About 1.5 miles north of the northeast coast of St. Croix lies a small, uninhabited 176-acre island that is rivaled to be St. Croix’s most cherished attraction. Buck Island Reef National Monument includes over 19,000 acres of both sea and land and was established as a protected area by the U.S. Government in 1948. In December 1961, Buck Island was declared a National Monument as a part of the National Park System by President John F. Kennedy. Accessible only by boat, this National Park site is uninhabited except for the daily visitors that stop by to take in its extraordinary beauty.
A distinctive feature that sets Buck Island apart from other islands in the Caribbean Sea is its magnificent elkhorn coral barrier reef that surrounds two-thirds of the island. Visitors can snorkel or SCUBA dive through the reef by booking a half- or full-day trip to Buck Island with one of the many charter companies offering daily trips. They offer guided tours of the reef, which is home to the only underwater trail in the United States. You’re sure to see a colorful array of marine life such as schools of blue tangs, trumpet fish, butterfly fish and parrot fish. With a bit of luck, you might even spot larger fish like barracuda or reef sharks and glimpse a sting ray or two.
From there, head over to the powdery sands of Turtle Beach to sunbathe on the shore or relax in the postcard perfect waters. Voted as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches by National Geographic, you may encounter the endangered brown pelicans and least terns that call Buck Island home. Watch for turtle nests and hatchlings in nesting season; Buck Island is one of many turtle nesting beaches on St. Croix.
One Buck Island activity that many people tend to miss out on is the walking trail. Follow the path over the island to the observation platform to get a bird’s eye view of the reef and the neighboring Virgin Islands. While the trail is demanding, the stunning overview of the coral reefs and darker, deeper waters farther out is worth the effort. Be sure to wear close-toed shoes and a shirt and bring plenty of drinking water.
There are no facilities or restaurants on the island with little to no shade available on Turtle Beach. As a marine protected area, visitors are not allowed to remove anything from the monument, including rocks, shells, plants and artifacts or set up tents or umbrellas on the beach. Additionally, fishing and collecting activities are prohibited throughout the entire monument.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
CNN names the best places to visit this year in December for a weekend getaway and St Croix, USVI is one of them! As residents of St. Croix, we know the magic of spending the holiday season on our beautiful island. The Crucian Christmas Festival Season is beloved by locals and tourists who visit during this time. We recently went to Limpricht Park for the “Light Dem Up: Festival of Trees.” and Art Walk. If you are planning to come to St. Croix for the holidays, we hope you enjoy the warmth of the people, the weather, and the fantastic local food on the island!
The Cane Roots Art Gallery has a new photo art exhibit called ““We Ready for deh Road” during the Crucian Christmas Festival Season. Photography of three Crucian artists – Malek Bascombe, David Berg, and Chalana Brown. Located on Company Street in downtown Christiansted, the exhibit runs through January 21st and should not be missed. Read more about the artists and photo exhibit in the article on St. Croix Source.
The new Official 2022 maximum loan limits were just released. Nathan Purdome, of Schaffer Mortgage here on St. Croix, shared them with us and we want to pass them on to you. Thank you so much Nathan.
Christie and I would love to answer any questions you have about purchasing a property on St. Croix, getting a mortgage or anything else about the buying process. Please contact us, we’d love to talk with you.
Conventional:
1-unit: will be $970,800
2-unit: will be $1,243,050
3-unit: $1,502,475
4-unit: $1,867,275
FHA on St. Croix are as follows:
1-unit: will be $420,680
2-unit: will be $538,650
3-unit: $651,050
4-unit: $809,150
Conventional (also known as “conforming”) loans are available through private lenders, such as banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies and are a great option if you have a solid credit score and sufficient down payment. Conventional financing can be utilized for a primary residence, second home, or investment property.
FHA loans are backed by the federal government and as such will allow for a lower minimum down payment. FHA loans are also more forgiving of lower credit scores. FHA loans are only available for primary residence but will allow for up to a 4-unit property.
Both FHA and Conventional loan amounts have maximum loan limits. These limits will vary based on the number of living-units on the property and the property location. Properties with over 4 units are considered commercial and do not qualify for FHA or conventional loans.
Back in June 2021, Children First St. Croix revealed plans for a new look for the Midre Cummings Playground in Frederiksted. The organizers had then estimated that the project would need a total of about 1,200 volunteers, a minimum of 270 people per day, for a multi-day build. The complete rebuild of the Midre Cummings Playground was accomplished recently in just 9 days (from November 12-21). You can watch a 11 minute VI Consortium video here, reporting scenes from the last day of build. With the help of volunteers from local non-profits, businesses, sororities, fraternities and more over the course of less than 2 weeks, Crucians have come together to transform a green space into a beautiful playground for children.
Midre Cummings is a St. Croix native who played for 11 years in Major League Baseball. He visited the site, greeted volunteers, and remarked on the amazing work accomplished.
St. Croix was recently named a top destination for winter travel by Expedia. At the same time, there is a recent ease on restrictions across the territory. We are excited to see and hear about new eateries and cafes opening in the territory, ready to welcome tourists and residents who are ready to dine out. The St. Croix Source featured three new establishments in Christiansted that offer a variety of options and flavors.
Roots-N-Kulchah‘s Chef Kimba Kabaka prepares vegan and plant-based meals in his one-man kitchen. The eatery has courtyard seating and offers rich lunch or weekend dinner.
ParrotFish features gourmet pub food. It is a downtown sports wine bar with wall-mounted flat-screen televisions in the modern, clean dining room and bar.
Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters was opened in June and sells coffee brewed from beans roasted on St. Thomas and concocted in a wide variety of caffeinated beverages by baristas.
