USVI – Three Places you can only reach by boat. There are many places to see by the sea in the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, there are only a handful of super cool spots that you can only reach exclusively by boat. Three are ‘must-dos’ on any charter yacht vacation.
One is Pizza Pi, a floating take-out boat. Second is Lime Out, an on-the-water taqueria. Third is Lovango Cay, the location of a private island resort and beach club that caters to yacht visitors. Here’s the scoop on what to see, do, and enjoy at each.
Think food truck afloat. The custom-built, 37’ aluminum motor sailor, Pizza Pi, is specially equipped with a double brick-lined oven to bake fresh New York-style pizza. The vessel is anchored in the quiet waters of Christmas Cove like a rest stop off a busy highway. Yards away is Current Cut. This is the channel between St. Thomas’ east end and Great St. James Island, where Christmas Cove is located. It’s a busy route for boats traveling from St. Thomas’ Charlotte Amalie to St. John and the British Virgin Islands. This makes it easy to call ahead and pick up a warm fresh pie.
“Where else can you float up in a boat and pick up fresh hand-made pizza, and then cruise Caribbean waters,” says Krista Porter, who owns Pizza Pi with her husband Brad. “Dinghys from anchored boats nearby are welcome to do a float-thru pizza pick up at Chef’s back window. We even deliver pizza right to your boat in our little yellow dinghy they call ‘Cheddar Puff’. Anyway, you slice it; pizza tastes better when you’re out on a boat!”
Pizza Pi’s chef hand tosses the dough (gluten-free available, too!) and blends fresh basil and garlic for the sauce. The Mediterranean is a favorite, with spinach, red onion, artichokes, feta, and black olives. There’s the Meat-Za, Plain Jane, Buffalo Spicy Kickin Chicken, and Big Kahuna, the latter with pineapple. A thirst-quenching cocktail menu offers Bushwhackers, Pina Coladas, shots, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Pizza Pi is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Scuba Diving On BoardIf hot and spicy is how you like to live life and eat food, then go to Lime Out. It’s a lime green-color, Caribbean-style cottage set on pontoons. Lime Out is anchored in St. John’s Coral Harbor. The taqueria serves chef-made tacos and creative cocktails from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
“At Lime Out, guests experience a unique opportunity to dine in the Caribbean Sea alongside stunning St. John. Case in point, sample an array of tantalizing tacos. Then, imbibe fresh, handcrafted cocktails while relaxing on our ocean-floating seating,” invites Chelsea Baranowski. Baranowski’s husband, Richard, and two childhood friends, Dylan Buchalter and Dane Tarr built the taqueria afloat. It launched in 2019. The name, Lime Out, is a play on Baranowski’s land-based eatery in Cruz Bay, Lime Inn.
New, the Lime Out has added a jerk Mahi taco to its menu. New, too is a barbecue chipotle chicken taco with pineapple and jalapeno sauce. The hands-down crowd favorite is the rum rib and shrimp taco. Drinks include St. John Brewers Summer Ale on draft. There are crafty cocktails like Dielan’s Lemonade – vodka, fresh squeezed lemonade, and a splash of ginger beer. Plus, The Danger – Thai chili-infused 100% blue agave tequila, fresh watermelon juice, fresh lime juice, and pineapple simple syrup. Try the iced hibiscus Sun tea if you’re looking for a virgin beverage. There’s swag like logo T-shirts, hats, water bottles, and more to take home as souvenirs.
Only accessible by vessel, the taqueria is located in a designated ‘no wake’ zone. You have to swim a few feet from your vessel to sit at the swim-up bar. Or in a private floating booth.
Pick up a mooring ball, eat, drink, and be merry all day or overnight at Lovango Cay. This 118-acre private island located 1 mile northwest of St. John is home to the Lovango Resort + Beach Club. It’s open seasonally from December to late July each year.
“Lovango is a great place for the yachting community to enjoy,” invites Matt Snider. Snider is the director of operations for family-run Little Gem Resorts. The company also operates vacation properties on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Dinghy into the dock and dine. There’s a buffet of daily selections. The Waterfront Restaurant is open for lunch. Menu choices include Caribbean Lobster Roll and Jerk Snapper Sandwich. The restaurant serves Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon, Caribbean Seafood Stew, and more at dinner. There’s a Raw Bar menu too, with oysters, snow crab, ceviche, tuna poke, and shrimp cocktail.
Or choose the more casual destination of The Sandpit. Here, wood-fired flatbreads and ice cream are on the menu daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Or, there are Sushi Sundays. Sushi Rolls, Poke Bowls, and Raw Bar offerings are served on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spend the afternoon at the Beach Club. You can rent a chaise lounge, day bed, or family-size cabana and enjoy the 70-foot swimming pool. Order food and drink to eat poolside too. The Shops at Lovango, near the dock, sell items like clothing for men, women, and children.
“What a lot of the charter yachts like to do is bring their guests on Friday nights for our Sand & Stars Party (5 – 9 p.m.) as a finale. We have signature cocktails, a Caribbean-style buffet, and live local music. The dance floor is sand with the stars above,” says Snider.
A Taste of Lovango will debut May 2-4, 2023. This food festival features exclusive meals made by famous guest chefs such as James Beard Rising Star semifinalist Robbie Felice, who is the co-founder and chef at the exclusive pop-up pastaRAMEN in New Jersey. A buffet of culinary experiences, creative cocktails, and curated daily activities is planned.
The beauty of chartering in the U.S. Virgin Islands is visiting new places. Among the best place, you can only reach by boat, like Pizza Pi, Lime Out, and Lovango.
In addition, the same applies to some places in the British Virgin Islands.
Contact us at 1-321-777-1707 or complete this form to discuss your vacation plans.
