camping

Hello Moni,

Well here is my opinion and thoughts....

I don't know the legalities of camping on the beach. (You aren't the first person to ask - perhaps I should ask questions and find out the legals on this - LOL)

I have done it and I have friends who have camped as well.... usually in groups, for fun. Used to be tradition for some families during Carnival to go camping, others used to do it during Easter weekend, some for Thanksgiving, Christmas, long weekends.... The boys scouts sometimes camp on beaches also. On St. Croix I think local folks usually camp at Cramers Park and Beach... but this is only for a weekend or one night and then they hang out during the day. Or they have a evening bbq and camp... heading home the following day. And usually in groups.

Many beaches on St. Thomas and St. Croix have resorts on them.... now they are all public beaches/ however not sure the resort would look to kindly on someone camping on "their" beach ( I have known of it to happen though, not common but it has been done, one guy told me he got kicked out by his roommate and crashed on a hotel affliated beach for several months, I was amazed - LOL). Problem is the access to many of these hotel beaches is through the hotel grounds - so they can get you this way if they catch.

The other beaches not resort affilated -well I suppose you could chance it - BUT on St. Croix and St. Thomas I would certainly be concerned about safety, St. John to a lesser extent. Not saying that it is overly dangerous, however a few of the beaches at night - well they have been known to be good spots to meet up (for whatever reason; guys and girls in cars, guys and guys making deals.... the latter could quickly turn into a wrong place at the wrong time sort of thing (not common). Not trying to scare you but giving you a realistic idea that beach camping in the islands by yourself on a secluded beach is not like in the movies... There are some beaches where I am certain nothing would happen and you would pass pleasant evenings under the stars listening to the waves and there are others that I would think twice about hanging out on in the dark/evening/night.

Tell me what you have in mind... a couple days camping, then you island hop to another island, longer??

And to answer your question - no spots to shower unless you are at a campground or at a beach with showers. Showers won't be hot - but you'll be clean. 🙂

--Islander

Camping is not allowed in the National Park except at Cinnamon...