Soft sandy stretches, secluded coves, water lapping over craggy rock formations: Beaches in the U. S. Virgin Islands are idyllic. Whether you are just spending the day there or you have a week to soak up the sun, here are a few of the best beaches to be found in America’s Caribbean playground:
St. Thomas
The largest of the three US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is renowned for its duty-free shopping, but head out of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas’ main port city, to find pristine, lush, tropical beaches.
Magens Bay
The most famous beach in the Virgin Islands and, arguably, the best beach there is Magens Bay. This lovely stretch sits on the north side of St. Thomas, sheltered by a long, thin promontory. Hugely popular with tourists and residents alike, Magens Bay is a great place for a picnic as well as a swim. There are picnic benches and barbeque grills provided. This is a very calm beach, protected of both sides by two peninsulas.
Sapphire Beach
Along the east coast of St. Thomas lies Sapphire Beach. Perfectly named for its warm, turquoise, crystal-clear water, Sapphire Bay is a delightful place to swim. Exercise caution, however. This area is also very popular with windsurfers.
Morningstar Beach
At the mouth of the Bay leading to Charlotte Amalie harbor lies Morningstar Beach. Enjoy the sun here as you watch the cruise ships glide into port. This beach has fabulous views of both the city and out to sea. This area makes for good snorkeling and offers a wide range of watersports.
St. Croix
St. Croix (pronounced St. Croy) is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Largely agricultural, St Croix is famous for its sugar cane and cattle. South of St. Thomas and St. John, St. Croix is just a short flight away from either island.
Grapevine Beach
On the east side of the island is Grapevine Beach, an area that was heavily damaged during Hurricane Hugo several years ago. Although many hotels here were destroyed beyond repair, the beach has returned to its former glory. This sunny, wide expanse of sand is several hundred yards long and has facilities for watersports as well as snacks.
Buck Island
About a mile and a half off the north shore of St. Croix lies Buck Island Reef National Monument. This island and the surrounding reef are a fascinating underwater marine park with clear, warm water and coral reefs. In addition to the over 90 different varieties of fish along the reef, Buck Island attracts a wide variety of birds and butterflies. Frequent boats and ferries connect Buck Island with St. Croix. Facilities on the island include picnic tables and barbeque pits, a lovely hiking trail, and an observation platform.
St. John
Regular ferry service connects St. John to St. Thomas and St. Croix. The ferry from St. Thomas takes about 20 minutes, and the ferry to St. Croix takes about 45 minutes. The Virgin Islands National Park occupies most of the island of St. John – 13,000 acres including waters and offshore reefs.
Maho Bay Beach
The three beaches at Maho Bay are known for their award-winning, eco-campground and high-tech “cottages.” This campground is dedicated to preserving the environment and has taken conservation and re-cycling to a fine art. Each unit is equipped with composting toilets; solar-powered appliances, lights, and hot water heaters; and is totally self-sustaining.
The beach here provides good snorkeling opportunities and is home to a large population of pelicans.
Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay is the entry point into St. John. This is where the ferries from St. Thomas and St. John dock. The visitor center here informs travelers about the national park as well as activities and accommodations and rental cars. There is also an eighteen-minute video shown here about wildlife watching, beaches, and hiking trails in the park.
Leading off the visitor center is a mile and a half trail leading to Caneel Beach, one of the best beaches on St. John. Caneel Beach is home to several luxury hotels, but non-guests are welcome to use the beach as well as the restaurants there. Caneel Beach is actually made up of seven, white sand, pristine, cove beaches. This area is a mecca for divers and snorklers because of its just-off-shore reefs and coconut palm-fringed, relatively untouched, sandy expanses.
Whether you choose spectacular St. Thomas, sultry St. Croix, or secluded St. John, The U.S. Virgin Islands has a perfect beach for you. Consider a Virgin Islands beach for your next vacation.
