No visit to St. Croix is complete without spending a weekend day on the island’s west end at Sandy Point Beach. The official name of the beach is Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and has the longest continuous beach in the USVI. Breathtakingly stunning, this two-mile long stretch of sandy white beach is one of the longest in the Caribbean with crystal clear blue waters and some of the best water views on island.
Established in 1984, Sandy Point NWR covers 383 acres that provides a critical nesting habitat for three species of federally threatened and endangered sea turtles: the leatherback, hawksbill and green sea turtle. The initial land purchase was specific to protecting nesting habitats of endangered leatherback sea turtles, the largest sea turtle species in the world.
The Refuge objectives are to:
- Conserve, enhance, restore and protect native wildlife populations and habitat.
- Conserve and protect cultural resources.
- Provide environmental education and interpretive opportunities.
- Support the National Park Service’s commitment to implement and carry out seaturtle recovery plans.
In 2021, Sandy Point saw 81,668 green turtle hatchlings, 665 adorable leatherback hatchlings and 22,138 baby hawksbills. These numbers are recorded thanks to the non-profit organization St. Croix Sea Turtle Project that works in collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). They focus on sea turtle research and conservation and supporting students interested in marine biology.
As the largest leatherback nesting population within U.S. jurisdiction, Sandy Point NWR is a federally protected site. Visitors must take great care when visiting the Refuge to ensure its longevity. It closes seasonally from April 1st to September 1st to protect the nests and hatchlings of the endangered leatherback sea turtle. It is open the remainder of the year on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-4pm.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
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