KAYAK, HIKE & SNORKEL TOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We’ve put together a list of our most commonly asked questions about our tours and rentals. Please review below. If you cannot find your question and answer, please give one of our friendly guides a call at (340) 779-2155 or send us a message on our contact page.
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FINDING US AT CANEEL BAY ON ST. JOHN:
Our kayak, hike & snorkel tours on St. John are located at Honeymoon Beach at Caneel Bay on the north shore of the Virgin Islands National Park. You can reach Honeymoon Beach at Caneel Bay Resort several ways: by car, taxi, foot, or ferry.
From St. John by Car:
Drive to Caneel Bay Resort, one mile from Cruz Bay by car or by taxi. Walk over along the coastline until you reach Honeymoon Beach.
From St. John By Hiking:
Hike the one mile (20 minutes) LIND POINT TRAIL, a popular and easy trail to walk from Cruz Bay, starting a few blocks from the passenger ferry terminal.
From St. Thomas Via Passenger Ferry:
Take the ferry to St. John, which departs from Red Hook (the easternmost point of St. Thomas) every hour on the hour in both directions. The ferry costs $7 per person each way and is a 15-minute scenic and enjoyable ride. Once in St. John, walk 2 blocks to the left towards the VI National Park Visitor Center where you will find the Lind Point Trail that leads you to Honeymoon Beach at Caneel Bay. Approximately a one-mile hike.
From St. Thomas Via Car Barge:
Or, bring your car on the barge which mostly leaves every 30 minutes and costs $50 round trip. This is a better deal than the passenger ferry if you have 4 or more people as it gives you flexibility without needing a taxi service once you arrive on St. John. You will find the car barge to the left of the people passenger ferry on St. Thomas in Red Hook. The last car barge departs St. John at 6:15 pm to return to St. Thomas by 6:45 pm.
Taxi Tips:
If taking a taxi, tell the driver to take you to, “Caneel Bay Resort.” Follow the trail along the coastline to Honeymoon Beach.
Approximate Taxi Fares:
Confirm fare before getting in the taxi. It can range from $8 – $12 per person each way depending on where your ship docks and how quickly the driver can fill up his taxi. Virgin Islands Ecotours has no control over taxi fare prices. All taxis are independently owned and operated, and fares are set and regulated by the government.
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Finding Us at the Mangrove Lagoon:
The Mangrove Lagoon is located at 6526 Estate Nadir #2 St. Thomas, VI 00802—one tenth of a mile from the intersection of Routes 30 & 32 driving towards Red Hook. We’re on the right-hand side.
Driving from the Cruise Dock:
Take Route 30 East until it intersects with Route 32 (also the Bridge to Nowhere/Esso Station), turn right (southeast) and you’ll see us on the right side of the road. We’re the green trailer with a large sign that says: Kayak, Hike & Snorkel.
Driving from the West of the Island:
If you are coming from Island Beach Comber, Best Western, Carib Beach Hotel, Frenchman’s Reef, Bluebeards Resorts, Bolongo Bay, then drive along Route 30 East and turn right on Route 32. We are located one-tenth of a mile on the right-hand side.
Driving from the East of the Island:
From The Ritz Carlton, Sugar Bay, Sapphire Beach, Elysian, Cowpet Bay, The Anchorage Condos, Secret Harbor: Drive West on route 32 on the south side of St Thomas a little over a mile South West of Red Hook.
Taxi Tips:
If taking a taxi, tell the driver to take you to, “the kayak place on the East End.” Some Taxi drivers don’t know us by our company name. Virgin Islands Ecotours is at The Mangrove Lagoon where the kayak tours depart.
Approximate Taxi Fares:
Confirm fare before getting in the taxi. It can range from $8 – $12 per person each way depending on where your ship docks and how quickly the driver can fill up his taxi. Virgin Islands Ecotours has no control over taxi fare prices. All taxis are independently owned and operated, and fares are set and regulated by the government.
Driving Time from Various Locations:
The Airport, Best Western, Carib Beach Hotel, Emerald Beach Hotel ~ 40 minutes
Crown Bay Cruise Ship Dock, Windward Passage, Bluebeard’s Castle ~ 35 minutes
Havensite Cruise Ship Dock & Frenchman’s Reef Hotel, Magens Bay, Sugar Bay ~ 15-20 minutes
Bolongo Bay, Sapphire Beach, The Ritz Carlton, Secret Harbor, Cowpet, Elysian & Anchorage ~ 8-10 minutes. -
Yes! Virgin Islands Ecotours is the only Virgin Islands kayak adventure excursion company that can accommodate any sized group. Our group kayak adventures will get you and your party immersed in nature and up close to wildlife. You’ll learn marine biology, ecology, and history while you’re having fun!
- Tours offered on both St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands (no passport required!)
- Group organizers earn booking compensation! Contact us for details.
- Our family-friendly kayak tours (offered both day and evening) can be customized.
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Your payment is 100% refundable until 24 hours before the date and time your tour is due to depart. If you cancel your booking with less than 24 hours notice or fail to show up for your tour, then the full cost of the tour will not be refunded.
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Only at St. John location. If your tour is at the Mangrove Lagoon on St. Thomas, you will need transportation to get to a bar/restaurant. If you book our tour through a cruise ship, there are several refreshment options at the docks.
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All our tour locations offer locked lockers at no additional charge to secure your valuables.
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Our kayaks have adjustable footrests for all heights and can accommodate a total of approximately 625 pounds.
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Consider yourself lucky if you are fortunate enough to see a baby shark or barracuda. For the most part they are more afraid of you than you are of them.
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Our tours go out rain or shine, unless there’s a severe weather warning. The rain is usually brief, so we just paddle or snorkel on! Please be sure to leave us your contact number so that we can contact you if there is a weather warning and tours are cancelled. Our kayak tours are among the most fun and entertaining activities to do in the outdoors on a rainy day!
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Our tour sizes typically range from 2 to 22.
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Our St. John tours are the only tours that leave from a beach. All other tours leave from a dock that is not on a beach. You can take taxis to nearby beaches if you book a lagoon tour on St. Thomas.
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We rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUP) by the day from our Honeymoon Beach, St. John location on the scenic North Shore of the Virgin Islands National Park. Best of all, buy a Honeymoon Beach All-Inclusive Watersports Day Pass which allows you all-day use of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, lounge chairs, pool floats, snorkel gear, locker with lock, for only $49 per person per day!
RENTALS ON ST. JOHN:
On St. John, we deliver free of charge: kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkel gear, to your rental car, villa or favorite beach with orders over $175, or with a delivery fee of $60.
RENTALS ON ST. THOMAS:
On St. Thomas, you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkel gear from our Mangrove Lagoon location and choose to pick them up from our east end location, use them at the Mangrove Lagoon to explore the eastern section of the lagoon, or request delivery and pickup from your rental car, condo or villa or your favorite beach! Free delivery and pickup with orders over $175 or with a delivery fee of $60.
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Absolutely! As long as they weigh a minimum of 30 pounds, we can provide them with life jackets. If your child weighs less than that, you will have to bring a suitably sized life jacket for your child to wear.
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Typically, no, but there are exceptions some group tours. We can arrange transportation for an additional fee for most groups.
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The five-hour tour is the “best of” tour which includes highlights of all the favorite scenic and snorkel areas plus a picnic lunch. These tours are more intimate with smaller groups and can often be tailored to fit your interests and abilities.
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The maximum time would be approximately 40 minutes, and that is the time for people departing from the western end of town (Crown Bay, Emerald Beach, etc).
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We encourage guests to arrive 15 minutes before tour start time. However, if all reserved guests show up before the tour start time, the tour goes out as soon as everyone is ready.
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We have three unique locations!
For our Mangrove Lagoon tours, our main dock is located on the southeast side of St. Thomas.
- From Town: Take route 30 East until it intersects with Route 32 (also the Bridge to Nowhere/Esso Station), turn right -southeast- and we are located on the right side of the road. We’re the green trailer with a large sign with photo that says “Kayak, Hike and Snorkel”. If taking a taxi, tell the driver to take you to “the kayak place on the East End.” Most don’t know us by our company name.
- From Red Hook: Head southwest on route 32 towards town, we are located about a mile and a half down on the left side of the road. We’re the green building below the road with a large sign with photo that says “Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure”.
For most St. John tours, you will meet your guide at the Honeymoon Hut on Honeymoon Beach just down the trail from Caneel Bay Resort. You can take a taxi from the St. John dock to Caneel Bay Resort, and walk down the trail to Honeymoon Beach. If you are taking the Eco Hike and Snorkel excursion on St. John, you will meet your guide at the National Park HQ building in Cruz Bay.
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Yes! Please contact us directly for private tour reservations and group rates. You can email us from our contact page or call our toll free line 1-877-721-8525.
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Yes! All guests wear life jackets, so you’re guaranteed to float. Relax, kick gently, and you’ll see lots of sea life during the snorkel portion of your tour.
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Yes! We offer full snorkeling instruction. We also require that every person on the tour wear a life jacket during the kayaking and snorkeling portions of the tour.
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Yes! We offer full kayaking instruction before the tour begins. It’s perfect for children, adults, and seniors! Beginners are welcomed!
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You may bring a camera at your own risk. You will get wet the moment you sit in the kayak and there is no dry storage available in the kayak. On many of our tours we will have a photographer with an underwater housing who accompanies the group to take pictures of you both above and below the water! The photo CDs are available for purchase after the tour for $45 and include another CD with our Best of Photo Collection.
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Sure! Snorkel gear is included in your tour price but if you have your own or require a prescription mask you can bring it along. Please note that we do not wear fins on our tour in the Mangrove Lagoon because we are protecting the shallow marine life and the use of fins stirs up sediment and reduces the water visibility.
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Yes, we accept the following credit cards: VISA, MASTER CARD, DISCOVER and AMERICAN EXPRESS.
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Click the “Book A Tour” button located on each tour description page.
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- Snorkel and mask
- Easy to paddle sit-on-top ocean kayak with backrest and paddle
- Free lockers
- Changing room
- Water
- Candy bar snack
- Professional guide offering a narrated tour
- Full safety briefing
- Kayaking/paddling instruction and snorkeling instruction
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On our St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon tours, you will kayak among the many small islands of the unique Inner Mangrove Lagoon. You may see a variety of birds such as brown pelicans, blue herons, night herons, egrets, yellow warblers and hummingbirds. While snorkeling you may see spotted eagle rays, turtles, pufferfish, octopus, lobster, stingrays, parrotfish and much more!
On our St. John tours, you will paddle over colorful coral reefs and hike through the pristine Virgin Islands National Park. You may see a variety of birds such as brown pelicans, blue herons, night herons, egrets, yellow warblers and hummingbirds. While snorkeling you may see spotted eagle rays, turtles, pufferfish, octopus, lobster, stingrays, parrotfish and much more!
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- Bathingsuit
- Clothing that can get wet
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, etc.
- Sunscreen
- Footwear that can get wet (water shoes or sandals)
- Towel(s)
- Gratuity for your guides
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Our St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon and our St. John Honeymoon Beach locations both have convenient “forgot it shops” which sell the following items: Souvenir performance and cotton T-shirts for $25-$30, baseball caps, floppy, and straw hats for $15-$38, sunglasses for $10-$20, sunglass straps for $5, sunscreen for $10-$15, water shoes size L4-M-13 for $20, colorful sarongs for sun protection and swimwear coverups for $20+, souvenir magnets and Christmas Ornaments for $5-$15, and other assorted, unique items.