Virgin Islands National Park is full of adventure and fun! Here are a few things facts about Virgin Islands National Park that are worth knowing before you visit:
This is no British Virgin Islands National Park
The British Virgin Islands is home to a few different national parks but none are known as the British Virgin Islands National Park. Instead, in the British Virgin Islands you’ll find Devil’s Bay National Park, Diamond Cay National Park, Fallen Jerusalem National Park, Gorda Peak National Park, and more. These parks are all run by the National Park Trust.
On the other hand, the U.S. Virgin Islands does have a national park with the Virgin Islands namesake. The Virgin Islands National Park is on St. John Island and run by the U.S. National Park Service. This park takes up about 60 percent of St. John’s land mass and is frequently visited by sailors on Go Sail VI charters and courses!
You can visit the Virgin Islands National Park by boat
One of the best ways to see the Virgin Islands National Park is by sailboat. In fact, 5,650 acres of Virgin Islands National Park is underwater! Some of the most beautiful spots in Virgin Islands National Park are only accessible by boat— like Coral Reef National Monument.
Go Sail Virgin Islands offer sailboat courses and charters with options to visit the Virgin Islands National Park for as many days as you’d like. During your sail in the Virgin Islands National Park, you’ll be able to snorkel in the reefs, hike to the national park’s ridgetops, watch the sunset from your boat’s dock, and swim with the many animals that call Virgin Islands National Park home. Learn more about the Go Sail Virgin Islands sailboat trips to the Virgin Islands National Park here.
Virgin Islands National Park is home to 800 plant species
The Virgin Islands National Park is a great place to spot tropical birds, coral reefs, fish, dolphins and 800 different plant species! These plants aren’t just beautiful to see, they are also home to a variety of wildlife. For example, the seagrass beds are popular among the area’s turtles! During a Go Sail Virgin Islands course, your captain will be able to share more facts about Virgin Islands National Park with you as you sail, snorkel, and swim your way through the park. If you are visiting on a Go Sail Virgin Islands charter, you can also pop into the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center to learn more about the park’s ecosystem!
You don’t have to pay to get into Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park is one of the few U.S. National Parks with no entry fee. Instead, there are just a few spots where a fee is required. This includes the popular beach spot, Trunk Bay, which costs $5 for an individual day pass. You’ll also be charged to stay overnight in the park, both at Cinnamon Bay Campground and for overnight mooring off St. John’s coast. You can pay to visit these spots online at recreation.gov or by visiting the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center.
Virgin Islands National Park never closes
Not many national parks are open year-round 24 hours a day but the Virgin Islands National Park is! However, the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center doesn’t have the same open hours as the park itself. If you’d like help planning your visit or to learn more about the facts of Virgin Islands National Park (like its natural and cultural history), you’ll need to stop by Monday through Friday from 8:15am-1:30pm. Additionally, Trunk Bay is only open from 8am-4pm.
Virgin Islands National Park is the ideal spot to learn to sail
Can you imagine a better place to learn to sail than in a national park? Each year, Go Sail Virgin Islands certifies dozens of sailors in Virgin Islands National Park. While students spend much of their time learning to sail, there is ample time to explore the park on both land and sea during a week-long liveaboard. At the end of the week, not only are students well acquainted with the park— they’ve also received their ASA sailing certifications! That means they can bareboat to the island whenever they please, for as long as they please— no captain needed! Learn more about the Go Sail Virgin Islands courses here.