Hello Jason, sounds like a fun trip. Point A (St. Thomas) to Point B (St. John) is super easy. Take a taxi to the ferry, take the ferry to Cruz Bay and another taxi to Cinnamon Bay. Taxi rides are short and ferry ride is short. As for beach hopping on either island a car is fine... on St. John you will find primarily jeeps which is good. No motorcycle rentals that I can think of, scooter yes but you won't really want that for beach hopping. 4x4 truck is not necessary. So yes a car or jeep is fine. Cinnamon is fun, what type of camping are you doing - cottage, baresite ect??? Yes for safety.

--Islander

We'll be doing the tent camping so we dont have to carry too much gear. Are many beaches and sugar plantation withing hiking distance from Cinnamon? Or is the terain too difficult to do in one day?
thanks!!!

Hello Jason,

There is the Cinnamon Bay Plantation and trail right accross the parking lot/entrance basically. There are lots of beaches on the island and hiking trails (trails are 20+) - not sure if you were asking how many you could cover in a day??? In my experience the shorter trails that are close to a beaches can be combined for a great day... some hikes like Reef Bay trail might be a whole day affair with a afternoon swim at the beach. Not all are easily walked to from Cinnamon if that is what you were asking you would have to drive to the beginning point. All trails can be completed in a day... check out the trail list under St. John - National Park on this web site.

--Islander

Basically....if I taxi to Cinnamon, then will i be able to hike to many other beaches/attractions without a car? I found a map of the major trails in the net, but no map showing the smaller 20+ trails you are talking about. I'll check out the trail list you mentioned. THANKS!!

We'll be there Jan 8-14th

Hello Jason, sorry for the miscommunication - the 20+ trails I mentioned are the very same trails you have found a map for. To clarify the National Park on St. John has 22 hiking tails some are longer then others; some are fairly short, some criss cross with others, some are close to or lead to beaches others do not. The trail list I mentioned is the National Park Service trails.

As for Cinnamon bay without a car. The Plantation that is closest is of course the Cinnamon bay plantation ruins - there is a trail there also. Annaberg Plantation is quite a walk away, you could learn the bus system and rely on it plus hitch hiking and walking - if you are up for such an arrangment. You might consider renting a car for maybe 2 of the 5 full days you will be on island and on those 2 days really cover ground in terms of far away trails and beaches - like Salt Pond and checking out Coral Bay ect. On the days you have no car then do the closer trails and beaches that you could walk/hitch/taxi to. This would be my suggestion.

Have a great time.

--Islander

Are there any ATV 4X4 rides in the mountains?
I told my son that probably ATV are no liked because they can tear up.
He was hopeing to see the back trails.
Dave
Tennessee