Let´s start with the fact that the Virgin Islands National Park covers nearly 60 percent of the island, based on land donated by millionaire philanthropist Laurence Rockefeller in 1956, and it harbors more than 20 trails which take hikers through diverse terrains, including various beaches, rock petroglyphs carved by the ancient Taíno people (in some cases more than a thousand years ago), and the ruins of centuries-old plantations (more about them below). Particularly notable routes include Rams Head Trail along the coast and the popular but a bit more strenuous, back-country Reef Bay Trail, which includes an option for ranger-guided hikes including a boat ride back to your starting point.
Besides hiking, popular and highly rewarding adventure activities on/in the water include kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, and diving/snorkeling, all of which you can do either independently or on guided tours. Waterlemon Cay, for example – accessible via the Leinster Bay Trail – is a fantastic spot for snorkeling the coral reef, where you´ll see a variety of colorful marine life including giant Hawksbill marine turtles (on a number of beaches at certain times of year you can also observe the females laying eggs and hatchlings racing to the sea).
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