St. John, US Virgin Islands

Start: St. John Island Travel Suggested: Winter Fitness: Easy-Mod. walking/hiking Start: St. John Island Travel Suggested: Winter Fitness: Easy-Mod. walking/hiking

The smallest and least populated of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John's dense tropical forests, coral reefs and ancient volcanic terrain are protected by National Park designation. Come join us as we enjoy the scenic and far reaches of this special island on its most remote vistas, trails and lanes. This 8-day trip offers a daily blend of easy to moderate rambles, plus the relaxing feel of Caribbean beaches and culture. We'll climb a hill or two, swim and snorkel in hard to find, pristine bays, and learn about Caribbean flora and fauna, as well as regional plantation history. In addition to hiking routes, each day will include opportunities to investigate stonework ruins, visit island communities, and snorkel, swim or boat through beautiful coastal waters. Look forward to glimpses of sea turtles, parrotfish, grouper, tangs, angelfish and squid. Melting sunrises and sunsets complement St. John's warm waters and white sands. during our February trip, we will visit the 12th Annual Folklife Festival which highlights the diverse talents of the roots of traditional island life celebrating with dance, storytelling, music, gardening, and traditional arts/ crafts.

We have carefully chosen accommodations in keeping with the prevailing spirit of low impact visitation to St. John. We'll enjoy the comfortable simplicity of open-air, screened tent-cottages, which have won eco-tourism awards and feature solar and wind power. Evening meals provide us opportunities to sample local fare, including fresh seafood, and live music.