We have compiled 2 options sample itineraries that will give you an idea of how much you can enjoy your charter vacation without leaving the US waters. The crew is always happy to discuss and change the route depending on the weather and of course your suggestions. The all-inclusive charter week offers you a private Captain and Chef (additional crew on larger yachts), luxury en-suite cabins, all meals, snacks, all beverages including the ship’s bar, appetizers, cruising permits, and mooring ball fees. All meals enjoyed ashore will be at your expense.
About the USVI >
Day 1:
After you arrive at the St. Thomas International Airport (STT), a taxi will take you on a scenic drive to the West side of St. Thomas. Your crewed charter yacht will be docked or moored at either American Yacht Harbour in Red Hook or at Yacht Haven Grande Marina in Charlotte Amalie. Your crew will advise on transportation and arrival information. Motor to Water Island nearby especially if you arrive later in the afternoon.
Water Island is a charming little island located just off the south shore of Saint Thomas. It has 2 bars on opposite ends of the gorgeous Honeymoon beach. Dinghies often have live music, especially all day on Sundays. On the other end of the beach is a shack that offers movie night on Monday nights on a projection screen between two palm trees starting at sunset. They also sell drinks and food, and everyone gathers around on sun chairs or blankets. There is a protected snorkeling area, and sometimes there can be a little bit of nightlife here.
Day 2:
Sail to Buck Island
Buck Island is an uninhabited island a little further south of St Thomas where Turtle Cove is a famous spot for snorkeling. In shallow water, you can easily access a shipwreck called the Cartanza; you can see tons of fish and turtles here. We would likely sail to this cute island and have lunch aboard, snorkel, and maybe take the off-path cactus hiking up to the lighthouse.
Sail to Christmas Cove
Christmas Cove is one of our favorite spots, we spend almost all of our time here. It is a well-protected cove behind the island of Little St James. There are tons of eagle rays and turtles here, and it is also home to Pizza Pi, a floating pizza restaurant. This is also a great place for watersports such as tubing, wakeboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Day 3:
Sail to the secluded, beautiful Hans Lollik Island
This is one of the more remote stops, where most times we would have the entire island to ourselves. There is a beautiful beach with lots of shade and even places to have a fire. Snorkeling is great right off the back of the boat, and I have caught lobster here many times before.
Weather permitting, we might spend the entire day and night here. We may anchor in Magens Bay or carry on to Lovango Cay.
Day 4:
Sail to Lovango Cay
Lovango Cay was first populated in 1728. By 1917 the population was 49 and it had one of the first schools built in the territory. It also had the last legal brothel in the territory and was for many years a destination for the many colorful mariners who were native to the area at the time. This is where the name came from (Lov An Go). Today it has a fine dining restaurant called Zozos on one side as well as a handful of private residences (all off-grid) and on the other side, it is secluded.
The backside of Lovango between Lovango and Congo has some of the most beautiful waters I have ever seen. Incredible snorkeling in shallow water with spectacular diving on a 90-foot drop on the far side. Located here is the largest and scariest cliff jumping location named Carvel Rock. There is also a huge cave to explore here.
Carvel was featured in The Amazing Race 25, where the 11 competing teams had to climb across the top of the rock before jumping off into the ocean. It was also used as target practice when ships unloaded their cannons before entering Cruz Bay St. John. It was named Carvel because it looks and is about the size of the ship of the same name.
Sail to Caneel Bay, Saint John
Caneel Bay, built by Laurence Rockefeller in 1956, is world-famous. He also donated land to the Federal Government to establish a National Park. The 5000 acres became the nation’s twenty-ninth National Park. Since then other donations have been made and presently the Virgin Islands National Park includes 7200 acres of land and 5600 acres of underwater land. Caneel Bay was the only resort ever to be allowed within the boundary of the National Park.
After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the resort sadly never reopened. The land has since been largely reclaimed by nature, making once private beaches now open to the public. While the resort itself is off-limits, the entire property is still very beautiful. Perhaps even more so as some of the cottages are now growing trees and vines throughout.
There are several beaches here to choose from, and Cruz Bay is right around the corner with lots of beach bars, dining, and a local farmers market of fresh fruits and hand-made items such as wooden bowls and conch horns. This is another great spot for watersports activities, beaching it up or just swimming and relaxing on the boat. There are also multiple short hikes available, with rewarding views.
Day 5 (Maybe 5 and 6):
Hawksnest Bay
Beautiful beaches and snorkeling, with eagle rays and turtles.
Cinnamon Bay
Great beach and snorkeling around Cinnamon Cay, as well as an uphill hike to the America House overlooking Francis and Maho bays. Medium difficulty, very rewarding!Perfect spot for learning to paddleboard or kayaking. You can even paddle up to Maho Bay and let the wind blow you back!
Maho Bay and Francis Bay
This is a must-see spot. Turtles popping up in all directions, beautiful water, gorgeous beaches, protection from the Trade Winds for watersports, and kayaking out to Whistling Cay’s abandoned Customs House. Here you can be for a beginner course on rock climbing and cliff jumping. There is also a cool off-the-grid beach bar that offers live music!
Waterlemon Cay
Waterlemon Cay is the #1 destination for snorkeling on St John. There is also an easy walk along the shore to the Annaburg Plantation which offers stunning views of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke as well as a tour through St. John’s past. There is also a light-duty uphill hike that takes you past the ruins of one of the oldest churches in North America to the Great House at the top of the Leinster Bay Trail. From here you can see Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Cooper Island, Peter Island, Ginger and Salt, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, the rest of St. John and St. Thomas. Possibly the best spot in the world to watch a sunset!
Day 6 and/or 7:
We sail past the West End of Saint John past Haulover and brushing our port side along the BVI territorial waters. You will see Tortola and Norman very close, and even as far as Virgin Gorda. This is a great area for catching fish! From here on out we are on the South Shore of St. John. All beaches are much harder to get to, making them much more secluded and quiet compared to North Shore beaches. This is also deep in the park boundary, so there are very few houses and no towns where we will be going. Perfect for stargazing at night!
Flanagan Island
Possible Snorkel and lunch stop.
Salt Pond Bay
Very secluded and protected, Salt Pond is a tranquil place to relax. There is a short walk to the Salt Pond, or the Rams Head Trail hike. Also great for Watersports, especially a Lilly Pad floating mat!
Little Lameshur Bay
There is no hike here, but otherwise, the description matches Salt Pond. Very quiet, relaxing, accessible only by 4X4 and boat. Perfect for watersports activities and toys.
Reef Bay
This is a stunning spot for snorkeling, and there is a hiking trail that leads to native Arawak Indian petroglyphs.
Last Day:
Likely wake up in one of these secluded locations, have a relaxing breakfast followed by a leisurely downwind sail to Redhook Saint Thomas, where you will meet a taxi to take you to the Airport.
Optional St. Croix itinerary:
If you wanted to or depending on the weather, we may decide to include St. Croix. The sail is longer than the sail to Anegada, about 3 and a half hours or so each way. But it is worth it! This would take up about 3 days of the itinerary, and would likely take place starting on day 2 after Water Island or Buck Island. Depending on the weather. The rest of the itinerary would be slightly shuffled around, and we would discuss which stops would be removed.
Day 1 St. Croix
Buck Island National Treasure
Pretty much the most beautiful place in all of the Virgin Islands, this is the Anegada of the USVI. Established as a National Treasure, and the borders expanded by Clinton, Buck Island is a Turtle Hatching location. During June and July, Turtles from all over come here to lay their eggs. The beach is unbelievable pure sand all the way around the Western Point. The Eastern Point has a Barrier Reef. Inside the reef is teeming with fish. As there is no fishing of any kind allowed here, the fish swim right up to you in massive schools. Nothing short of a Disney fairytale or fantasy.
Day 2 St Croix:
If we don’t end up spending the entire St Croix portion of the trip at Buck Island, then we would sail the North Shore of St Croix, stopping at Cane Bay for lunch and a swim. There are coral gardens here in about 20 feet of depth, dropping off to hundreds of feet just a short swim away. This is an amazing wall dive and you may encounter sharks. Tons of life to see beating any reef we have seen in the BVI. It just goes on forever! If anyone were interested in Scuba diving, this and Salt River Canyons are both amazing dives on the North Shore.
Continue sailing to Historic Frederiksted
While we may choose to explore the beautiful town of Frederiksted, with her forts and local flavor, our real destination will be Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge at the Westernmost of the Island.
Another hatching place for Leatherback Turtles in the summer months, Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge is far from town, secluded, and absolutely jaw-dropping. The stars are out in full glory at night, the beach is never-ending (one of the longest in the Caribbean), and the breeze smells of the unspoiled nature surrounding you. The only downside is that the beach is not always open for visitors, such as when turtles are nesting here. Even so, it is worth seeing this hidden gem, and maybe even get a glimpse of the turtles hatching!
It is also worth noting that there is a Rain forest in St. Croix, and tours can be arranged to see it and also the “drinking pigs” that live there.
Please note that, much like a basic BVI Itinerary, this example only lists my favorite stops.
There are countless more stops, and to fit them all in we would end up writing you a book. We may end up changing this itinerary if we feel that other stops might be better suited to the weather conditions at the time of the charter. Thankfully there are so many beautiful stops, that there is plenty more to do beyond just what is listed here. Some thoughts that come to mind are:
- Hanson Bay and the Lime Out floating taco bar
- Jumbie Beach
- Trunk Bay
- Henley Cay
- Mingo Cay
- Magens Bay
- Coki Bay
- Smith Bay
- Abi Beach
- Secret Harbor
There are also countless more dive sites, hiking trails, and beach bars, etc. we can provide more info on these based on your interest.
This is of course an example itinerary, some stops may change based on weather.
We hope that this gives you some idea of what the USVI has to offer. A week is not nearly enough time to explore all of these wonderful places to their full potential!
To learn more please contact the friendly & knowledgeable team at Epic Yacht Charters to get onboard a luxury Sailing or Power charter catamaran. Your Private Water Taxi or Tours can be arranged.
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