St. Thomas – A Wondrous, Intoxicating, and Alluring Tropical Sanctuary
The charmed island of St. Thomas is a tropical oasis that has been
luring visitors to her sun-soaked shores for decades. With
breathtaking panoramas featuring sugary white sand beaches, rolling
green hills, and glimmering bays, the hypnotizing beauty of this
Caribbean charter destination is simply divine. Part of the US
Virgin Islands, the 32-square-mile island is one of
the loveliest stretches of land in the Caribbean,
but it is not its scenery alone that makes visitors keep coming
back. Influenced by the English, Dutch, Spanish, French and Danish
the fascinating history and vibrant culture that has evolved in St.
Thomas lends to a uniqueness not found in other Caribbean locales.
The island also offers much in the area of fun with activities and
attractions geared towards watersport enthusiasts, thrill seekers,
and history buffs.
The dramatic landscape, captivating architecture, unrivaled
shopping, fabulous sightseeing, and year-round warm weather with
rarely a cloud in sight makes St. Thomas a perfect stop for
visiting sailing yachts, catamarans,
powerboats, and mega yachts. Marinas on
the island are plentiful offering impressive facilities and dockage
for both large and small yachts. Centrally located along the
Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the exclusive Yacht Haven Grande Marina
offers side-to berthing for yachts up to 450 feet, fabulous dining
options and world-class shopping with designer outposts from Gucci,
Louis Vuitton, and Bulgari as well as a variety of high-end
boutiques. Just west of historic Charlotte Amalie Harbor you will
find the Crown Bay Marina, a full-service marina for mega yachts
and pleasure craft up to 200 feet. Situated in Red Hook, the
American Yacht Harbor Marina offers first-class amenities
accommodating vessels up to 110 feet.
Named after the Queen of Denmark in 1692, in the heart of St Thomas
you will find Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the US Virgin
Islands. A charming hillside port town, Charlotte Amalie is known
for her scenic natural harbor, lovely Danish architecture, winding
cobblestone pathways, and most famously, the shopping. Taking a
stroll along Main Street and the waterfront, you will find hundreds
of duty-free shops offering wonderful deals on clothing,
electronics, jewelry, and perfume. Not to be missed are the
merchants selling local goods, upscale boutiques, and top-notch
restaurants and bars.
Located on the west side of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the quaint
and eclectic neighborhood known as Frenchtown has a charm all of
its own. Receiving its name from the French Huguenots, whom settled
here in the 1870’s after leaving St. Barts, Frenchtown is known for
their seafood with local fisherman selling their daily catches at
the Gustave Quetel fish market. Most recently Frenchtown has become
a culinary destination offering an extraordinary range of divine
eateries and wine bars.
If seeking more seclusion and a relaxed atmosphere, let Red Hook
located on the east end of St. Thomas, become your playground.
Overlooking Pillsbury Sound and St. John, the serene town runs at a
slower pace of life and offers a more intimate glimpse into the
island’s culture. Conditions for watersports are ideal here with
great spots for playing in the surf and lounging in the sun.
The sandy shorelines of St. Thomas are simply spectacular, boasting
of over 20 stunning beaches to enjoy and endless options for
spending your time snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming
or simply lounging in the sun or shade. The most frequented and
picturesque beach on the island is the heart-shaped Magen’s Bay,
located on the north side of St. Thomas. Lined with swaying palms,
the blissful Smith Bay is a more secluded beach boasting of
turquoise waters and soft white sand. On the East End of St.
Thomas, some great sites for snorkeling can be found at Sapphire
Beach, which also offers perfect conditions for kayaking, jet
skiing, windsurfing and parasailing. For a taste of true island
style head out to Coki Beach and enjoy some of the best snorkeling
and scuba diving around, making sure to sample some of the locale
fare and tropical drinks served at the brightly colored beach huts
lining the beach.
From adrenaline junkies to nature lovers, history buffs to
architectural aficionados and everything in between, St. Thomas
does not disappoint, offering a great number of attractions that
appeal to a wide variety of tastes. For a thrilling aquatic
adventure nothing compares to Coral World Ocean Park, located next
to Coki Beach which offers the rare and exciting opportunity to
swim with sea lions. To really get your blood pumping, make a stop
at Tree Limin’ Extreme where you can soar high in the air above
acres of jungle and terraced gardens from their six ziplines. A
more subdued option that also affords spectacular views of the
island is the St. Thomas Skyride which climbs 700 feet above
Charlotte Amelie to Paradise Point. Another prime example of the
bountiful beauty of St. Thomas can be found at St. Peter Mountain
Greathouse & Botanical Gardens. For those that want to delve into
the rich past of the island make sure to include visits to Fort
Christian, a 17th century national historic landmark and the
Emancipation Garden, a park commemorating the freeing of the
island’s slaves. An experience you will not want to miss is the
climb up the vine covered 99 Steps (in reality there are 103)
leading up to the tower at Blackbeard’s Castle. Built in 1679 by
the Danes as a watchtower to protect Charlotte Amalie from the
French settlers of St. Croix, venturing to the top you will be
rewarded with amazing views of the harbor below.
For sublime island living that is a delight to explore, St. Thomas
has it all! Whether you choose to spend a holiday here relaxing or
living life to its fullest, one thing is for sure – every moment
will be unforgettable! For more information on chartering a yacht
in St. Thomas please contact us at
mailto:charter@sunreef-charter.com. With a large selection of
charter sailing yachts, charter
catamarans, charter powerboats, and
charter mega yachts in this popular US Virgin Islands
destination suited to a variety of tastes, we can make your dream
holiday in the Caribbean become reality.