Seasonal· St Croix· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Sea turtle nesting season (Sandy Point)
17° 41.1′ N · 64° 53.6′ W
Each spring and summer endangered leatherbacks, the largest sea turtles, haul out on Sandy Point to nest, followed by hawksbills and green turtles; the East End beaches at Isaac Bay and Southgate also host nests.
Practical
Coordinate is Sandy Point beach (GoToStCroix). USFWS closes the Sandy Point beach from roughly mid-April through August to protect nesting leatherbacks; GoToStCroix gives April 1 to August 31, during which rangers and biologists run a tagging and nest-relocation program. On the East End, GoToStCroix gives nesting as generally March to August for Isaac Bay and July to October around Jack and Isaac Bays (hawksbill and green turtles nest later). Watch only with a sanctioned program (St Croix Sea Turtle Project, stxturtles@gmail.com); keep lights off beaches at night and keep off marked nests. At sea, slow down near nesting beaches.
Best for
Seeing leatherbacks the right way
Season
Leatherbacks about March to August; other species into October
Nearby
- Sandy Point National Wildlife RefugeRight here
- Beach Side Cafe at Sand Castle on the Beach1.1 NM away
- Margarita Fred's & Oceanside Bar (The Fred, Frederiksted)1.6 NM away
- Frederiksted Pier1.8 NM away
- Lost Dog Pub (Frederiksted)1.8 NM away
- Polly's at the Pier (Frederiksted)1.8 NM away
- Rhythms at Sunset (Frederiksted)1.8 NM away
- Crucian Christmas Festival1.9 NM away