The US Virgin Islands offer something unique in the Caribbean — the combination of American convenience and infrastructure with genuine Caribbean beauty and character. No passport required for US citizens, the dollar as currency and familiar banking and phone service, yet the moment you arrive you are unmistakably in the Caribbean.
The three main islands each have a completely different personality. St. Thomas is the most developed — its harbor at Charlotte Amalie is one of the Caribbean's great duty-free shopping destinations and its beaches, particularly Magens Bay, are among the region's finest. St. John, where two-thirds of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, offers the most pristine nature in the USVI — hiking trails through jungle to hidden beaches of extraordinary beauty. St. Croix, the largest island, is the most authentically Caribbean — with a thriving food and arts scene, deep cultural roots and the famous Buck Island Reef National Monument.
The USVI also serves as the gateway to the British Virgin Islands — accessible by ferry and offering some of the finest sailing in the world.