If someone asked us to pick the single most reliable week to put a first-timer on St. Thomas, it would be in March. That's also exactly why it costs what it costs.
The weather, honestly
March sits in the middle of the dry season, which runs roughly December through April. Expect daytime temperatures in the 75–85°F range, low humidity by Caribbean standards, and rain that arrives as a ten-minute squall rather than a day indoors.
You will still get squalls. They blow through, the sun comes back, and the whole thing is over before you've decided whether to move your towel — we wrote a whole post about not panicking at them.
The trade wind is the thing people underestimate. It runs steadily through the spring, which is what keeps March comfortable in the sun and also what puts a chop on the exposed north and east coasts some afternoons. Swim in the morning; the water is calmest before noon.
The catch: this is peak season
Peak season is December through April, and March is the heart of it. That means higher nightly rates, fuller beaches, more cruise traffic through Charlotte Amalie, and restaurants that genuinely need a reservation.
Book early. Not "a few weeks" early — the good weeks in March go months out, in the same way the December holidays do. If you're flexible, the first half of the month is usually a little easier than the back half.
Regatta week
The St. Thomas International Regatta runs in late March and draws hundreds of boats from across the Caribbean and beyond. It's a world-class sailing event, and the island feels it — Red Hook and the marinas get busy, the bars get loud, and the sailing crowd is excellent company.
If you like boats, plan around it deliberately. If you want a quiet week, plan around it in the other direction. Either way, don't find out about it after you've booked.
Carnival season builds later in the spring — the biggest celebration in the territory, with parades and live soca and calypso — so a March trip catches the island warming up rather than in full swing.
Still whale season, just
Humpbacks migrate through the Virgin Islands during the winter months, roughly January through April. March is the tail end of it. It's not a reason to book the trip, but if you're on the water anyway, keep your eyes up.
What we'd do with a March week
Mornings in the water while it's glass, because the afternoon wind is real. One day on St. John on an early ferry. One day on the north side for the overlooks. Dinners booked in advance, not improvised.
And base yourself where the water is — Sapphire Beach on the east end, or Mahogany Seaview up on the north side if you'd rather trade beach steps for a view and cooler evenings.
If you're weighing March against the rest of the calendar, our month-by-month take is here. Current open weeks are on the deals page.