St. John

For many travelers, St. John is as near to perfection as a Caribbean island can be. More than 60 percent of the 20-square-mile island is national park, so its beaches, vistas, underwater coral gardens, and quiet hiking paths are quiet and unspoiled. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is no better place to explore a tropical wilderness. St. John may be small, but its bays, hills, and reefs hold a seemingly infinite array of sights and sounds; as you peel off the layers, you will be surprised, enchanted, and inspired.

St. John complements its natural beauty with two laid-back hamlets, Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. These small towns have pretty much everything a visitor needs to feel at home: gourmet coffee, trendy restaurants, cold beer, and Internet access, for starters. While Cruz Bay often vibrates with the day-to-day comings and goings of car barges, passenger ferries, trucks, cars, and gangs of tourists, Coral Bay is a sleepy row of bars, restaurants, and shops.

St. John’s perfection has consequences. So many people have come here and loved it that real estate agents, development companies, and construction firms are trying to build on every piece of the island’s undeveloped, privately held land. In some parts of the island, the sound of waves crashing is drowned out by the scream of air brakes, ringing of hammers, and hum of construction generators. Equally problematic, the influx of wealthy snowbirds has created a social divide between native St. Johnians and their American guests.

Waterlemon Cay: The colorful reef around this offshore cay teems with life, making this a snorkeler’s paradise. (read more)

Coral Bay: Unwind with a cold beer and dance under the stars to live music in this funky, laid-back village on the east end. (read more)

Petroglyphs: These mysterious stone carvings may have been made by some of the island’s first residents, but no one knows for sure. Stop by and ponder their origins while hiking at Reef Bay. (read more)

Ram’s Head Trail: Hold on to your hat at this remote headland, where the sound of waves crashing and wind blowing will fill your ears. The view is spectacular here at the island’s southernmost point. (read more)