St. John Tours: Explore the Island & Waters
Discover St. John by land or sea on a fascinating tour with an expert local guide. Get the inside scoop on the island and learn some Love City lore whether you explore on a private boat charter, via a Jeep that travels winding back roads, or on a haunted walking tour through historic Cruz Bay.
Boat Tours & Charters
Cruz Bay Watersports
Cruz Bay Watersports offers lots of ways to play in the waters off St. John. Spend a day snorkeling at an offshore cay, with lunch included, during the Pizza Pi Snorkel (which features pizza from the famed Pizza Pi VI boat) or Lime Out Snorkel, where delish tacos and margaritas are served from the floating Lime Out eatery. Or set off on one of the guided Jet Ski Tours and explore pristine Pillsbury Sound on a Wave Runner. In the evening, join the Day’s End Sunset Sail on a 65-foot luxury catamaran that features craft cocktails, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne to toast the stunning golden hour.
Seas the Day Charters & Tours
Sail the Caribbean Sea in style with Seas the Day Charters & Tours. Arrange for a full- or half-day private luxury boat charter aboard one of Seas the Day’s catamarans or powerboats. Your captain will be happy to assist in planning the perfect excursion, which can include snorkeling and beach hopping. For a luxe experience, book the Lagoon 420 multi-deck sailing catamaran. This modern beauty features an elegant design and spacious interiors. Or keep things basic and rent a 12-foot inflatable dinghy powered by a 25HP Yamaha Outboard motor so you can cruise the waters of St. John’s North Shore on your own.
Island Roots Charters
Based in Cruz Bay, Island Roots Charters takes pride in employing local captains who have intimate knowledge of the waters surrounding St. John. Based on sea conditions and weather patterns, Island Roots’ captains will help you map out the ultimate full- or half-day private boating excursion aboard one of its three 32-foot World Cat Power Catamarans. They can take you to hidden gems like deserted beaches, quiet coves, unspoiled reefs and even shipwrecks. You can pack your own food (onboard coolers are stocked with ice and drinking water) or make a meal stop at restaurants like Lime Out, Lovango Resort & Beach Club and Pizza Pi VI.
On the Sea Charters
On the Sea Charters will whisk you away for a full- or half-day of snorkeling, island hopping or simply relaxing on a beach. Private and affordable, On the Sea offers two catamarans, each seating 12 passengers. The boat captain can take you to secluded Honeymoon Beach for swimming and sunning, snorkeling with sea turtles in Maho Bay, or make a pit stop at the floating Lime Out for tacos and cocktails. You’re also welcome to bring your own beverages and snacks, with a cooler filled with ice and bottled water provided by On the Sea.
Land Tours
Explore STJ
Book a Jeep tour of St. John with Jenn, an experienced local guide who operates Explore STJ. All tours are private and customizable, with a maximum of four passengers. During the half-day tour, you can opt to do some light hiking, see plantation ruins and check out some beaches. A full-day tour allows time to snorkel with turtles, see historic sites and have lunch at The Windmill Bar. If you want to up the fun factor, Jenn sells jugs of Painkillers to take with on your tour.
Ocean Surfari
Known for its snorkeling and sport fishing charters, Ocean Surfari also offers full-day Jeep Surfari tours of St. John. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will pick you up in a 4×4 Jeep and take you across the island on a tour customized to your interests. Your day can include snorkeling peaceful coves (with gear provided), exploring historical ruins, hiking through a rainforest and swimming at an off-the-beaten-path beach. Ocean Surfari tours include water, soda and beer, along with beach chairs.
Star Fish Tours & Taxi
In business since 1995, Star Fish Tours & Taxi features St. Johnian tour guides who are proud to show off their island. Hop on one of their bright red, open-air safari buses and listen to stories about life in Love City while learning about local history and culture. All tours are private and customized. Tours can include stops at picturesque Trunk Bay, a visit to the historic Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins and plenty of photo ops like Bordeaux Mountain, where you can take a picture of scenic Coral Bay below.
Cruz Bay Visitor Center
Join the Reef Bay Guided Hike with a Virgin Islands National Park ranger, departing from the Cruz Bay Visitor Center. The strenuous hike is just under three miles one way, traversing rocky terrain under the shade of some of St. John’s oldest and tallest trees. The interpretive hike includes a visit to a petroglyph site that was sacred to the indigenous Taino people. The remains of a sugar plantation and factory spur discussion about the history of St. John and the Caribbean. The hike ends with a 40-minute boat cruise to the Cruz Bay dock.
Eco Tours
Virgin Islands Ecotours
Virgin Islands Ecotours offers expert-led tours of St. John’s best natural experiences. Guided excursions include paddling and snorkeling the crystal-clear waters of the island’s North Shore during the Sea Turtle Kayak & Snorkel. The Best of St. John: Kayak, Snorkel & Beach Picnic includes snorkeling colorful reefs with sea turtles and enjoying a picnic lunch under coconut palms on Honeymoon Beach. The 1.5-hour Sunset Kayak Tour launches from Cruz Bay Beach and glides past Gallows Point.
Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park hosts weekly free Cinnamon Bay Chats at the Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground. Held weekdays from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Rain Tree Cafe, topics include Sea Turtle Talk (Monday), Traditional Music & Crafts (Tuesday), Music of the Caribbean (Wednesday), Birds of St. John (Thursday) and Coral Reef Ecosystems (Friday). Take your own self-guided tour of Cinnamon Bay by renting a kayak or paddleboard.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park
A retired park ranger leads the free Francis Bay Bird Walk hosted by the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. The walk is held on Fridays from October to June. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the George Francis factory ruins to join former park ranger and bird lover Laurel Brannick as she shares her knowledge of all things feathered that call St. John home.
Specialty Tours
Low Key Watersports
Low Key Watersports is St. John’s only PADI 5-Star IDC Dive Center, operating daily scuba diving trips for certified, student and first-time divers. Low Key also offers half-day snorkeling tours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons that depart from their beach boutique in Cruz Bay. Two snorkel spots are visited during the tour, where guests can explore technicolor underwater reefs. Snorkeling gear, along with snacks and drinks, are provided.
Night Kayak GLOW Tour
Daub on some glow-in-the-dark paint and snap a selfie before you hop into a clear-bottom kayak to join the Night Kayak GLOW Tour that departs from The Westin St. John Resort Villas. The two-seat kayaks are outfitted with LED lights that illuminate the waters of a dark cove so you can see marine life like tarpon and stingrays that swim below. This is a guided tour, and instructors teach a Kayak 101 lesson before shoving off to ensure that all participants are comfortable and confident in their paddling skills.
Haunt Historic Ghost Tours
Discover the haunted side of St. John with Haunt Historic Ghost Tours. The Historic Ghost Tour Cruz Bay meets up at Franklin A. Powell Sr. Park, across from the Cruz Bay ferry dock. As darkness falls, a well-versed guide leads visitors through St. John’s historic streets, spinning chilling tales of ghostly encounters and island legends while stopping at rumored haunted sites. During the two-hour tour, guests are welcome to purchase cocktails they can take with on the walk.
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