Category: St. John

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Caribbean Cruise Travel National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores St. John United States USVI

How to get to Trunk Bay Without a Ship Excursion

Trunk Bay

Think you have to book an excursion to get to one of the most stunning beaches in the world?  Think again!  In this post we’ll outline how to get to Trunk Bay Without a Ship Excursion!

Trunk Bay is arguably one of the most recognized beaches in the world.  Trunk Bay, and nearby Magens Bay, have consistently ranked as some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.  The beach is located on the northwestern side of the picturesque island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands.  

Trunk Bay got its name for the leatherback turtle, which locals call trunks.  Formally known as Trunkscildpatt, these massive turtles can be as large as 9 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds.  The bay is home to a 0.30-mile crescent of powdery sand and a famed snorkeling trail.

If you’re considering visiting St. John from St. Thomas, it is easy to get to Trunk Bay without a ship excursion and is totally worth the trip!

Trunk Bay is sheer paradise!  Picture lush green velvety hillsides bordered by vibrant blue waters and sugary white beaches.  Sound like heaven?  That’s because it is!  Luckily, getting to the beach is relatively easy, even without booking an excursion.  

Trunk Bay- For the History Buffs

Archeologists have found remnants of a settlement that dates back to 700 AD.  These people, known as the Tainos, grew yucca, fished, gathered fruit, and created pottery, tools, and weapons.  It appears the Tainos lived in the area until 900 AD, and left rather quickly- as evidenced by cooking pots still filled with food.

Centuries later, Denmark staked a claim on the island of St. John. Remnants of the Danish sugar cane plantations can be found dotting the island.

   Laurence S. Rockefeller, of the famed Rockefeller family, fell in love with the marvelous picturesque beach, the warm, calm, turquoise waters, and the rolling green hills.  He purchased more than 5,000 acres of land on the island and donated it to create what is now known as the Virgin Islands National Park.  Today, the park covers nearly 2/3 of the island and includes Trunk Bay.

 

How Do I Get to Trunk Bay?

Every single cruise line offers excursions to Trunk Bay. They typically give you about 2 hours at this beach, although some may offer a little bit more time on the sand. If you are booking an excursion, try to book the earliest one possible. The beach can be crowded, especially when there are multiple ships in port.  

How Do I Get to Trunk Bay on My Own?

If you’d rather strike it out on your own, it is easy to get to Trunk Bay on your own.  All major cruise lines dock in either Charlotte Amalie or Crown Bay.  Whether you book an excursion through the cruise line, or decide to get to Trunk Bay on your own, you’ll end up having to take the Red Hook Ferry.  

In order to get to Trunk Bay on your own, you’ll want to try to be one of the first groups off of the ship.  Once you’re off the ship, find the taxi stand and hail a cab to the Red Hook Ferry- easily accessible from cruise terminals.

The ferry departs Red Hook at 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, and 12:00pm.  The return ferry from Cruz Bay to Red Hook departs at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm.  Be sure to account for travel time from Red Hook back to the ship when selecting your departure time.  You’ll also want to leave a cushion just in case the line to get back onto the ship is long (spoiler alert: it probably will be).  The ferry takes about 20 minutes to get from Red Hook to Cruz Bay.

Once your on the island of St. John, you’ll be in an area known as Cruz Bay.  Grab a taxi and ask them to take you to Trunk Bay, which is about 3 miles away.  Most drivers will pull over at scenic lookouts so that you can snap some photos of the island.  

The bay is located within Virgin Islands National Park.  Admission to the park itself is free, however if you want to visit Trunk Bay, you’ll need to purchase the Trunk Bay Day Pass which is $5 per adult ($2.50 for senior citizens).   If you have the America the Beautiful National Park Pass, admission is free.

Based on our experience, it’s actually cheaper to get to St. John on your own- we were able to visit for about 1/3 of the cost when we did it on our own vs. when we did it with an excursion.  We also got to spend more time at the beach.

Once You're at Trunk Bay....

The highlight of Trunk Bay is the 225-yard-long  Underwater Trail.   This snorkeling trail is completely underwater and follows along the reef system.  Here, you can try your hand at underwater photography and snorkeling.  There are rental facilities at the beach/park that offer snorkel equipment rentals. 

If snorkeling is not your jam, you can also bask in the tropical sun on the sugary sand beach.  The rental shop has chairs that you can rent for the day.  Other activities include hiking trails, exploring the ruins of historic sugar plantations and St. John’s Danish colonial past.

What we love most is the fact that Trunk Bay is totally kid-friendly!  The calm waters, rental options, and outdoor activities make it a great spot for families to spend the day.  

There are limited concessions on the beach.  There is a snack bar, showers, and restrooms.  The snack bar is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  

You can rent masks, snorkels, and fins from the Beach Bum Snorkel Rental (the same building as the snack shack).  The gear must be retuned by 3:00.

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Caribbean National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores St. John USVI

The Annaberg Sugar Plantation: St. John, USVI

Annaberg Plantation, St. John, USVI

At its prime, the Annaberg Sugar Plantation was one of the top sugar-producing factories on the island of St. John. St. John is located in what is now known as the US Virgin Islands. Today, all that remains of the plantation are the ruins of a windmill, slave cabins, and a handful of other buildings made from coral. Not only are the grounds and ruins beautiful, but the views are too! It’s so hard to believe that this paradise once brought people so much pain.

The View from Annaberg Sugar Plantation, St. John, USVI

Go and see the ruins but stay for the views. Tortola appears so close that you can almost touch it! Looking out from Annaberg, you can see Leinster Bay, the Sir Frances Drake Channel, and a few other British Virgin Islands.  

The History of Slavery in St. John

In 1717, 20 Danish planters came over from St. Thomas to settle and begin developing the area. Slaves grew sugar cane, cotton, and other crops. Sadly, by 1733 there were 109 plantations on the island.

In 1733, the slaves of St. John started a rebellion. Armed with cane knives (similar to machetes) they stormed Fort Frederiksvaern. After killing 5 of the 6 Danish soldiers at the fort, they fired the cannon signaling a six-month revolt. The revolt ended when French troops came over from Martinique. The slaves died by suicide before the French forces reached them.

At the height of the slave era, there were more than 2,604 slaves on the 19-square-mile island. When Denmark emancipated slaves in 1848, the plantations were abandoned.

The History of Annaberg Sugar Plantation

Way back in 1780, Annaberg Sugar Plantation was one of 25 sugar-producing factories on the island of St. John. The plantation, which encompassed 518 acres, also produced molasses and rum. Not surprisingly, slave labor was used to plant, harvest, and process sugar cane. The island wasn’t the ideal location for agriculture; the hills were too steep, and the soil was thin and rocky. Slaves worked painstakingly to terrace the slopes of the property so they could be farmed.

Annaberg Sugar Plantation Windmill Ruins, St. John, USVI

The windmill is one of the focal points of the site. It was built between 1810 and 1830 and stood 38 feet high, making it one of the largest on the islands. At times, when there was no wind, horses or mules were used to work the mill. Slaves would pass sugar cane stalk through the rollers and a box at the bottom caught the juice. The mill could produce between 300 and 500 gallons of juice each hour.

Next, the juice was then boiled to remove excess water until it became concentrated through heating and evaporation. Lastly, the juice was then placed into a box to crystalize.

Eventually, when slavery was abolished in 1848, the plantation was divided into smaller farms.

Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins, St. John, USVI

The Annaberg Sugar Plantation Today

Today, the plantation ruins are protected by the Virgin Islands National Park and are open to the public. Trees now stand where the terraces that were carved into the hillsides once were. There is a trail that leads through factory ruins, slave quarters, a windmill, and other ruins. There are placards and signs along the paths that describe how the sugar was produced and shares what life might have been like on the plantation and on the island.

Annaberg Plantation, St. John, USVI

Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park is made up of 7,259 acres of sheer beauty. In fact, more than 60% of the island of St. John is protected by the National Park system. The park also includes the reefs that surround the island, as well. Annaberg Sugar Plantation and Trunk Bay are two of the highlights of the park.

Other Ruins on the Island

If you’re interested, there are ruins scattered all around the island. Annaberg and the Reef Bay Sugar Mill Ruins are some of the best-preserved.

Hours

The park is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The visitor center is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

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Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI

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Caribbean Cruise Excursions Cruise Travel National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores St. John USVI

Trunk Bay, St. John- One of the Top 10 Beaches in the World

Virgin Islands National Park

Trunk Bay is one of the most photographed beaches in the world. Of course, this is rightfully so! Trunk Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the island of St. John. I mean…come on, just look at the place. It’s ridiculously photogenic! Tourists crowd the north shore road overlook to snap a digital memory of this breathtaking beach.

The History of St. John, USVI

St. John is one of the US Virgin Islands (USVI)- an unincorporated territory of the United States. The other islands are St. Thomas, St. Croix, and many other smaller islands. The island is located just 4 miles east of St. Thomas, home of the territory’s capital, Charlotte Amalie. Interestingly, it is also 4 miles southwest of Tortola, which is part of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

There is evidence of civilization as early as the 700s. Christopher Columbus sailed past St. John on his second voyage in 1493, but he never came ashore.

Zoom forward to 1671 when the Danish West India Company settled in the area. By 1673 they had established the African slave market. In 1717 20 Danish planters came over from St. Thomas to settle and begin developing the area. Slaves grew sugar cane, cotton, and other crops. The Annaberg sugar plantation was built in 1731 and became one of the largest sugar producers in the world. Sadly, by 1733 there were 109 plantations on the island.

In 1733 the slaves of St. John started a rebellion. Armed with cane knives (similar to machetes) they stormed Fort Frederiksvaern. After killing 5 of the 6 Danish soldiers at the fort, they fired the cannon signaling a six-month revolt. The revolt ended when French troops came over from Martinique. The slaves died by suicide before the French forces reached them.

At the height of the slave era, there were more than 2,604 slaves on the 19 square mile island. When Denmark emancipated slaves in 1848, the plantations were abandoned.

In 1917, the United States purchased the islands for $25 million from the Danish government. Talk about a bargain!

St. John Today

This island is quite possibly the most perfect island on the planet. It is amazingly beautiful- soft white sand, vibrant blue water, and lush green hills. One of the cool things about St. John is that a majority of the island (about 60%) is protected by the National Park Service. What does this mean? It means that most of the island is undeveloped in has been left in a pristine, beautiful, unspoiled condition.

Trunk Bay from the Overlook

Aside from it’s Good Looks, What Else Does Trunk Bay Have to Offer?

The crescent-shaped stretch of sand that makes up Trunk Bay is the most visited beach on the island. It has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the World. Uh, let me just tell you, it is NOT overrated!

Trunk Bay is popular for several reasons; pillow-soft white sand, crystal clear water, good looking lifeguards, accessibility to concessions, and my favorite- an underwater snorkeling trail. The snorkeling course is located just offshore. It takes snorkelers around the Trunk Cay inlet and grants them glimpses of tropical fish and the reef. There are underwater placards that give information about what they are viewing and about the island itself. The course takes about an hour to swim. The area is looked over by lifeguards making it a safe, fun activity for visitors.

There is a snack bar that serves lunch and snacks, so don’t worry about bringing along something to eat. There are also restrooms and showers available.

Visitors are also able to rent snorkel gear, if you do not have your own. I always bring my full face snorkel mask along

Booking an Excursion vs. Going On Your Own

If you’re a cruiser, you’re in luck! All of the major cruise lines that stop in St. Thomas offer excursions to St. John and/or Trunk Bay. Prices tend to vary between $69 and just over $100 USD.

Of course, you don’t have to rely on the cruise line to get you there. In fact, you’ll save money and have more time on the island if you go at it on your own. Almost all excursions use the Red Hook Ferry service to get to St. John. It is important to note that if you book an excursion through your cruise line they offer a guarantee to not leave your behind should you experience any delays in getting back to the ship.

If you choose to head out on your own, take a cab from the cruise ship terminal (either Crown Bay or Charlotte Amalie) to the Red Hook Ferry terminal. The trip should cost you about $15 per person.

The View from the Outlook

From here, there are two options for the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. The most common option leaves from Red Hook and takes about 20 minutes. It costs $6.  The ferry leaves Red Hook at: 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, and 12:00pm. The return ferries from Cruz Bay are are at: 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm.The other option is a single ferry that leaves Charlotte Amalie at 10 AM. The return ferry leaves Cruz Bay at 3:45 PM. The ferry takes 45 minutes and costs $12.

Getting to Trunk Bay…

Once you arrive in Cruz Bay, grab a cab to the beach. The beach is only about 3 miles away so the fare is cheap- about $6. Ask your taxi driver if they can make a pitstop at the lookout so you can snap one of those iconic photos.

The gorgeous water at Trunk Bay

Since the Beach is part of the Virgin Islands National park, there is an admission charge of $5 per adult to enter. If you have a US National Park Pass, admission is free.

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Updated: 7/6/22

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