Buck Island Reef National Monument
An uninhabited island off Christiansted, with an underwater snorkel trail along its coral reef. Its white-sand Turtle Bay beach is ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.
Buck Island lies about 2 kilometres northeast of St. Croix. It was designated a national monument in 1961 and is surrounded by extensive elkhorn coral reefs. The highlight is the underwater snorkel trail on the eastern end. Underwater markers identify the coral, parrotfish, and sea turtles you may see. On the west side, Turtle Bay has a sparkling white beach. You can hike up to a small hilltop viewpoint from the island. Access is only by tour boat licensed by the National Park Service. Boats depart from Christiansted, and the crossing takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour. Tours last half a day or a full day. There are no shops on the island, so bring your own drinking water and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Opening hours
Daytime (with boat trip)
Nearby sights
- Jack and Isaac Bays Preserve
- Point Udall
- Protestant Cay
- Christiansted National Historic Site
- Christiansted Boardwalk
- Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
- Captain Morgan Visitor Center
- Cane Bay