Exploring the island of St. Croix is a must-do on any trip there. To make the most of our time, we rented a car for the day and planned our route in advance. Our first destination was Frederiksted, one of the two towns on the island (the other being Christiansted). The drive to and from Frederiksted was quite scenic, with plenty of farms featuring horses, chickens, and even the occasional lizard crossing the road. The route was a combination of hilly, windy, and remote roads, which eventually led us to the coast, where we had a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea. The roads were relatively quiet, and at times it felt like we had the island to ourselves.

Frederiksted

Stepping off the plane in Frederiksted was like entering a whole new world. Coming from the hustle and bustle of California, the quiet streets and lack of crowds was a refreshing surprise. We strolled along the boardwalk, taking in the colorful buildings near the pier that, while once bustling, now stood dilapidated and abandoned. As the morning wore on, a few scuba divers and snorkelers started making their way into the water, drawn by the underwater treasures said to be found near the pier.

We decided not to join them, as we had other places on our itinerary to visit. After an hour of exploring, we stopped at Ci Bo Ne for breakfast and debated whether to head to Sandy Point or not. We knew ahead of time that the beach could be closed due to turtle nesting, but decided to check it out anyway. To our disappointment, the beach was indeed closed. I was sad to learn that there are only two truly beautiful beaches on the island with clear turquoise waters, soft sand, and plenty of space, Buck Island and Sandy Point.

Fun Fact: There’s a movie called “The Shawshank Redemption” that shows the main characters running away to an island somewhere in Mexico when it was actually filmed in St. Croix at Sandy Point! Several people on the island had mentioned the movie to us and we finally saw it once we came back home. After seeing the movie, it made our trip all the more special.

Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach was our next stop after leaving Sandy Point and it was clear that this was the place to be! The moment we arrived, we hit traffic and saw cars piled up on the side of the road, but we were lucky and found parking right away. The beach had a restaurant and rental store for snorkeling and jet skiing, but we didn’t partake in either since we had our own equipment. We did try to rent a jet ski, but were unsuccessful as they were all booked up. So, we decided to go snorkeling instead.

One thing to be careful of on this beach are the rocks. When you first enter the water, there are a ton of rocks at the beginning, but they dissipate as you swim further out. I saw more fish here than when we snorkeled at Protestant Cay, but the area where the jet skiers were coming in and out created small waves every now and then. We stayed here for an hour before moving on to our next beach destination.

Notes: Make sure to pack sunscreen and a hat as the sun can get pretty hot.

Cane Bay

Cane Bay was a short 20-minute drive from Rainbow Beach and it was a breath of fresh air. Unlike Rainbow Beach, the water was calm, with hardly any rocks except for the large chunk of reef right by the shore. The beach had a few shaded areas and a gorgeous backdrop of the tip of the island that you could see from far away. There was also a restaurant right by the entrance to the beach, where a DJ was playing various types of music, though I could’ve done without it.

The beach seemed to attract more families as compared to Rainbow Beach which had more of a younger crowd. I liked this beach more than Rainbow Beach because it felt more peaceful and serene. We swam here for a few minutes before deciding to leave in time to make it to Point Udall. It was a great spot to relax and soak in the beauty of the island.

Point Udall

Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States, is a must-see destination on any trip to St. Croix. The drive from Cane Bay took us around 40 minutes, as it was located on the opposite side of the island, but it was well worth it. We saved this stop for last on our day trip as it was closer to where we rented our car and hotel. The view from Point Udall is one of the best on the island. There’s a monument on-site, and a path that leads down to a beach with limited parking spaces. Unfortunately, we didn’t find parking when we arrived, but we decided to drive all the way up to the top where the monument was located and got out to take photos.

They say that Point Udall is a perfect spot to watch the sunset or sunrise, and seeing the view from here, I can see why. The panoramic vistas are breathtaking, and it’s a great spot to take in the natural beauty of the island. The trip to Point Udall was a great way to end our day, and it’s a destination that will stay in our memories for a long time to come.

Parking: Even though we didn’t have issues there’s warning about car break ins in the area. On Tripadvisor, a few people mentioned that in order to avoid your car from being broken into they suggested to (obviously) do not leave valuables in your car and to keep your windows down. When we visited Point Udall we saw most cars parked did exactly what was suggested and we also followed suit. Also, keep in mind that there’s no service in the area so, getting help would be difficult. Make sure you have a car insurance that will cover car break ins in case you are the unlucky few.

Buck Island

I saved the best for last! Buck Island is a true paradise haven, an island off the coast of St. Croix on the Christiansted side that can only be reached through an approved vessel with a permit from the city or tour boats. It’s a government-protected island with some of the most pristine beaches I’ve ever seen in my life! We booked our tour half a month prior to our trip, and let me tell you that it was every bit worth it.

One of the highlights of the tour was the guided snorkeling through the coral reefs. The experience of seeing the coral reefs was out of this world. I saw a few that were much bigger than I had imagined and towards the end of our snorkel, we even saw a huge swordfish swimming nearby. He didn’t seem to be scared of us one bit. I imagine that the fish here are probably used to seeing people every day.

After snorkeling, our group made our way to the beach of the island, where we had a chance to roam around for the rest of our tour. My boyfriend and I walked from one end of the beach to the other, where we ended our time swimming. The sand here is as white and pure as it gets. There’s not a lot of things to do on this island except swim and picnic, but with the water being warm and clear, what else do you need? There are a few shades near the restroom and a few benches around, but the main attraction is the crystal clear water and the picturesque beach. This was the highlight of our trip, a true tropical paradise.