Places
Explore key regions, cities, sites, and routes in US Virgin Islands.
Why the U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands deliver Caribbean beauty with U.S. territory access—no passports for American travelers, reliable health care, and bilingual partners. St. Thomas offers historic landmarks and innovation hubs, St. John provides national park access and reef conservation, and St. Croix combines resilience stories with cultural heritage. Catamarans, ferries, and short flights keep the islands connected, making it easy to blend service and reflection—supported by the fundraising models resource.
Top Highlights by Theme
- St. Thomas & Charlotte Amalie: Waterfront walks, Lutheran landmark sites, Blackbeard’s Castle, Frenchtown dining, and hurricane recovery partners.
- St. John & Virgin Islands National Park: Trunk Bay snorkeling with guided reflection, Reef Bay Trail learnings, Cinnamon Bay camp, and Friends of VINP conservation.
- St. Croix & Christiansted: Fort Christiansvaern heritage, Estate Whim sugar mill history, Frederiksted boardwalk evenings, and hurricane resilience partners.
- Water Island & Offshore Keys: Honeymoon Beach retreat days, catamaran sunset sails, and snorkeling at Buck Island.
- Cultural Immersion: Cruzan rum storytelling, steel pan workshops, and Afro-Caribbean food experiences.
Sub-Regions & Routes
St. Thomas Launch
- Spend 2 nights in St. Thomas; combine Old Town walking tour, community events, and meetings with rebuilding partners.
- Host donor dinners overlooking harbor and sunset reflections on Mountain Top or Drake’s Seat.
St. John Retreat & Conservation
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Ferry to St. John; stay in eco-lodges, hike to Reef Bay, snorkel Trunk or Maho Bays, and serve with Friends of VINP or coral nurseries.
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Facilitate generosity sessions on beaches or catamarans.
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St. Croix Resilience & Heritage
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Fly or ferry to St. Croix; explore Christiansted forts, Estate restoration projects, and tours of historic buildings in Frederiksted.
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Partner with hurricane recovery NGOs and agritourism initiatives in the rainforest.
Offshore Keys & Catamaran Retreats
- Charter day sails to Water Island, Buck Island, or Lovango Cay for retreat time, marine conservation, and donor conversations.
Trip Length & Pacing
5 Days
- St. Thomas orientation, St. John retreat, and return to Charlotte Amalie for donor commitments.
7 Days
- Adds St. Croix resilience experience and a catamaran retreat day.
10 Days
- Extends 7-day itinerary with multi-day service projects, Buck Island reef restoration, and optional Vieques/Caribbean combos.
- Includes weather buffer for marine conditions.
Best Time to Go
- December to April provides dry season, calm seas, and pleasant temperatures.
- May to August is warmer with afternoon showers; we schedule water-based cooling and indoor midday sessions.
- Hurricane season (June–November) requires travel insurance, flexible itineraries, and close monitoring of forecasts.
Group Logistics
- Airports: Cyril E. King (STT) on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen (STX) on St. Croix.
- Transport: Ferries between islands, charter catamarans, private coaches, jeeps for St. John, and island-hopping flights.
- Lodging: Waterfront hotels, guesthouses, eco-lodges, and beach resorts with meeting space.
- Meetings & Venues: Historic buildings, beach pavilions, catamarans, fort courtyards, and resort conference rooms equipped with AV.
- Dining: Caribbean cuisine—johnnycakes, kallaloo, fresh seafood, roti, and tropical farm-to-table menus; we manage dietary needs.
- Accessibility: Ferries and catamarans require mobility planning; we secure ramp access, accessible rooms, and alternative activities.
Extensions & Combos
- Pair with Puerto Rico for multi-island circuits or Dominican Republic for additional service.
- Add Caribbean modular itineraries or mainland hubs like [Florida] (coming soon) for donor summits.
Safety & Stewardship Notes
As a U.S. territory, the Virgin Islands follow U.S. regulations. We coordinate hurricane contingency plans, boating safety, and cultural briefings to honor island communities while supporting long-term resilience.
FAQs
- Q: Do we need passports? A: U.S. citizens do not; international travelers follow U.S. entry rules. Photo IDs are required for ferries and flights.
- Q: How many islands can we visit? A: Most programs cover St. Thomas + St. John; adding St. Croix or Water Island typically requires 7+ days.
- Q: What about hurricanes? A: We monitor forecasts, recommend travel insurance, and maintain alternate indoor venues and service projects.
- Q: Can choirs perform outdoors? A: Yes—permits allow beach events and fort concerts; we handle sound and staging.
- Q: What service projects are available? A: Rebuilding homes, coral restoration, youth programs, community gardens, and disaster preparedness workshops.
Plan generosity conversations with the fundraising models resource and reach out via the lead form to design your U.S. Virgin Islands journey.
Highlights
- St. Thomas: Charlotte Amalie heritage, waterfront walks, and innovation partners
- St. John: Virgin Islands National Park trails, reef conservation, and retreat days
- St. Croix: Christiansted resilience, sugar mill history, and hurricane recovery
- Water Island & Offshore Keys: catamaran sails, snorkeling, and beach time
Fundraising for Churches
How Churches Use the USVI
- Open in St. Thomas with waterfront worship, hurricane recovery partners, and donor dinners in historic Charlotte Amalie.
- Ferry to St. John for Virgin Islands National Park sabbath, reef conservation, and creation care discipleship.
- Serve St. Croix congregations through rebuilding, youth programs, and heritage storytelling at sugar mill sites.
- Close on catamarans or secluded beaches for generosity coaching and sabbath reflection.
What Works Well
- 6–8 day itineraries covering St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix balance service and rest while keeping logistics manageable.
- Group sizes of 16–24 fit ferries, catamarans, mission sites, and boutique resorts; larger cohorts can split across multiple vessels.
- Morning service blocks, afternoon water activities, and evening worship circles align with tropical rhythms.
- Travel December–April for calm seas; in hurricane months we add contingency days, sheltered venues, and travel insurance.
Sample Ministry Focus
- Day 1: Arrive St. Thomas, Old Town orientation, and commissioning worship.
- Day 2: Serve rebuilding partners, visit cathedral heritage, and hold a donor dinner overlooking the harbor.
- Day 3: Ferry to St. John for National Park hikes, reef conservation, and beach devotion.
- Day 4: Catamaran worship sail with generosity coaching and sabbath on Water Island.
- Day 5–6: Fly to St. Croix for service projects, Christiansted heritage tour, and closing generosity commitments on the boardwalk.
What ETS Tours Provides Here
- Bilingual island pastors, recovery NGOs, and marine conservation partners across all three islands.
- Ferries, charter catamarans, island flights, and accessible shuttles coordinated with weather monitoring.
- Lodging across waterfront hotels, mission guesthouses, eco-lodges, and resorts with meeting space.
- AV support for beach worship, compliance for offerings, and cultural sensitivity training for island communities.
- Optional extensions with Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, or Caribbean modular circuits.
Calibrate your funding plan at fundraising models for church travel and connect via the lead form to begin designing your USVI journey.
Ready to explore US Virgin Islands with your group?
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