Green Cay and Protestant Cay

Two small islands sit off the north coast of St Croix and they do quite different jobs. Protestant Cay is a hundred metres from the Christiansted boardwalk, reached by a small ferry that runs continuously, with a beach, a hotel and the closest swimming to town. Green Cay, further east, is a national wildlife refuge and the reason is a lizard: the St Croix ground lizard was wiped out on the main island by introduced mongooses, survived only on Green Cay and Protestant Cay, and has been the subject of a long recovery programme. Landing on Green Cay is restricted, but the water around it is open.

The landscape

• Protestant Cay - a two-minute ferry from the Christiansted boardwalk.
• The St Croix ground lizard - saved from extinction on these cays.
• Snorkelling off Green Cay - clear water and reef around the refuge.
• The Christiansted view - the Danish town from the water.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. The Protestant Cay ferry runs through the day from the Christiansted boardwalk. Boat trips out to the water around Green Cay run from Christiansted; landing generally requires a permit.

Things to know

Green Cay cannot normally be landed on, which surprises people who book expecting a beach day; it is a refuge, not a destination. Protestant Cay is small and its facilities depend on the hotel operating. The ground lizard is nocturnal and secretive and visitors will almost certainly not see one.

Nearby

Christiansted is across the harbour; Buck Island is further east.