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Best Tours in the US Virgin Islands (My Top 5 Picks)

There are SO many tour options in the US Virgin Islands, but not all are created equal. As I learned the hard way!

The US Virgin Islands are a popular tourist destination so naturally there are many tour operators taking you to the same point of interest.

There is good and bad to this. Good because all the cool snorkeling spots or points of interest are easily accessible. Bad because most experiences get pretty crowded which takes away from enjoying the natural beauty of the islands.

Some tours will advertise popular spots with “no crowds!”, it’s important to know that that there is almost no way to avoid crowds in popular areas.

Read on to hear about the tours I went on, what I would skip, and what I would book 10 times over!

Why Booking a Tour in the US Virgin Islands Is Worth It

Tours are one of the best ways to see the beauty of the US Virgin Islands, mainly because most points are only accessible by boat.

By booking a tour, or a few, you’re leaving the logistics to the experts so you can sit back and relax. Probably what you came here for in the first place! 🧘🏼‍♀️

I would highly recommend booking tours as soon as you book your trip so you can get a confirmed spot. I made this mistake of booking tours only a few weeks before traveling, and some tours were sold out.

What These Tours Help You See That You’d Otherwise Miss

Tours are the best way to get to snorkeling and other destinations only accessible by water.

If you have a rental car, there are lots of fantastic places that you can explore on your own. I would highly recommend doing a combination of excursions and self guided days.

👉 Check out my US Virgin Islands Itinerary: How to Spend 7 Days Across St. Thomas & St. John for the full breakdown of how I spent my trip!

The Best Tours in the US Virgin Islands (By Experience)

1. Full-Day Snorkeling Tour to St. John & Lime Out Taco Bar

👉 St Thomas Lime Out Snorkel

✅ Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families, luxury experience

💲Cost: $189 USD

⛵️What’s included:

• Light breakfast
• Full taco lunch (2 tacos included, option to order as many as you want)
• Open bar
• Snorkel gear (mask, fins, life jacket)
• Dry beach towels

This was the absolute BEST tour that I took in the Virgin Islands. It was truly a luxury experience on a new catamaran, knowledgeable staff, and very good vibes all around.

As I mentioned earlier, it is hard to avoid crowds, but since this tour does not have set snorkeling destinations there is flexibility on where the captain anchors. This means you encounter less people and more wildlife!

I have been on many snorkel and catamaran cruises and this is hands down the best. Aside from the on boat experience, we saw green sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, stingrays, countless fish, and amazing reef.

2. Glow in the Dark Night Kayak Tour

👉 Night Kayak Tour from Frenchman’s Reef

✅ Best for: Couples, groups, island history

💲Cost: $69 USD

⛵️What’s included:

• Glow in the dark face/body paint
• Clear bottom kayaks
• Free pictures

This was a casual and quick tour that we took on one of our first nights to get a lay of the land. The parking and check in process at the Westin was seamless, and the staff were fun and knowledgeable about the islands.

The 2-person, clear bottom kayaks were the highlight. We saw countless tarpon, stingrays, fish, and even a sea turtle in the distance.

The staff had lights to see right into the water and made for great pictures! Very fun and easy tour to get your trip started.

3. Sunset Catamaran Sail

👉 Days End Sunset Sail Open Bar

✅ Best for: Couples, groups, luxury experience, special events

💲Cost: $129 USD

⛵️What’s included:

• Heavy hors d’oeuvres (can accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions if notified ahead of time)
• Open Bar

This was another tour that I would 10/10 recommend. This tour sails on the same catamaran, The Lady Lynsey, as the full day taco snorkeling tour. (#1 on this list)

Again, you can’t go wrong with this boat and the crew. Everything is top notch. We loved watching the sunset and sailing on the channel between St. Thomas and St. John, with views of the British Virgin Islands.

Get your camera ready to snap amazing pics of the sunset and group pictures!

4. Turtle Cove and Buck Island Snorkel

👉 Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island

✅ Best for: Families, younger children

💲Cost: $119 USD

⛵️What’s included:

• Snorkel gear (mask, fins, life jacket)
• Open bar – known for their “painkillers”
• Chips and salsa

I would only recommend taking this tour if you are traveling with children as it was much more family focused and summer camp vibes.

The crew and the catamaran “The Cat” were nice. It is about a 30-45 minute ride out to Little Buck Island. When it came time to snorkel, the crew had you stay in groups and narrated the snorkel.

Take note that this tour and the bay itself try to pack as many people in as they can. There will be a lot of people around you at all times, but the wildlife was still pretty great. We saw stingrays, flounder, many fish, and reef.

I booked this tour because of all of the amazing reviews, but after sailing on the Lady Lynsey, it was clear that there are better tours at a very similar price point.

5. St. Thomas to British Virgin Islands Snorkel Sail

👉 Jost Van Dyke and Soggy Dollar Snorkel

✅ Best for: Couple, Groups, luxury experience

💲Cost: $319 USD

⛵️What’s included:

• Breakfast
• Open bar
• Snorkel gear (mask, fins, life jacket)
• Customs fees

I did not take this tour but I really wish I did in order to visit the British Virgin Islands! If I were to go, it would be this tour because it is on the same Lady Linsey catamaran from the Ritz Carlton Hotel that is top tier.

The British Virgin Islands are known for the Soggy Dollar Bar where you can grab a bite, a drink, and relax on BVI. Make sure to bring your passport with you!

How to Choose the Best US Virgin Islands Tour for Your Travel Style

If you’re looking for truly relaxing excursions in the US Virgin Islands then I highly recommend taking any tour on the Lady Lynsey from the Ritz Carlton. (#1,3, and 5 on the list)

From full day trips, to hour long sunset sails, there is an excursion for everyone at a very comparable price point.

I found that the more family friendly tours departed from the opposite side of the island at The Westin Frenchman’s Reef or the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove.

These excursions weren’t bad, but are definitely geared more towards families and cruise ship passengers from the nearby port.

Are US Virgin Islands Tours Worth It? My Honest Take

Guided excursions are one of the best ways to explore a new area without the hassle of planning the itinerary yourself.

The US Virgin Islands are a great place to take tours because you need a boat to get most places! I recommend taking at least 1-2 tours that take you snorkeling to see the incredible wildlife, and potentially more depending on how much time you have.

I will say though, if you’re traveling to the US Virgin Islands and you do nothing else, book the Lime Out Snorkel Sail on Lady Lynsey. I promise you won’t regret it.

👉 For all the best excursions, beaches, restaurants, and more all in one place check out my USVI Travel Guide Google Map

Happy Travels!