8 Day St. Croix Itinerary: Where to Stay and What to Do
When you think of the U.S. Virgin Islands, most people think of St. John or St. Thomas. St. Croix is often overlooked. After spending a week there, I am surprised! It has amazing food culture, beautiful hikes, some spectacular snorkeling sites, and very unique attractions. Follow my day-to-day St. Croix itinerary to discover all these gems.
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Day 1: Travel Day to St. Croix
We arrived at the airport in St. Croix (STX) at 1:30 pm.Â
We rented an SUV from Centerline Car Rental. The check-in process was seamless, and we picked up the car on-site at the airport. We drove for about 25 minutes to our villa rental. Once we arrived, we dropped off our suitcases and headed to the local grocery store.
4 pm: Grocery run at Plaza West.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Today was a travel day, so breakfast/lunch was eaten at the airport/plane. We ate at the villa for dinner.
Overnight: The Pearl. The villa was perched on the cliffs, so every night we were lulled to sleep listening to the crashing waves. We loved our rental and will stay here on future trips to St. Croix.
Day 2: Annaly Bay Tide Pools
1:30 pm: After our morning adventure, we elected to make our own cocktails and relax in our private pool for the afternoon.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At the villa
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 3: Buck Island + Ziggy's
1:45 pm: Visit Point Udall, which is marked by a giant sundial known as the Millenium Monument.
Breakfast/Dinner: At the villa
2 pm Lunch: We had a tasty lunch at Ziggy’s Island Market, which is located at a gas station! It’s one of my Top 13 Things To Do in St. Croix.
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 4: Frederiksted Pier + Rhythms + Monks
10:30 am: We snorkeled at Frederiksted Pier, one of the most unique snorkeling experiences! You will see the pylons coated with all these beautiful brightly colored red, orange, and yellow corals with hidden sea creatures. Check out my Top 5 Snorkeling Sites in St. Croix.
2 pm: We checked out another tide pool called Monks Bath. Interesting but not as spectacular as Annaly Bay Tide Pools.
1 pm Lunch: Rhythms at Rainbow Beach. This beachfront restaurant is the “Original Home of the Lima-N-Da-Coconut” tropical drink. We had a few of these and also enjoyed some delicious, fresh Mahi tacos.
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 5: Mt. Eagle Hike
4 pm: Martinis by the pool. FYI: St. Croix is home to Sion Farm Distillery, which produces the local Mutiny Island Vodka made from breadfruit. You can visit the distillery for a tasting or buy it at the local grocery store.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At the villa
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 6: Cane Bay + Rainforest + Sandy Point + Dorsch Beach
9:30 am: We snorkeled at the beautiful Cane Bay. We saw turtles and schools of fish. You can also dive “The Wall,” a vertical steep cliff.
11 am: We drove through the rainforest to see the beer (nonalcoholic) drinking pigs. Unfortunately, they were closed when we went.
11:45 am: Next we checked out Sandy Point Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.
12:30 pm: We snorkeled at Dorsch Beach, where we saw some beautiful brightly colored starfish and many tropical fish.
2 pm Lunch: La Reine Chicken Shack. Best BBQ chicken ever!
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 7: Isaac & Jack Bay Hike + Christiansted
11:30 am: Once we arrived at Isaac Bay, we decided to cool off and go snorkeling. We saw some tropical fish and even a lobster.
2:30 pm: We checked out the colorful town of Christiansted and had some ice cream at What’s Da Scoop.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At the villa
Overnight: The Pearl
Day 8: Relaxed Morning at Villa + Fly Back
We slept in, had a late breakfast, and got one last swim in. A rainbow appeared before we had to drive off at 12 pm. Incredible! It was so hard to leave!Â
3:35 pm: Flight back home.
Breakfast: At the villa
12:30 pm Snack: We swung by Thomas Bakery for some local coconut sweets and then headed to the airport. Â
Who Will Love This St. Croix Itinerary
- Beach lovers
- Snorkeling & hiking enthusiasts
- Foodies (St. Croix definitely has a great food culture)
Best Time to Visit St. Croix
- Avoid hurricane season from June-November. If you go during that time, buy travel insurance.
- April and May are ideal due to better temperatures, little rainfall, and slightly fewer crowds.
- December – March is also a nice time to visit, but it is peak season so prices will be higher. Also, “Christmas winds” Â occur during this time which can make snorkeling difficult or impossible.
Hotel/Rental
- The Pearl (7 nights)Â
If you still don’t know where to stay in St. Croix, then check out my guide on the best boutique hotels and rentals based on neighborhood!
Airlines & Lounges
American Airlines
- We had a layover in Miami both ways. Total flight times from the east coast + layovers were about 6-7 hours.
Amex Centurion Lounge Miami
- Beautiful lounge but crowded!
Car Rental
St. Croix is large and spread out. I would highly advise renting a car.
We used Centerline Car rental. I highly recommend them.
Tours
- Buck Island Tour
Dinner Reservations
- None. All of the restaurants we chose did not require reservations.
What I Would Have Changed
- We went during the pandemic at Christmas, and a lot of the food establishments we wanted to visit were either closed or had reduced hours. Places on our list to check out when we go back are Ital in Paradise, Savant, AMA at Cane Bay, 40 Eats & Drinks, Nidulari (food truck in the rainforest), and Singh’s Fast Food for local food.
- Cruzan Rum Distillery was closed when we went, but I would have loved to have done a tour and a tasting. Instead, we settled for buying bottles of rum at the grocery store and did our own rum tasting back at the villa rental.
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky DIY discerning travel friend who dives deep—Google Page 20 deep—to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions—I’d love to hear from you!
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Questions about our St. Croix itinerary?
Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you so much for the very kind feedback.
Great question. I don’t use a light, but there are three things you need to make those underwater photos pop.
1. You have to be close enough to the subject.
2. You need some natural light filtering in. For example, it’s really dark under Frederiksted Pier. Go on a day when it’s sunny. The light will come in at an angle which illuminates the pylons, where all the brightly-colored coral is growing. The coral is really that colorful!
3. The third trick is to have a dive filter. I use a GoPro for all of my underwater footage. I pop the filter on to help pick up those vibrant colors underwater.
Hope this helps! Happy to answer any other questions. Enjoy your trip!