Frequently Asked questions

Virgin Islands Ecotours operates on all three islands:

1. St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon (6526 Estate Nadir, St. Thomas, VI 00802): Our main dock is located on the southeast side of St. Thomas, along Route 32 near the Bridge to Nowhere. From Town: Take Route 30 East to Route 32, turn southeast, and we are located on the right. From Red Hook: Head southwest on Route 32, about a mile and a half down, and we are on the left side.
2. St. John Mongoose Junction (520 Mongoose Jct, Cruz Bay, St John USVI, 00830): This location serves as the base for our tours on St. John. You’ll check in here for most of our St. John tours, including the Best of St. John: Kayak, Snorkel & Picnic Adventure. Mongoose Junction is conveniently located in Cruz Bay, across from the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center and just a short walk from the ferry terminal.
3. St. Croix: We now offer exciting tours on St. Croix as well. Specific tour details and locations are provided when you book, but expect to experience the island’s stunning landscapes, marine life, and unique culture.

Finding Us at the Mangrove Lagoon:

The Mangrove Lagoon is located at 6526 Estate Nadir, St. Thomas, VI 00802—one tenth of a mile from the intersection of Routes 30 & 32 driving towards Red Hook. We’re on the right-hand side.

Driving from the Cruise Dock:

Take Route 30 East until it intersects with Route 32 (also the Bridge to Nowhere/Esso Station), turn right (southeast) and you’ll see us on the right side of the road. We’re the green trailer with a large sign that says: Kayak, Hike & Snorkel.

Driving from the West of the Island:

If you are coming from Frenchman’s Reef, Bluebeards Resorts, Bolongo Bay, then drive along Route 30 East and turn right on Route 32. We are located one-tenth of a mile on the right-hand side.

Driving from the East of the Island:

From The Ritz Carlton, Sapphire Beach, Elysian, Cowpet Bay, The Anchorage Condos, Secret Harbor: Drive West on route 32 on the south side of St Thomas a little over a mile South West of Red Hook.

Taxi Tips:

If taking a taxi, tell the driver to take you to “the kayak place on the East End.” Virgin Islands Ecotours is at The Mangrove Lagoon where the kayak tours depart.

Driving Time from Various Locations:

• The Airport, Best Western, Carib Beach Hotel, Emerald Beach Hotel ~ 40 minutes
• Crown Bay Cruise Ship Dock, Windward Passage, Bluebeard’s Castle ~ 35 minutes
• Havensite Cruise Ship Dock & Frenchman’s Reef Hotel, Magens Bay, Sugar Bay ~ 15-20 minutes Bolongo Bay, Sapphire Beach, The Ritz Carlton, Secret Harbor, Cowpet, Elysian & Anchorage ~ 8-10 minutes.

Our St. John tours meet in Cruz Bay or at designated beaches within the Virgin Islands National Park:

• Cruz Bay/Mongoose Junction Check-In: Most of our tours begin at our Outfitter Store in Mongoose Junction (across from the National Park Visitor Center and a short walk from the ferry dock). After check-in, you’ll walk with your guide to the launch beach.
• Maho Bay: Our popular Snorkel with Sea Turtles tour meets directly at Maho Bay. Depending on your booking, you can add round-trip taxi service from Cruz Bay or meet your guide at the Maho Bay taxi stand.

Coming from St. Thomas? Take the Red Hook ferry. From Cruz Bay, our check-in locations are just a short walk or taxi ride. Car barges are also available from Red Hook if you prefer to bring your vehicle.

Typically, no, but you can add transportation on some tours automatically when booking.

Typically between 15-30 minutes.

We encourage guests to arrive 15 minutes before tour start time. However, if all reserved guests show up before the tour start time, the tour goes out as soon as everyone is ready.

Each location has secure storage for your valuables.

Only at St. John location. If your tour is at the Mangrove Lagoon on St. Thomas, you will need transportation to get to a bar/restaurant. If you book our tour through a cruise ship, there are several refreshment options at the docks.

Our tours go out rain or shine, unless there’s a severe weather warning. The rain is usually brief, so we just paddle or snorkel on! Please be sure to leave us your contact number so that we can contact you if there is a weather warning and tours are cancelled. Our kayak tours are among the most fun and entertaining activities to do in the outdoors on a rainy day!

Our life jackets can accommodate someone up to 360 pounds.

Absolutely! As long as they weigh a minimum of 30 pounds, we can provide them with life jackets. If your child weighs less than that, you will have to bring a suitably sized life jacket for your child to wear.

Yes! All guests wear life jackets, so you’re welcome to learn on our guided snorkel, float or relax on the beach.

Yes! We offer kayaking instruction before the tour begins. It’s perfect for children, adults, and seniors! Beginners are welcomed!

Consider yourself lucky if you are fortunate enough to see a baby shark or barracuda. For the most part they are more afraid of you than you are of them.

Yes! 

RENTALS ON ST. JOHN:

We offer kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals at our Mongoose Junction location in Cruz Bay, St. John. From this location, we provide easy access to a variety of water activities with the same high-quality equipment and expert support.

We can also deliver rentals to your accommodations for an extra fee.

RENTALS ON ST. THOMAS:

On St. Thomas, you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkel gear from our Mangrove Lagoon location and choose to pick them up from our east end location, use them at the Mangrove Lagoon to explore the eastern section of the lagoon, or request delivery and pickup from your accommodations for an extra fee. 

On our St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon tours, you will kayak among the many small islands of the unique Inner Mangrove Lagoon. You may see a variety of birds such as brown pelicans, blue herons, night herons, egrets, yellow warblers and hummingbirds. While snorkeling you may see spotted eagle rays, turtles, pufferfish, octopus, lobster, stingrays, parrotfish and much more!

On our St. John tours, you will paddle over colorful coral reefs and hike through the pristine Virgin Islands National Park. You may see a variety of birds such as brown pelicans, blue herons, night herons, egrets, yellow warblers and hummingbirds. While snorkeling you may see spotted eagle rays, turtles, pufferfish, octopus, lobster, stingrays, parrotfish and much more!

The five-hour tour is the “best of” tour which includes highlights of all the favorite scenic and snorkel areas plus a picnic lunch. These tours are more intimate with smaller groups and can often be tailored to fit your interests and abilities.

• Bathingsuit
• Clothing that can get wet
• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, etc.
• Sunscreen
• Footwear that can get wet (water shoes or sandals)
• Towel(s)
• Gratuity for your guides

• Snorkel and mask
• Easy to paddle sit-on-top ocean kayak with backrest and paddle
• Changing room
• Water
• Candy bar snack
• Professional guide offering a narrated tour
• Full safety briefing
• Kayaking/paddling instruction and snorkeling instruction

Sure! Snorkel gear is included in your tour price but if you have your own or require a prescription mask you can bring it along. Please note that we do not wear fins on our tour in the Mangrove Lagoon because we are protecting the shallow marine life and the use of fins stirs up sediment and reduces the water visibility.

On many of our tours we have a photographer who accompanies the group to take pictures of you both above and below the water! If you are going to bring a camera, make sure it is waterproof! You will get wet the moment you sit in the kayak and there is no dry storage available in the kayak. 

Our St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon and St. John Mongoose Junction locations both have convenient “forgot it shops” offering the following items:

• Souvenir performance and cotton T-shirts
• Baseball caps, floppy hats, and straw hats
• Sunglasses and sunglass straps
• Sunscreen
• Water shoes
• Colorful sarongs for sun protection and swimwear cover-ups
• Other assorted, unique items

Click the “Book A Tour” button located on each tour description page.

Yes! You can now upgrade any eligible tour to a private experience for just a $99 flat fee. This “Private Tour Upgrade” can be selected during online checkout—just look for the Flat Fee – Private Tour Upgrade option when booking your tour. Private tours are available any day except Wednesdays.

Prefer to book by phone? Give us a call at (340) 779-2155 and we’ll take care of everything.

For corporate groups, special events, or custom experiences, please contact us directly by phone at (340) 779-2155 or by email at info@viecotours.com to make arrangements with our team.

Your booking is fully refundable if canceled at least 24 hours before your tour.

Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time or no-shows are non-refundable.

Tours operate rain or shine (with the exception of lightning). In the rare case that weather prevents us from running the tour, we will gladly provide a full refund.