Both St Lucia and St Croix are amazing Caribbean islands for a vacation. St Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Island Group.
On the other hand, St Lucia is an independent island state in the Eastern Caribbean which is part of the Commonwealth of England.
Therefore, His Majesty King Charles III is the Head of State of St Lucia. St Lucia is not a part of the US or British Virgin Island Groups.
In this article, we compare and contrast St Lucia and St Croix to assist you choosing which island is better for your next Caribbean vacation.
As a general rule, St Lucia is ideal for a visitor with interest in activities such as the hiking the famous Piton and visiting a drive in volcano. Alternatively, St Croix is perfect for a visitor who wants a more peaceful environment with white sand beaches and an interest in visiting point Udall.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two magnificent islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean National familiar with both islands.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Which Island Is Bigger
St Lucia is the larger of the two islands being 238 square miles. On the other hand, St Croix is much smaller at 84 square miles.
St Croix is the largest of the four main US Virgin Islands. The other main islands that comprise of the US Virgin island group are St Thomas, St John and Water Island.
The highest point of elevation in St Croix is Mt Eagle which stands at 1,088 feet. Alternatively, the highest point of elevation in St Lucia is Mount Gimie being 3,120 feet.
While both islands are green and lush in appearance, St Lucia is much more hilly and mountainous than St Croix.
Visitors to St Croix may find it easier to navigate driving on the island as oppose to St Lucia due to the terrain of the island.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Entry Requirements & Access
Being a dependency of the United States of America (USA), traveling to St Croix is considered a domestic flight from the USA.
Therefore, no passports or visas are required by US Citizens for entry into St Croix.
On the other hand, a passport is required for travel to St Lucia as well as proof of a return ticket.
St Croix may be more challenging for a visitor from Europe to enter as the airport on the island is for only domestic flights.
The Henry E Rohlsen Airport is a domestic airport that is located six miles from the capital city in St Croix named Christiansted.
This airport receives daily inter island flight along with cargo and military airplanes.
The international airport of the US Virgin Island is the Cyril E King airport in St Thomas. Visitors to St Croix have the option to enter the island via airplane or boat from St Thomas.
Alternatively, St Lucia is one of the popular tourism destinations in the Southern Caribbean and as such visitors from Europe have multiple airline choices to this destination.
British Airways and TUI Airlines are two of these options.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Does The Currency Differ?
As an overseas territory of the United States of America, the official currency of St Croix is also the US dollar.
Contrastingly, the official currency of St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which has been pegged to the US (United States) dollar since July 7th, 1976 at a rate of USD $1 to XCD $2.70.
This currency is also shared by seven other Eastern Caribbean islands and is managed through a regional central bank which is based in St Kitts.
Nonetheless, the US dollar is widely accepted in St Lucia. Bank notes that are worn, torn or impaired are usually rejected. US coins are not accepted in St Lucia.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Which Island Has The Better Nightlife
St Lucia being the larger of the two destinations has the better nightlife options. The island has a variety of restaurants and bars especially in the Rodney Bay area.
Every Friday with the exception of during the Holy Weekend (Easter) Gros Islet, St Lucia comes alive with a band and seafood.
Vendors sell barbecues, seafood and a number of different local dishes. One can also purchase various hand crafted items and souvenirs at this event.
Despite being the largest of the US Virgin Islands, St Croix is not the hub of commercial activity. The island is quiet and laid back.
Nevertheless, some of the popular nightspots include Cloud 9 Ultra Lounge and Rhythms.
Due to the ease of traveling to St Thomas, visitors can spend some time in St Thomas where there is more entertainment and choose to relax in St Croix.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Which Island Has Better Beaches
If clear turquoise waters are your priority, then St Croix is the better option. Sandy Point Beach is one of the most popular.
Sandy Point Beach is a long beach and has been rated one of the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands.
It is 3 miles long however there are no facilities such as beach chairs and umbrellas.
This beach is also a nesting place for turtles and as such is closed for about 5 months of the year for turtle nesting season.
St Croix also has access to one of the most iconic and photographed beaches in the Caribbean which is Trunk Bay Beach located in the US Virgin island of St John.
On the other hand, St Lucia being more volcanic based tend to have darker sand beaches.
St Lucia also has beautiful beaches with Sugar beach being one of the popular ones on the island.
From there, you can get an awesome view of the famous twin peaks, The Pitons.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Which Island Is Better For A Honeymoon
If you are considering a Caribbean honeymoon, St Lucia is a better destination when it comes to luxury and all inclusive hotels.
Jade Mountain is an award winning resort and is a one of a kind unique property on the island of St Lucia.
This resort features uninterrupted views of the Pitons.
The bold architecture of the resort with long bridges and infinity pools makes Jade Mountain an unforgettable location for a honeymoon.
St Lucia is also home to three luxurious Sandals resort. These are the Sandals Grande St Lucia, Sandals Hyalcyon Beach and the Sandals Regency La Toc.
With Sandals, you can pay to stay at any one of these resorts but enjoy the amenities at the other two properties.
These properties feature several restaurants, swim up rooms, swim up bars and golfing facilities.
The options for resorts are much more limited in St Croix.
The Buccaneer Hotel, Company House Hotel, Carambola Beach Resort and Divi Carina Bay Resort are some of the best options in St Croix for a honeymoon.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: Can You Island Hop To Other Islands
Both islands offer excellent opportunities for island hopping via ferry services.
From St Lucia, ferry services are available to connect travelers to the French Caribbean Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Visitors can also connect via ferry from St Lucia to Dominica.
Likewise, there are several opportunities to island hop from St Croix to the other US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Nevertheless, US citizens require a passport for entry into the BVI.
St Lucia Vs St Croix: What Are The Unique Things To Do
Unique Things To Do In St Lucia
Climb The Piton Mountains- the piton is an incredible twin peaks that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 located at the south of the island.
The Gros Piton is 2462 feet while the Petit Piton is 2619 feet. The Gros Piton is the designated hiking trail while the Petit Piton is rarely climbed.
Visit The Drive In Volcano- the sulphur springs is one of the most visited attractions on the island located in Soufriere which is the world’s only drive in volcano.
Visitors are able to enter at certain points and give themselves a mud bath. It is widely believed that these mud baths have medical benefits.
Unique Things To Do In St Croix
Explore Ham’s Buff Lighthouse- is a fantastic spot for incredible views.
This lighthouse was designed and built by the Danish sometime between 1913 and 1915. In 1917, the Danish West Indies was sold to the United States of America.
Visit Point Udall- is a location of significance in St Croix as it is the most eastern point of the United States.
The Millennium monument was erected in the year 2000 as this is the first place that the American soil experiences the sunrise.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, St Lucia is ideal for a visitor who is looking for a honeymoon destination with interest in natural scenery such as the hiking the famous Piton and a lively nightlife experience. On the other hand, St Croix is perfect for a visitor who wants tranquility and to enjoy white sand beaches.
Need More Information?
Feel free to browse our website for more content on the St Lucia, St Croix and the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page.
The following are some of our articles which we believe may be suitable for you.
Best Currency For St Lucia (The Ultimate Guide)
Pros & Cons of Living In The US Virgin Islands
Living In St Croix ( Pros & Cons Explained)
St Croix Vs St John (Which Island Is Better For A Vacation)
