United States Virgin Islands

Quick Facts

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Capital

Charlotte Amalie

Population

108,700

Government

NA (organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs)

Religions

Christianity (Protestant, Catholic)

Languages

English, Spanish, Creole

Calling Code

+1340

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Introduction

America purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, and while the transaction has not proved quite as lucky as the purchase of Alaska, the Virgin Islands have seen many a tourist dollar sink into Washington's purse. Located due east of Puerto Rico and southwest of the British Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands occupy their small territory of Caribbean beauty with a passion for shopping and nature. St Thomas is the lively centre of attention, where duty-free shops reign supreme and thousands of tourists come together for a crazy nightlife. It is also a great place to sit by the beach, since it has more than forty of them. St John is the alternative, where the ecologists throw their party. It is dominated by a national park, so the parties are naturally smaller and quieter. And environmentally friendly, of course.

Islands

The territory consists of 4 main islands and several dozen minor outlying islands.

• Saint Croix
• Saint John
• Saint Thomas
• Water Island

Cities and Towns

• Charlotte Amalie, the capital, on Saint Thomas
• Cruz Bay on the island of Saint John
• Port Alucroix on Saint Croix
• Christiansted, also on Saint Croix

Getting there

Plane

Seaborn Airlines flies to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is based on Saint Thomas while Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) is in Saint Croix. The first has the best connections to a number of cities in the United States while both have services to several other Caribbean islands, like Antigua.

Boat

Puerto Rico - United States Virgin Islands vv
Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. In the opposite direction, boats leave every two weeks on a Thursday at 5pm from St. John and 6 pm from St. Thomas. The trip takes about 2 hours.

British Virgin Islands - United States Virgin Islands vv

• There are about 4 operators which have ferry services between St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook) and Tortola (West End and Roadtown). From Road Town on the British Virgin Islands there are ferries about every 50 minutes to Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. From Red Hook to Road Town is about 35 minutes. Contact Caribbean Maritime Tortola Fast Ferry (340) 777-2800), Smith's Ferry (340) 775-7292 or Native Son Inc. (340) 774-8685 for details about schedules and prices.

• There are about 4 or 5 sailings in eacht direction between Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) and West End, Tortola (BVI).

• There are also two ferry operators offering service between St. Thomas (Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie) and Virgin Gorda.

• To end, there are 2 crossings a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Red Hook, St.Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) for Jost Van Dyke (BVI).

Contact Inter Island Boat Service (340) 776-6597 for these last three international connections by ferry.

Getting around

Boat

Passenger ferries operate between St. Thomas (Red Hook & Charlotte Amalie) and St. John (Cruz Bay). Car ferry service is available between Redhook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. There are three independently run car ferries and you only pay for the car, no matter how many passengers there are.
The Water Island Ferry travels between Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Water Island, contact Water Island Ferry (340) 690-4159
for details on services.
There is also a ferry between Christiansted, St. Croix and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The ferry departs from the Marine Terminals in Gallows Bay on St. Croix and in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.