Virgin Islands Travel Guide
Planning a trip to the US Virgin Islands or British Virgin Islands? Getting between St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda takes a mix of ferries, island taxis, and short hops by plane. This guide is a quick planning hub — pick the right mode for each leg of your trip, then jump to the schedule or route finder you need.
How to get around the Virgin Islands
Most visitors combine three or four modes of transportation in a single trip: a flight into STT or EIS, a ferry to reach another island, taxis on-island, and a day charter for the snorkeling and beach-bar hops the ferries don't cover. Here's what each of our dedicated tools is for.
Virgin Islands Ferry Schedules →
What it's for: Up-to-date ferry schedules between St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and the smaller BVI outposts. Includes Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay, Charlotte Amalie ↔ Road Town, West End ↔ Cruz Bay, and the Jost Van Dyke runs.
Why use it: Ferries are the cheapest and most scenic way to move between islands. Schedules shift seasonally and between weekdays/weekends — this page stays current so you don't get stranded at the dock. Great for inter-island day trips and reaching BVI customs at West End or Road Town.
Virgin Islands Taxi Routes & Rates →
What it's for: Island taxi information for St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola — including the official published per-person rates, common airport-to-resort fares, and pickup points at ferry terminals and cruise docks.
Why use it: USVI and BVI taxis use government-set zone rates, not meters. Knowing the published fare before you get in avoids overpaying, helps you budget transfers, and makes it easier to share a safari-style open-air taxi with other travelers. Essential for airport-to-ferry connections.
Virgin Islands Flights →
What it's for: Flight info into Cyril E. King (STT) on St. Thomas, Terrance B. Lettsome (EIS) on Tortola/Beef Island, Henry E. Rohlsen (STX) on St. Croix, plus short inter-island hops via seaplane and regional carriers.
Why use it: If you're arriving from the mainland, starting here tells you which airport matches your island plan — flying into STT and ferrying to the BVI is often cheaper than flying direct to EIS, but not always. Also useful for the St. Thomas ↔ St. Croix seaplane and charter flights to smaller strips.
Charter a Boat (USVI & BVI) →
What it's for: Post a free charter request and let verified USVI / BVI operators compete with bids — half-day, full-day, crewed catamaran, or multi-day.
Why use it: Ferries and flights get you between islands, but the best spots — Sandy Spit, the Baths, Willy T, Soggy Dollar, Norman Island caves — are only reachable by private boat. A day charter lets you string several together on your schedule instead of the ferry's.
Quick planning tips
- Passport required for BVI. Every traveler (including US citizens) needs a valid passport to enter the British Virgin Islands, even on a ferry day trip. See our BVI customs & entry fees guide for fees and paperwork.
- Give yourself buffer on ferry days. Ferries board 15–20 minutes early and customs at West End / Road Town can add 30–45 minutes in peak season.
- Taxis are shared by default. Drivers will wait to fill an open-air safari taxi before leaving — that's how the per-person rate works. Ask for "private" if you're in a hurry and expect to pay the combined fare.
- Charter beats ferry for island-hopping. If your plan is three or more stops in a day (say Jost, Sandy Spit, Soggy Dollar, the Indians), a bid-based charter is usually faster and cheaper per person than chaining ferries.
- STT vs. EIS. If more than half your trip is in the BVI, flying into EIS (Tortola) can save you a ferry and a taxi. For USVI-heavy trips, STT wins on flight options and price.