Kayaking around STJ

IslandTime · Post by **IslandTime** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:11 pm

I was wondering if anyone had kayaked St John. If so how? rent? What about a guided trip? Recommendations? I guess I'm exploring the guided trip mostly.

loria · Post by **loria** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:20 pm

we brought our own boat--a klepper--but there are a numbe of outfitters--are you looking for overnight trips (they will go off island) or day trips? most of the rentals we've seen will be sit on top--

stjohnjulie · Post by **stjohnjulie** » Sat Oct 30, 2010 3:06 am

You can contact Arawak, here is the link to their website. http://www.arawakexp.com/ If you do it, let us know how it goes. I always wanted to do something like that....just never have the time.

loria · Post by **loria** » Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:26 am

stjohnjulie wrote:You can contact Arawak, here is the link to their website. http://www.arawakexp.com/ If you do it, let us know how it goes. I always wanted to do something like that....just never have the time.

The last time we contacted them about renting for non-guided use (for a day or multiple days) they weren't allowing it--that was a few years ago at this point--i'd be curious to see if they changed their policy as well!

IslandTime · Post by **IslandTime** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 12:08 am

I probably did not word my original post very well. I was looking to see what others thought of kayaking on St John. If anyone thought it was a worthwhile activity as well as the $$? I am an avid kayaker and I was curious as to why so few tour operators. So I looked into it. The National Park service has boatloads (pun intended) of regulations that concession people operating on STJ have to adhere to. Thanks for the links and the comments stjohnjulie. Has anyone else wanted to go kayaking on STJ? or is this just the party crowd?

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:48 am

osland time--do you mean day trips or overnights? also are you looking for a traditional touring boat or are you okay with a sit on top? also, what's your idea of a day out? 3 miles? 15 miles? and how about seas and current? what are you comfortable in?
I would say there are some WONDERFUL places to kayak -- but if you can give an idea of what you are comfortable with then maybe I (or someone else) could give you some better ideas.

kklay · Post by **kklay** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:44 am

I do know that some of the villas have Kayaks that you can use - I'm not sure if you would be able to haul/transport to other areas of the island. Villa Sanctuary had a Kayak as well as Villa Villekula.

gores95 · Post by **gores95** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:06 pm

We are taking a 3 hour tour with this outfit on Friday: http://www.hiddenreefecotours.com/kayak ... ntact.html

They get very high ratings on TripAdvisor and are supposed to be good for families. They are located in Coral Bay.

IslandTime · Post by **IslandTime** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 9:38 pm

gores95 wrote:We are taking a 3 hour tour with this outfit on Friday: http://www.hiddenreefecotours.com/kayak ... ntact.html

They get very high ratings on TripAdvisor and are supposed to be good for families. They are located in Coral Bay.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I was thinking about doing this in January but on a much smaller scale. Thanks.

NJsurfsup · Post by **NJsurfsup** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:02 am

My family loves kayaking and snorkeling so found the recommendation from "St John off The Beaten Path" to be most interesting "Whisting Cay and Mary Point"

We are renting kayaks at Little Maho and kayaking out to Whistling cay for a day of Snorkeling. This is suppose to be an excellent snorkel destination. According to the people who have done this it takes about 30 minutes to kayak out to the cay , you can then beach your kayaks on the rubble beach by the guardhouse ruins. After snorkeling the cay, Kayak across the Fungi passage to Mary point beach your kayaks and enjoy the excellent snorkeling all along the shoreline of the passage it goes on to say do not sorkel far off coast as boat traffic can be a danger.
Also you can rent kayaks at Cinnamon Bay for this same outing. We are chosing Maho because although we White water kayak we have not ocean kayaked and feel more comfortable following the coastline of Francis bay. Enjoy

IslandTime · Post by **IslandTime** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:35 pm

NJsurfsup wrote:My family loves kayaking and snorkeling so found the recommendation from "St John off The Beaten Path" to be most interesting "Whisting Cay and Mary Point"

That is awesome! and some good information. I would love to hear how it goes. I agree ocean kayaking is a whole different animal but man is it beautiful down there. How many of your family are doing this?

NJsurfsup · Post by **NJsurfsup** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:58 am

My husband, fifteen yr old son and myself. This will be our first time to STJ and are really looking forward to exploring. We would have rented Kayaks for the week but transporting them is the issue.

parafins · Post by **parafins** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:10 am

15 minutes to Whistling Cay from Little Maho without any breaks.I went directly to the cay and had no problem.Coming back I followed the coast of Mary Point.When you head out or return look for the ruins on the top of the hill above Cinnamon.American Greathouse? Very cool! Parafins

Sumerwaters · Post by **Sumerwaters** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 11:16 am

I have used Arawak Expeditions several times. They offer a guided tour called "Inn to Inn Tour". It circumnativigates STJ. Even better they offer a BVI guided tour that is outstanding. Have Fun.

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:22 pm

I think Crabby's (Coral Bay) will rent kayaks and will transport them to an entry at Princess Bay.

I'm pretty sure Chicagoans did this one year. Try searching for her trip report.

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