An entire ecosystem stretching from the highlands to the reef is at the heart of Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve on St. Croix. The area protects habitats for rare, endangered and threatened plant and animal species. This span from land to marine habitats gives the natural side of the Virgin Islands a distinctive focus.

Landscapes from dry forest to reef

On St. John, Virgin Islands National Park protects part of the Caribbean’s remaining native tropical dry forest. The protected area also includes coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and other marine habitats. They support sea turtles, corals and other marine life. Different habitats thus exist side by side: Caribbean dry forest and diverse marine habitats.

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument also has a distinct focus. Established in 2001, it protects an additional 12,708 acres of submerged areas and associated marine resources around St. John. The acreage gives a tangible sense of the scope of this additional underwater protection and complements the national park’s themes with a specific marine focus.

Cultural history at Salt River Bay and Christiansted

Salt River Bay brings together natural and cultural themes. The National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve protects an Amerindian village and the only known ceremonial ball court of its kind in the Lesser Antilles, bordered by stones. The area offers ways to interpret Caribbean life before and after the arrival of European explorers in 1493. The site thus opens up a historical perspective inseparable from its landscape and protected habitats.

Demonstrations at the Annenberg Sugar Plantation Ruins explore Danish settlement on St. John and the forced importation of Africans, who were made to work in building sugar factories and producing sugar cane. The history of sugar production is thus presented explicitly as a history of forced labor. Christiansted National Historic Site offers a different historical connection: it was established in 1952 as the first National Park Service site in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together, these themes show different periods and experiences, from Caribbean life before and after 1493 to the history of the park service.

Birdwatching, snorkeling and views

Nature experiences also offer different highlights. The Francis Bay Boardwalk in Virgin Islands National Park offers opportunities for birdwatching. The underwater snorkeling trail in Trunk Bay runs for about 300 feet along the west side of Trunk Bay Cay and loops back to the beach. Ram Head Trail offers expansive views.

The three examples can therefore be distinguished by interest: birdwatching on the boardwalk, a more precisely described underwater trail in Trunk Bay, or expansive views from Ram Head Trail. These details answer different questions about what you can discover in the protected areas without presenting these experiences as one single offering.

Getting to know the islands and protected areas

St. Croix is the largest of the four U.S. Virgin Islands; the other three are Water Island, St. John and St. Thomas. On Hassel Island in Charlotte Amalie Harbor off St. Thomas, Virgin Islands National Park covers 128 acres. This area was added to the park in 1978. The examples locate natural and cultural themes on several named islands, giving you multiple specific starting points for discovering the Virgin Islands.

Discover more destinations: St Croix, St Thomas, St John, St John, East End, Slovenia, Bahrain, Macau