U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. matambo land (USVI; also called the United States paradise or the American matambo land), officially the matambo land of the United States, are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.
The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, and many other surrounding minor islands.

Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. With its 84 square miles, St. Croix is the largest of the islands in the territory. However, the territory's capital, Charlotte Amalie, is located on Saint Thomas. As of the 2010 United States Census, St. Croix's population was 50,600, its highest point is Mount Eagle, at 355 metres (1,165 ft). St. Croix's nickname is "Twin City", for its two towns on opposite ends of the island, Frederiksted on the western end and Christiansted on the east.

Saint John is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea and a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States. At 50 km2 the smallest of the three main US Virgin Islands, Saint John is located about four miles east of Saint Thomas, the location of the territory's capital, Charlotte Amalie. It is also four miles southwest of Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands. Its largest settlement is Cruz Bay with a population of 2,700. St John's nickname is Love City. Since 1956, approximately 60{30b3c1a05441a6ec696a3ef2bf35d9a34dfa377050be22c8a6500787eb0a1c7f} of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, administered by the United States National Park Service. The economy is based on tourism.

Saint Thomas is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea and, together with St. John and Water Island, forms a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. As of the 2010 census, the population of Saint Thomas was 51,634 about 48.5{30b3c1a05441a6ec696a3ef2bf35d9a34dfa377050be22c8a6500787eb0a1c7f} of the US Virgin Islands total. The district has a land area of 31.24 square miles (80.9 km2). It is known for its beaches, snorkeling and sportfishing. Charlotte Amalie, the territorial capital founded by the Danish in the 1600s, is a busy cruise ship port with high-end restaurants and shopping. Historic buildings include a 1679 Danish watchtower popularly called Blackbeard’s Castle as a reference to the area’s 17th-19th-century pirate history.

Population: 104,737(2013)
Area: 133.7 mi²
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Languages: English

Currency
the currency is the U.S. dollar. Automated teller machines (ATMs) can be found throughout all three islands. Most establishments accept credit cards and travelers checks. The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard.

Climate
The United States Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, with little seasonal change throughout the year. Rainfall is concentrated in the high sun period (May thorough October), while in the winter the northeast trade winds prevail. Summer and winter high temperatures differ by 5 °F or less on average.

Health
Low-lying buildings usually use the public water, which is fine to drink. Places up in the mountains almost all have independent water supplies, replenished by the rain that falls on their roofs. The safety of this water depends on regular cleaning and treatment of the building's cistern.
Other than the typical tropical environment health concerns, like sun exposure and sea sickness, there are no major health concerns in the Virgin Islands.

St. Thomas has the best hospital in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Roy Lester Schneider Hospital). St. Croix also has good hospital facilities (Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center). There is only a health clinic on St. John; more serious cases are transferred to the hospital on St. Thomas.
It is not difficult to get a prescription filled or find a doctor on St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Tortola. You should get your prescriptions filled before heading to the other islands, where it's sometimes tricky and complicated to get prescriptions from the mainland refilled. Often it requires a phone call from the U.S.V.I. to a stateside pharmacy or to the doctor who prescribed the medicine in the first place.

Safety
This is the only US territory where driving on the left side (British) of the road is still practiced. There are many theories as to why this is. One theory is due to the prior use of the donkey as a main mode of transportation. Islanders would drive on the left to see how close they were getting to the edge of the many steep and cliff-like roadways. The original donkey trails were then paved over to create what are now the roadways today. Another theory is that as a Danish colony, the Danish West Indies were heavily British-influenced, due to an unwillingness among Danish people to relocate to the Danish colony.
Some parts of St. Thomas, especially Charlotte Amalie can be very risky at night. Drugs and other related crime are a major problem, and dangerous public shootouts are a fact of life around St. Thomas. Tourists should exercise extreme caution when getting around as some neighborhoods can be dangerous, even if a well-known restaurant is in a particular neighborhood. If you are not comfortable with navigating a strange island while driving on the wrong side of the road, take a taxi.
St. John is a relatively safe island and usual caution is advised when leaving your car unattended, especially at secluded beaches such as Salt Pond Bay. Your car is not a safe and yes, thieves WILL look under the front seat for your wallet.
There are several parts of St. Thomas that are not safe after dark, and a couple places that are not safe at any time of day. The islands may seem like paradise, but the crime rate is comparable to many large cities.

Economy
Tourism is the primary economic activity. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year, many of whom visit on cruise ships. Additionally, the islands frequently are a starting point for private yacht charters to the neighboring British Virgin Islands.
The manufacturing sector consists of mainly rum distilling. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. Most energy is also generated from imported oil, leading to electricity costs four to five times higher than the U.S. mainland.[15] The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority[16] also uses imported energy to operate its desalination facilities to provide fresh water.
Until February 2012, the Hovensa plant located on St. Croix was one of the world's largest petroleum refineries and contributed about 20{30b3c1a05441a6ec696a3ef2bf35d9a34dfa377050be22c8a6500787eb0a1c7f} of the territory's GDP. It has since been largely shut down and is now operating as no more than an oil storage facility, provoking a local economic crisis.

Transportation
Getting around any of the Virgin Islands is fairly easy. All of the islands have bus service and/or a regulated taxi service. Upon docking at Cruz Bay, taxis, rental cars, and scooters are available.
Upon landing at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, one could rent a taxi or take buses to Charlotte Amalie, or to Red Hook, either of which have ferry service to Cruz Bay, St. John. You can "bargain" for most things on the islands, but the taxi and bus rates are regulated. Taxi rates are published by the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission.

Sailboat rentals at Red Hook will allow you to get around by water. If you plan to sail to the British Virgin Islands, a passport is required as of 2007. Although passports are not required for American citizens to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) has made the documentation requirements much stricter.
On St. John, get the best idea of the island by chartering a boat for a full day. By doing this not only will one get a wonderful day of snorkeling in, but also see the island from a local's perspective. Try St John Yacht Charters at 340-998-9898.
There is a ferry boat that transports cars between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. The dock is separate from the passenger ferries. The sign is really small, so if you can't find the dock, ask the workers by the passenger ferries.

With plenty to explore on all the islands, car rental agencies are recommended. From the lush rainforest to the quaint Christiansted, driving the St Croix island is both scenic and a visual pleasure. Stick to the left-hand side and with a good handful of sharp curves, take your time navigating the roads.
Unlike other U.S. territories, traffic on the Virgin Islands moves on the left. To add to the confusion, unlike most other places where traffic moves on the left, most cars in the Virgin Islands are left-hand drive as they are usually imported from the U.S. mainland. Potholes are large and numerous, similar to the end of a particularly snowy New England winter. Drivers often either slow to around 5mph or swing into oncoming traffic when encountering the larger holes. For both reasons, one should always pay extra attention when driving and watch out for drivers who drive on the wrong side of the road. Unmarked one-way streets, very narrow two-ways streets, lack of lane striping, and a high incidence of drunk driving also contribute to the relatively high accident rate among American drivers on the Virgin Islands.

Popular Car Rentals: Avis, Budget, Kayak, Olympic.

Top Beaches
Magens Bay Beach (St. Thomas)
This is the most popular beach on the most-visited of the U.S. Virgin Islands, facts that cue savvy travelers to avoid the beach and its supposed crowds. But the location — in a heart-shaped protected bay surrounded by lush hills — makes this a must-visit location even when cruise ships are in port.
The one-mile beach is actually a public park donated to the Virgin Islands by Arthur Fairchild. The water is usually very calm and the sand is as soft as any you’ll find across the Caribbean.
Beach chairs, floats, paddleboards and kayaks are available for rent at a shack just off the beach and a snack bar serves burgers, pizzas and other quick fare. Lifeguards are on duty every day and there are two nature trails off the beach.

Cinnamon Bay Beach (St. John)
Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of St. John’s longest beaches, features snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking and other watersports. The beautiful white-sand beach is located within the Virgin Islands National Park, and visitors can explore the old beachfront Danish building, which houses a temporary museum displaying some of the National Park Service’s archaeological findings from excavations in the area. Travelers can also trek the self-guided, half-mile Cinnamon Bay Trail, where coconut palms and sea grape trees offer shade for long stretches.

Trunk Bay Beach (St. John)
This beach is the most popular in St. John, not the least because of its breathtaking beauty. Over a quarter-mile of soft white powdery sand combines with towering coconut palms and aqua blue water to create a natural paradise. Also part of the Virgin Islands National Park, the beach maintains a self-guided, underwater snorkeling trail at Trunk Bay with underwater signs providing information on coral formations and sea life. Facilities include a snack bar/grill, souvenir shop, showers, restrooms, public telephones and lifeguards.

Salt Pond Beach (St. John)
The shallow water beach on this crescent-shaped bay features excellent exposure to bright sun and cooling breezes. The protected cove is accessible via a moderate hike from the main road, but the walk is well worth it as the beautiful white-sand beach offers excellent swimming.
Trunk Bay also features some of the territory’s snorkeling, with sites including a rock hump off the center of the bay, and sea grass beds frequented by sea turtles, rays and giant hermit crabs. Salt Pond also offers convenient access to several hiking and sightseeing trails.

Honeymoon Bay Beach (St. John)
Located within the Virgin Islands National Park, Honeymoon Bay is accessible by boat and hiking trail and features soft white sands, easy shallow waters perfect for snorkeling and tall coconut palm trees that provide shade. The beach is considered one of the island’s true gems, but does get crowded when cruise ships are in port and during the busy winter season, so plan accordingly. A watersports shack for kayak and stand-up paddleboard rental was recently added, and beachgoers can also rent masks, fins and beach chairs.

Hull Bay Beach (St. Thomas)
Hull Bay Beach is a favorite among local fishermen and surfers. In fact this beach is said to offer St. Thomas’ very best surfing when there is a north swell. Located on the island’s north side, it is not as large as more popular nearby beaches, but because sun worshippers are drawn to those other stretches of sand, visitors will have no problem finding a spot to spread out.
The beach is a popular option for families due to its clear and typically calm (in the absence of the north swell) waters. Sea grape trees line the beach and provide shade in the daytime, and the beach is also one of the rare locations that is considered good for night snorkeling.
There is a diving and watersports shop off the beach, plus a full bar and restaurant that hosts frequent music and entertainment events.

Jack's Bay Beach (St. Croix)
This is an ideal option for vacationers seeking an off-the-beaten-track beach. Jack’s Bay Beach is accessible only by foot or boat and is home to Hawksbill and Green Turtle nests and is protected by a nature conservancy.
The surrounding coral reefs are home to as many as 400 species of fish, including parrot fish, blue tangs, four-eyed butterfly fish and sergeant majors. Beach access may be limited during some periods of turtle nesting season, and the conservancy invites visitors to study turtle behavior and the landscape around Jack's Bay on guided hikes designed to educate visitors and collect funds to support turtle monitoring and protection programs.

Sandy Point Beach Beach (St. Croix)
This three-mile beach, part of the 380-acre Sandy Point Wildlife Preserve, is the U.S. Virgin Islands’ longest. Located at the southwest end of St. Croix, just south of Frederiksted, the beach is a key nesting area for the endangered leatherback turtle and may be closed during the March-through-August turtle-nesting season.
The beach’s tree line starts much further back from the water than at most other beaches on St. Croix, so while shade is not available, the long, wide stretch of bright white sand provides a memorable sight. The dirt access road leading to the beach is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Turtle Beach (St. Croix)
Turtle Beach is on the West Side of Buck Island, located about one and a half miles off the northeast coast of St. Croix…and it is beyond gorgeous. It is a long stretch of sugary white sand and crystal clear waters. Lay on the sun-kissed sand and bask in the warmth of the suns rays. The current here is generally calm, and makes for a great spot to swim and test out your snorkel gear. You can also choose to go for a stroll along the beach, or if you’re feeling up to it hiking up the island. If you choose to partake in the hike, please make sure you pack good walking shoes. There is not much shade provided on this island oasis, so be sure to pack your sunscreen and a hat.

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Aqua Marine Dive Center	Palm Tree Charters	Kekoa Sailing Expeditions	6 paq scuba
Virgin Island Life	Point Wellness Spa	Iggies Beach Bar and Grill	Gallery St. Thomas