Caribbean / US Virgin Islands

Beach Guide to St John, USVI

St John in the US Virgin Islands is one of my favorite islands in the world. It may not be far away, it may not be an intense cultural experience, and it may not be off the beaten path, but it’s got something that many a tropical island does not have.

7000 ACRES OF NATIONAL PARK.

View of Trunk Bay from Peace Hill | St John, USVI

Virgin Islands National Park makes up about 63% of the island, meaning that the majority of the beaches are protected, undeveloped, and untouched. And there are so many amazing beaches, it’s hard to pick just a couple to visit. They are all lush and perfect with their own personalities. That’s why I’ve put together this guide – so that you can pick the right beach. Or two. Or seven. Starting at Cruz Bay, I’ll go clockwise around the island.

View an Interactive Guide Map of St John here.

Honeymoon Beach/Solomon Beach

Good for: sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, shade.
Who’s There: low key travelers, Caneel Bay guests, families, couples
Accessibility: If you aren’t staying at the Caneel Bay Resort, you must arrive via the trail. The walk can be a half mile or more, depending on where you start. It’s so worth it! You can even stop off at Lind Point for a panoramic view over the Cruz Bay harbor.

*There’s a watersports/store hidden in the forest behind the beach – Virgin Island Ecotours.

Lind Point Solomon Beach hiking trail | St John, USVIHoneymoon beach shade | St John, USVIHoneymoon beach ombre | St John, USVIVirgin Islands Ecotours shack at Honeymoon Beach | St John, USVI

Hawksnest Bay

Good for: Swimming, shade. The beach isn’t very wide so it’s not ideal for sunbathing.
Who’s There: Families and groups. It can be lively, depending on the time of day.
Accessibility: It’s the first beach you hit once you enter the National Park from Cruz Bay and it is right off the road. There’s quite a bit of parking in the lot.

Hawksnest Bay | St John, USVIHawksnest Bay beach | St John, USVI

Denis Bay

Good for: seclusion, swimming, quiet, sunbathing
Who’s There: Denis is often pretty empty. The far end is private property so sometimes the owners of the land will be on the beach.
Accessibility: You have to park at the Peace Hill parking area and hike down to the beach. It’s a short walk through the woods, about 0.2 miles. Don’t miss the sugar mill ruin and the views on the very top of Peace Hill.
Peace Hill sugar mill tower | St John, USVIDenis Bay | St John, USVIDenis Bay panorama | St John, USVIDeserted Denis Bay | St John, USVI

Jumbie Bay

Good for: shade, relaxation
Who’s There: it’s tiny, so there aren’t a lot of people there even when it’s crowded.
Accessibility: There is a parking area across the street from the trail. The beach is about 100 yards off the road through the trees.

jumbie Bay | St John, USVI

Trunk Bay

Good for: sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, groups, picnics, drinking, walks.
Who’s There: everyone is there. It’s the most well known beach on the island, so you should come here regardless. It does get super crowded by mid-day, however.
Accessibility: There is a large parking area right off the road. Once you’ve gone through the official entrance (there’s a $7 national park fee – per person), there are showers, bathrooms, a store, and a snack shack (with bar!). Lifeguards are on duty and the underwater snorkel trail is free.

View of Trunk Bay, St JohnTrunk Bay rocky edges | St John, USVITrunk Bay blue water

Cinnamon Bay

Good for: swimming, sunbathing, paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, groups, beach parties, camping, walks, sand sports.
Who’s There: Cinnamon Bay is long and wide and attracts a LOT of people. There is a campground and restaurant on premises so expect a mix of overnight guests and day visitors. This is a perfect beach for a party. And there are a good amount of people (young and older) doing just that.
Accessibility: There is a large parking area available plus parking along the road. The restaurant is open to everyone, as is the store and the water sports rental shack. The restaurant is not a great budget option however.

Cinnamon Bay St JohnTall palms at the Cinnamon Bay campground | St John, USVICinnamon Bay beach party scene | St John, USVI

Maho Bay

Good for: swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, groups, shade.
Who’s There: Families, quiet couples, small groups by the picnic area. The sand is narrow so it’s not ideal for sunbathing or big groups.
Accessibility: Maho is long and very close to the road. On one end is a parking area in the coconut grove, on the other end is just street-side parking. There are bathrooms and a picnic area on the western end.
View of Maho Bay and Francis Bay | St John, USVIPalms on Maho Bay, St JohnMaho Bay, looking west | St John, USVI

Leinster Bay / Waterlemon Cay

Good for: snorkeling, trail hiking.
Who’s There: hikers and snorkelers. This is not a sandy beach.
Accessibility: Park at the Annaberg Plantation parking lot and the trail head can be found at  the edge of the rocky beach. The Leinster Bay Trail follows the beach and leads to the opposite end of the bay, about 1km. From the end of the trail, you can either hike up the hill for a view of Coral Bay, or swim out to Waterlemon Cay for some of the islands best snorkeling.

Waterlemon Bay beach | St John, USVIWaterlemon Bay hiking trail | St John, USVI

Hansen Bay

Good for: snorkeling, sunbathing, floating bar, seclusion
Who’s There: low key travelers, locals, groups visiting the floating bar.
Accessibility: Hansen Bay is a haul (it’s out on East End) but it’s definitely something worth traveling for. This beach is also one of the few privately owned beachesin St John so you have to pay a small fee of $2.50 at Vie’s Snack Shack to enter. Vie’s, which is a great place for lunch or a snack, is next to the parking area and across the road from the beach entrance. The Angels Rest floating bar sometimes docks in the middle of the bay and you can swim out for a drink.

*The snorkeling here is great. On both ends of the bay you’ll see some large schools of fish and some interesting coral.

Hansen Bay sand | St John, USVIHansen Bay water | St John, USVI

Salt Pond Bay

Good for: snorkeling, seclusion, quiet, hiking.
Who’s There: Concordia Eco-Resort guests, low-key travelers, small groups.
Accessibility: The drive out to Salt Pond Bay may take a while, but it is worth every minute – I promise (Unless you are staying at Concordia Eco-Resort and then you are already there!). Once you park in the lot, you’ll have to hike through some forest before reaching the beach. The sand isn’t the best on the island, but there are high chances you will spot a few sea turtles if you snorkel out by the boats. You can also hike over to the salt pond, but it’s rough over there and not good for swimming.

View over Salt Pond Bay |  St John, USVI

 Chocolate Hole

Good for: boat launches, getting bit by no-see-ums.
Who’s There: people launching boats, people with long sleeves and pants.
Accessibility: There is ample space for multiple trucks to launch boats into the water here, but other than that, there is no need to access Chocolate Hole. I was on the rocky beach for a total of 5 minutes and received 99% of insect bites I got my entire trip to the Virgin Islands. Unless you are staying in one of the houses on the bay, don’t bother.

Chocolate Hole | St John, USVIChocolate Hole beach rocks | St john, USVIHave you been to any of these beaches? Which ones were your favorite?

In case you were wondering, my favorites are Honeymoon, Maho, and Salt Pond (for the snorkeling).

Helpful Information:
* Check out the Official St John Hiking Trail map. And check out this hiking trail guide for more info on what hikes are available.

* Here is the USVI cruise ship docking schedule. Depending on what’s in port, you may want to plan your beach schedule to avoid the cruiser influx.

* Check out the TravelShus Interactive Map in order to get a sense where these beaches are located, as well as restaurants, hotels, and bars.

* You drive a US car on the left side of the road in the US Virgin Islands. Please be prepared for this when you rent a car on the island.

 


Check it out: TravelShus’ Interactive Guide to St John, USVI


 

4 Comments

  • My Notting Hill
    April 27, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    My favorite beaches are Francis, Gibney (behind the Oppenheimer Gate – which makes people think it’s private) and Lameshur. Just saw you have a have a post on Santorini – we’re headed there in June, off check it out.

    Reply
    • Annie
      April 28, 2014 at 11:17 am

      i still havent been to Lameshur. It NEEDS to next time I go. Enjoy Santorini! It’s such a beautiful island. And definitely do the hike from Thira to Oia if you have the time. It’s stunning!

      Reply
  • Umina Beach
    November 12, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    Excellent blog! I was thinking before I read it if I’m looking at the virgin island! lol and I really enjoy reading it!

    Reply
  • Vadodara
    May 15, 2018 at 4:03 am

    This place is perfect for planning a tour and honeymoon. The natural beauty and surroundings are attracting the tourist to spend sometime on this place. I think, it is wonderful place a tour.

    Reply

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