The bakery cranks out all kinds of local favorites: raisin buns, pineapple, guava and coconut tarts, turnovers, coconut drops and rolls, and their well-known butter bread.

By the time I showed up, most of the good stuff was already gone.

I managed to snag a coconut drop and a coconut roll. The drop didn’t wow me since it didn’t have as much coconut flavor as I expected.

The coconut roll though? Perfect. Flaky, sweet, and packed with coconut flavor.

We rented a villa at Cane Bay and after exploring the whole island, this ended up being our favorite spot!

Cane Bay Beach has everything you picture in a Caribbean dream: soft sand, palm trees, and dramatic green mountains in the backdrop.

You can stroll right off the sand to a handful of bars and restaurants, which makes it super convenient. There’s even a dive shop right on the beach where you can rent snorkel or dive gear.

When we went, the wind made snorkeling a little tough, but we still spotted turtles, patches of coral, and schools of tropical fish like blue tang. Locals say that on calm days it’s like swimming in an aquarium.

If you dive, Cane Bay is famous for “The Wall.” It’s a steep vertical drop just offshore that’s covered in coral, Caribbean fish, and bigger marine life like stingrays and the occasional reef shark.

Be sure to check out my Cane Bay Snorkeling Guide for all the fun details!

The highest point on St. Croix is Mt. Eagle, and the views from the top are absolutely worth it.

The hike itself was pretty easy. It took us about 40 minutes to get up and less than 30 minutes to come back down. The trail has a lot of shade, so it’s comfortable even when the sun is out.

Hardest part?  It wasn’t the hike itself, but finding the trailhead.

I’ve got all the details in my guide below if you want to check it out! 

Driving Mahogany Road through St. Croix’s rainforest is such a fun adventure.

Definitely rent an SUV. We used Centerline Car Rentals and had a great experience (also highly recommended on TripAdvisor).

One of the classic stops is Mt. Pellier Domino Club, home of the famous beer-drinking pigs. You buy a nonalcoholic beer, the pigs go nuts, chug it down, and then spit the can back out.

After the show, you can grab a beer for yourself or try their signature Mama-Wanna (homemade infused rum). Sadly, it was closed when we went, but it’s on the list for next time.

Another cool stop is Nidulari, a tiny stationary food truck run by Merryn MacDonald.

She makes everything from Indian curries to Southern comfort food, but she’s best known for her baked goods and artisanal sourdough.

Open only Wed, Sat, and Sun (check Facebook though for current hours). Cash only. We went over Christmas and it was closed, but everyone raves about it.

St. Croix has two local rum distilleries you can visit: Cruzan Rum and Captain Morgan.

We skipped the tours and just grabbed a few bottles of Cruzan from the grocery store to make our own tastings and cocktails back at the villa.

Perfect way to end the day!

We had just come back from an incredible week on St. John, so I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about whether St. Croix would live up to the hype.

It’s definitely a different vibe than St. John, but we ended up loving it. St. Croix has its own unique island and food culture, plus tons of outdoor adventure.

I actually compared both islands in my “Battle of My Islands” blog post if you’re still deciding which one to visit.

One big difference is that on St. Croix you can rent places right on the ocean, which we really enjoyed. We’d go back in a heartbeat.

If you’re planning a trip and want to see how to fit in all the highlights without feeling rushed, check out my 8-day St. Croix adventure. It’s packed with tips, itinerary flow, and ways to maximize your time on the island.

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Any other must-do things in St Croix you would recommend?

Let me know in the comments below!