Explore the US Virgin Islands

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DESTINATION : WATER ISLAND & OTHER ST.THOMAS ISLANDS

The Other Islands: Water Island Hassel Island Great St. James Little Buck

About St. Thomas:Pieces of History Geography Weather Now Transportation
Duty Free Shopping Art on St. Thomas Historical Attractions Views & Tours
Vacation on St. Thomas: Hotels, Resorts & Private Villas Dining On St. Thomas
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WATER ISLAND the newest and smallest Virgin to top

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Water Island is a half mile off shore in the harbor of St. Thomas. It is the smallest (491.5 acres) and least populated of the Virgin Islands. Water Island is irregularly shaped, 2½ miles long and from 1/2 to 1 mile wide. The highest point is 300 ft above sea level.

Water Island became a Virgin Island in 1996 at that time it belonged to the US Dept. of interior and had been used as a strategic military base during the second world war. Now it is a quiet, undeveloped, and very lovely non commercial island. Apart from a few residents there are some historical remains of plantations, a fort and bunkers; green hills, beaches, birds, iguana, turtles and views.

Food and Lodging on Water Island

For lodging there are some private villas, cottages and fully equipped apartment rentals, some with pools. There are no hotels or resorts.

Above honeymoon beach, a 5 to 10 minute walk will take you to Pirate's Ridge Deli where you will find a deli, restaurant and open-air bar where you can get drinks, snacks, food and some groceries, unique souvenirs and information.

There is a pizza boat in Honeymoon Beach and sometimes Heidi of Heidi's Honeymoon Grill will serve lunch or diner from the food van.

Getting to Water Island:

The Water Island Ferry runs between Crown Bay (St. Thomas) and Phillip's Landing (Water Island). It runs regularly on weekdays between 630 am and 6 pm and less often on weekends (between 8 am and 6 pm). On Friday and Saturday nights there is a ferry but do call to confirm the schedule. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. (340)690-4159, (340)775-5770 or (340)778-8646 ext. 2434

Where to go and things to see on Water Island:

Water Island Bike Tours provide bikes, water and tour guides (340) 714-2186 Or (340) 775-5770 The tour, including ferry, takes 3 to 3½ hours.

Sprat Beach and Honeymoon Beach: Enjoy a day swimming at Sprat Beach or go sunbathing at Honeymoon Beach which is one of the finest beaches in the US Virgin Islands.

Nature: The south side of the island is a preserve for turtles who lay their eggs there.

Fort Segarra is an underground fort built by US defense strategies during WWII to protect the sub base on St. Thomas that was completed just as the war ended. Now it is abandoned, bring a flashlight if you plan to explore it. The observation deck on its roof offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the Water Island, the ocean and other islands around.

Carolina Point Plantation and Providence Point Plantation: Providence Point Plantation is now part of a private home but you can view the old cistern and bake oven from the road. The Carolina Point Plantation was excavated in 1998 by a National park service team and is considered to have archaeological significance. The masonry foundations, cisterns, bake ovens, remains of the great house and slave cabins are surprisingly well preserved. It is requested that when you explore them you take care and treat them with respect.

On the north side of Carolina Point there are some ammunition bunkers.

Hassel Island, St. Thomas

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Hassel Island is located just outside the Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The island was originally a peninsula that formed the western boundary of the Charlotte Amalie harbor. It was connected to Frenchtown by a narrow isthmus that was destroyed in 1865 to allow better circulation of water in the harbor and to facilitate harbor traffic

Historically: In 1840 a British shipping company based their operations on Hassel Island and built a dock, a warehouse, and other facilities on the island. About that time a group of Danish business men built a marine railway operation for boat and sail repairs. The shipping company facilities were used until 1885 but the marine railway was still in operation in the 1960s. It is one of the earliest steam-powered marine railways in the western hemisphere and the oldest surviving example of a steam-powered marine railway in the world. Over the years other companies also built and abandoned company facilities and upon purchasing the US Virgin Islands in 1917 the US Navy established and maintained a station on the island; the station was reactivated during World War II and used until 1947.

Currently the 135 acre Hassel Island is almost completely deserted, and 122 acres of it is protected as part of the VI National Park. There are no hotels or services of any kind here, and only limited swimming from its small rocky beaches. Four historical structures on the island are listed on the National Historic Places Registry. One of them is the remains of a British military garrison built during a brief British occupation of the Virgin Islands in the 1800s. Another historical site is the marine railway.

Visit Hassel Island, it is a haven for hikers: When you need a respite from the bustle of St. Thomas take a half day to visit Hassel Island where you can hike, explore and swim but be sure to bring enough water and food to make your visit enjoyable. The island is covered with dense growth of drought resistant brush, cacti and grasses. The coastline is rocky and has a few small sandy or coral pebbled beaches

To get there you can hire a boat to drop you off for a couple of hours, rent a Boston Whaler from the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort for a half ($175) or full day ($275) or go to Crown Bay Marina where a small ferry will take you ($3.50 each way). Schedules are posted at Tickles Dockside Pub (340)776-1595.

Park Vision: Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Virgin Islands National Park Visitors Guide

Great St. James, St. Thomas

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An even quieter beach experience is a visit to the virtually uninhabited St. Thomas islet of Great St. James Island just off the southeast tip of St. Thomas US Virgin Islands. Overnight anchorage is permitted on the sheltered westward side in Christmas Cove.

Christmas Cove, named in remembrance of large Christmas potluck gatherings of cruising families that took place annually over 30 odd years ago, is great for easy snorkeling. Good scuba diving is also available on the Stragglers, a rocky outcropping.

Little Buck Island, St. Thomas

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Little Buck Island is a remote island off the St. Thomas coast south of Charlotte Amalie that is best known to divers. If you are a diver you will enjoy visiting the Cartanza Sr., an intriguingly encrusted World War I tramp steamer that lies 35' down in Little Buck Island's sheltered cove.

Scuba Diving at Buck Island, St. Thomas