Quaint island gem provides a restful daytrip from St Thomas
USVI Department of Tourism July 17, 2006 press release
Not far from the ongoing excitement of cosmopolitan St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, visitors can take a break from the lively activity of Charlotte Amalie and decompress on charmingly historic and peaceful Water Island. Located just a half mile south of Charlotte Amalie and easily accessible by ferry, Water Island is a peaceful, naturalist’s retreat with pristine attractions. The beautiful and sparsely populated island has minimal traffic and is ideal for a quick getaway.
Although small, this distinctive island offers visitors new places to explore coupled with fantastic photo opportunities. In downtown Water Island, one can visit Phillips’ Landing, the breathtakingly beautiful vista at Fort Segarra, several Indian camp excavations, picturesque Honeymoon and Sprat Bay beaches and many well-preserved ruins.
One of Water Island’s most appealing attractions is that it appears to be almost untouched by the outside world. Originally, it was identified as one of the few places in the Caribbean with freshwater ponds where sailing vessels could replenish their freshwater casks. Water Island’s first known inhabitants were Taino Indians whose habitation is evidenced by artifacts excavated at four campsites on the island. It also has been documented that pirates anchored in Water Island’s bays, out of range of the guns of Christian Fort on St Thomas, where they would lie in wait for merchant vessels seen entering or leaving the port of St Thomas.
One way to explore Water Island is via a tour with Water Island Adventures. This half-day excursion begins with an informative ferry tour of historic St Thomas harbor, Charlotte Amalie, followed by an exhilarating bike exploration of Water Island. Meandering on rolling natural roads, bicyclists can visit the old hotel site, which was the inspiration for Herman Wouk’s classic novel, Don’t Stop the Carnival, and the site of a plantation from the 1700s, before arriving at serene Honeymoon Beach for a refreshing swim. Each group is accompanied by trained and experienced guides. There are frequent sightings of island wildlife, such as birds and reptiles, during the tour.
The ferry operates daily 10-min trips between Crown Bay Marina on St Thomas and Phillips Landing on Water Island. Departure is from Tickles Restaurant at the marina. Ticket pricing for adults is $5 one way, $9 round trip, and for children, $3 one way and $5 round trip. For more information and for ferry schedules, contact the Water Island Ferry at (340) 775-5770, (340) 690-4159 or (340) 690-4446.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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