The Best of St John
St John Beach Guide
BEST BEACH ON ST JOHN
Trunk Bay – You can’t beat St John’s most popular beach – ranked in the TOP 10 BEACHES by Condé Nast Traveler
MOST ROMANTIC BEACH ON ST JOHN
Salomon Bay beach – Off-the-beaten-path (literally), watersports rentals at Honeymoon beach!
Gibney Beach* – Beautiful, exotic and romantic …with wonderful *cottages for rent by the Gibney Family.
NOTE: There are several caterers on-island that can put together a tasty picnic lunch to make your day at the beach extra special.
BEST FAMILY BEACH
Maho Bay – Easy access, shallow water, plenty of shade.
Francis Bay beach – Easy parking, lots of beach with easy entry, shade and good snorkeling/swimming.
BEST BEACH BAR
Beach Bar – Wharfside in Cruz Bay – a perennial favorite!
Miss Lucy’s – Great brunch and drinks at the waters edge!
BEST SHADE BEACH
Maho Bay – Easy access, beautiful sandy beach with Seagrapes and coconut palms for shade.
BEST SNORKELING BEACH
Trunk Bay beach – Top beach in the Caribbean with the Virgin Islands National Park snorkeling trail.
Henley Cay – Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John – Requires a kayak or charter
BEST WATER SPORTS BEACH
Honeymoon Bay beach – Off-the-beaten-path (literally), beach chairs, SUP and kayak rentals at the beach!
BEST SECLUDED BEACH
Denis Bay beach – Not on most maps. Private property above the tree line. Watch for north shore swells.
TOP ISLAND DESTINATIONS
Hawksnest Bay Beach
Hawksnest Bay Beach is part of Hawksnest Bay; along with Caneel Bay Resort’s Hawsnest Beach, Little Hawsnest Beach, Oppenheimer Beach and Gibney Beach and Mermaid’s Chair on St John’s north shore. Getting there: From Cruz Bay – take Rte 20 ( North Shore Road) about 2 mi. You can’t miss the parking area on your left. Hawksnest Beach This is one of my favorite beaches on St John. It has plenty of parking, soft sand beach, a dramatic shoreline and plenty of shade under the sea grapes that line the water....
read moreCruz Bay
CRUZ BAY With no airports on the island, the ferry to Cruz Bay is most visitors first glimpse of St John. It’s also the economic and social hub – with a busy inter-island ferry dock, Virgin Islands National Park Visitors Center and bustling bay rimmed with restaurants and shops. For a list of St John’s many wonderful restaurants and bars visit our St John Restaurant and Bar Guide. In the mood for some shopping? Cruz Bay has many wonderful shops along the wharf and surrounding streets. Don’t miss Mongoose Junction...
read moreJumbie Bay
Jumbie Beach is located along St John’s north shore. At about 100 yards long – it’s not one of St John’s bigger beaches. Limited parking and proximity to Trunk Bay mean fewer people “discover” this little gem! So get there early and you’ll have a view of Trunk Bay as it fills up with visitors! Getting there: Head out of Cruz Bay on North Shore Road. Just over 2 miles from Cruz Bay you’ll come to a set of speed bumps with 2 small parking areas to your right. Just across the road is a narrow path...
read moreCinnamon Bay
CINNAMON BAY Cinnamon Bay Beach is the longest beach on St John! Facilities include camping, cottages, snack bar/grill, souvenir shop, showers, restrooms, public telephones, watersports and snorkeling gear rentals. Beach wheelchair available. Getting there: Take North Shore Road ( RTE 20) out of Cruz Bay. The drive is about 4 miles of winding scenic road. You can’t miss the speed bumps and signs marking the entrance to Cinnamon Bay beach and camp grounds. Safari taxi service is...
read moreHenley Cay, St. John
Located off St Johns North Shore and within sight of Caneel Bay Resort lies a tiny island with some world-class snorkeling. Getting There: Most of St Johns top snorkeling spots are convenient to beaches, parking and trails. Unlike Waterlemon Cay or the little cay off of Trunk Bay Beach or Cinnamon Bay Beach …Henley Cay requires a boat or kayak. Many of the day charters will stop at Henley. Kayaking requires a 30 minute paddle over to Henley Cay across the very strong current of Durloe Channel!!!! Once there, visitors will find a bit of...
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