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I've read lots of info on the islands. (This forum very helpful-Thanks!) )We are to STT May 20-26... My husband and I love to hike on Islands. Been to Maui a few times and can hardly wait to compare... Anywho, people recommend of coarse SJ, but am wondering about the best way to get around for I have heard conflicting reports on taxi and rental car? Which is best? and Should we do two days on SJ? Brookeydoo
Definitely get a rental car so you can explore more and not rely on someone else coming back to pick you up after a couple hour hike. Check with the National Park Service when you get on island (just around the corner from the old car ferry dock, which is right around the corner from the people ferry) for maps and stuff. They have a bunch. You'll also want to do the Reef Bay Trail. I recommend taking the boat back, cuz I wouldn't want to come back UP that hill, but that's up to you.
Don't forget your bugspray!
Hello Brookeydoo,
You could do several things. There is a trail that starts right in Cruz Bay called Lind Point trail; you could take the passenger ferry over and then visit the NP Visitor Center and then head to the Lind Point trail which starts just behind the Visitor Center. You can follow it to Salomon Bay, Honeymoon and then Caneel Bay. You can make a day of it by spending a bit at each beach or if you just hike straight through you'd have time to take a taxi island tour - which you can pick up at Caneel Bay in the parking area to the resort. Bring a picnic lunch with you and enjoy on one of the beaches.
If you are strictly interested in hiking and not so much seeing St. John and beach hopping then you could do a second day on St. John and do the Reef Bay trail with the National Park Service - which again wouldn't require you to take a taxi because you can walk to the Center and the tour includes transportation to the start of the trail and then by boat to get you from the end of the trail back to Cruz Bay. You can do it on your own as well but you'd walk both down and up and need transportation. If you wanted to see the island then rent a car; drive around, stop at a couple beaches and do one or two shorter trails like the Self-Guided hike at Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins.
If you haven't already picked up one of the St. John guidebooks like Feet, Fins & 4 Wheel Drive you might do that; it discusses all the trails and how to tour the island by foot, snorkeling/beaches and by car. You can read about that book and others at http://www.vitraders.com under Visitor Books.
--Islander
We pondered car vs taxi, left it too late and couldn't find a car rental. Glad we didn't, the taxis run all the time and if it is just two people and you go to one place per day, cheaper and environmentally friendlier too! You could always rent a car for a few days to get to the more remote spots, and taxi the other times. And then there is the VITRAN bus, a buck to go from Cruz Bay to Salt Pond, where you can hike Rams Head if you like. BRING WATER for hiking!! Also, a backpack large enough to carry snorkel gear, because most likely you will end up at a beach at some point. I should keep this a secret, but the best snorkeling was between Honeymoon and Saloman Bay beaches, which can be accessed from the trail behind the Parks Service building in Cruz Bay, which is a 20-30 minute walk/hike.
Here are a few hiking guides I found online. We hiked the Ram's Head Trail which rewarded you with an awesome view at the top. We also snorkeled Waterlemon Cay which is at the end of the Leinster Bay trail.
http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Trails.htm
My advise would be to rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle so you can come and go as you please.
By the by (and not to be nasty) but there is no "s" in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands... I am not sure why everyone seems to want to say that. St. John's is in Antigua. And probably other places that have a "St. John's"
