Car Rental in Virgin Islands

Many tourists know this island country in the Caribbean Sea as a center of beach recreation and water sports. This is a true magnet for all fans of picturesque nature, diving, and fishing. The U.S. Virgin Islands are also suitable for everyone who wants to stay away from noisy and popular resorts. Every island of the archipelago has its own unique peculiarities that can attract tourists hungry for new experiences.

Christopher Columbus was the discoverer of the Virgin Islands – his crew landed on the archipelago for the first time in 1493. This is when the island country got the name that we know today. When Columbus arrived, the islands were already inhabited by local tribes such as Caribs, Arawaks, and Ciboneys. British and French colonizers started appearing here in the first part of the 17th century. They used the islands with their fertile lands for agricultural purposes.

During the Middle Ages, the archipelago changed its rulers several times, so it was under the reign of the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. After that, it was a part of the Order of Malta. In the 17th-18th centuries, Denmark owned several islands of the archipelago. Naturally, such multinational reign couldn’t have failed to reflect in traditions and culture of the Virgin Islands. The United States bought the islands in 1917, and the status of the islands hasn’t changed since then.

Charlotte Amalie is the capital and one of the most attractive cities for tourists. This picturesque town was founded by the Danes yet in 1672. Port is still the main symbol of the town. It hasn’t changed much over the last centuries if we do not take into consideration the fact that now the port regularly welcomes luxurious cruise ships. If you visit the capital, you can explore the old fort, see many beautiful churches and the luxurious house of the local government. The old fort how hosts the exhibition of the Museum of the Virgin Islands and features a rich collection of ethnographic exhibits and artworks.

Besides the capital, it is worth visiting the small town of Red Hook on Saint Thomas Island. It is well-known far beyond the borders of the country thanks to its miraculous Coral World Ocean Park. In this park, there are an interesting observatory, an aquarium with a transparent tunnel, and several halls with interesting thematic exhibitions. Not far from the ocean park, tourists will find attractive beaches that are particularly popular with fans of scuba diving.

Saint John is a small island that particularly appeals to everyone who likes nature and idyllic tropical landscapes. The National Park of the U.S. Virgin Islands occupies a large part of this island that is mostly covered by the jungles. The anthropogenic impact was moderate on Saint John because there were only sugarcane plantations on this island for centuries. Famous financier Laurance Rockefeller visited the island in the 50s of the previous century. The beauty of local landscapes impressed him so much that he bought some plantations and rebuilt them into resorts. Nowadays, the territory, which once was his property, is a protected area.

Saint Croix Island has the least developed tourist infrastructure. There are no large hotels, loud beaches, and crowds of tourists here. If this is exactly what you need, consider spending several days of Saint Croix and admire the beauty of local nature. There are still several old sugarcane plantations on this island, as well as stone mills used to make sugar. As local coastal waters have some incredibly beautiful coral reefs, Saint Croix is perfectly suitable for all fans of scuba diving.

Christiansted is a small colonial town with charming old streets and cozy yards. It attracts all tourists interested in sightseeing and romantic pastime. There is also an old fort, beautiful churches of colonial times, and cute houses that are now small hotels and restaurants with the national cuisine. The most popular hotels are located close to the coastline. They are ideal for everyone who wants to focus on beachside recreation.

Large cities of the United States have daily flights to the Virgin Islands. It is easy to reach from the airports of Miami, New York, Atlanta, Boston, and Washington. As these are all direct flights, tourists can reach the islands as quickly as possible. There is one more way to reach these Caribbean Islands – a flight from Puerto Rico. Besides the airplane, this city has regular ferry connection with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Read further: Cities and sights of US Virgin Islands