How do you pick the best beach out of the 40 major beaches in The US Virgin Islands?
Over 53 islands and cays, filled with white sand and Caribbean clear water, all-inclusive resorts, and year-round sunshine.
Just because you’ve visited one Virgin Island beach doesn’t mean you’ve seen them all; each stretch of sand has its own story and charm. That means that your Virgin Islands adventure will require some island hopping.
Some have underwater snorkeling trails; others house ancient ruins and remnants of slave-run sugar and rum factories. Some beaches have bars and restaurants with million-dollar views; others remain relatively undisturbed.
If you’re short on time or just don’t want to f***k around, don’t worry, I got you! Grab a drink, kick back, and pick your fav beach from this list.
These are the best beaches in The US Virgin Islands–
St. Thomas
St. Thomas is the most modern of the US Virgin Islands, a paradise filled with colonial history, soulful Danish architecture, and those beaches.
Saint Thomas is called ‘The Gateway to the US Virgin Islands.’ Known for long, soft beaches with amenities and conveniences, St.Thomas is an excellent introduction to the US Virgin Island Beaches.
St. Thomas Tip: I LOVED the tour company I chose (Stormy Pirates) because they had everything from food to equipment, and they left right from St. Thomas. They also do tours of St. John and the British Virgin Islands.
For a drink with a view: Coki Beach, St. Thomas
If drinking painkillers right on the beach is your jam, you will love Coki Beach.
When it comes to facilities, you’ll find it all here- bathrooms, watersports and beach chair rentals, lifeguards, oceanside bars, and restaurants. The beach is typical of St. Thomas wide, but there isn’t much shade. The amenities and casual tropical party atmosphere make Coki Beach popular and can get crowded.
Paid parking near the beach entrance is about $5. However, I’d suggest looking for some free roadside spots first. This might also be your only option once the paid parking lot fills up.
Tip: Coki is also a familiar Cannabis smoking spot, which means you’re likely to get a whiff.
The most iconic beach in the USVI: Magen’s Bay, St Thomas
This beach is one of the most talked-about jewels of St. Thomas and The Virgin Islands. Magen’s Bay Beach has some of the most gentle, crystal-clear water in USVI. Each side is protected by lush, hilly terrain dotted with wild cactuses.
Fun Fact: These cacti are one of the only plant species native to the USVI. The arid climate of the islands is ideal for them.
Entry to Magen’s Bay Beach is $5, plus a $5 charge to park a vehicle.
Tip: This beach is popular with cruise ship passengers, and St. Thomas has the largest cruise port in the entire Caribbean. So yes, it gets busy.
St. John
Two-thirds of St. John is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park, meaning that most of the island is in its untouched natural condition. St. John’s unspoiled beauty is some of the most extraordinary found anywhere in the Caribbean.
On St. John, the beaches are surrounded by lush tropical foliage, much less interrupted by massive resorts like St. Thomas. Fewer resort options always mean that the night skies are glowing with stars!
Getting to St. John is easy, just hop on the ferry or take this excursion from St. Thomas.
For adventure: Waterlemon Cay: St. John
Note: Waterlemon Cay is for advanced swimmers only. The currents can be strong.
Waterlemon (not Watermelon) Cay is a tiny little island off the east side of Leinster Bay. The Cay sits on top of a coral reef, perfect for snorkeling.
The adventure to the Cay requires both a hike and a swim. The trail leading to Waterlemon Cay begins just off the road leading to The Annaberg Plantation Ruins and is a short, 30-minute flat hike, with Leinster Bay sparkling in the background.
Once you hit the beach at the end of Leinster Bay Trail, you’re a 15-minute swim away from Waterlemon Cay.
Tip: Waterlemon Cay doesn’t have rentals, so bring your snorkel gear. I love this set.
The best beach for Sea Turtles: Maho Bay, St. John
The water at Maho Beach is absolutely postcard-worthy. Maho is also a sea turtle nesting site, making it a great place to see them. Bring your underwater camera.
The high rate of turtles combined with Maho’s crystal clear, shallow, and calm bay waters make it one of the best snorkeling spots in the USVI.
Compared to the neighboring Trunk Bay, Maho is pretty calm and laid back, with plenty of palm trees for shade. Maho is close to the road and easy to access but has limited parking. Wait near the road for a safari to drive by when you’re ready to leave.
Tip: Sea Turtles are best seen here early morning and late evening. You can also take a guided tour focused on Turtle snorkeling.
The best underwater trail: Trunk Bay, St. John
Trunk Bay Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in the entire world and has been used in stock photos representing paradise everywhere.
This beach is best known for its self-guided underwater snorkeling trail, complete with plaques. Look for sea turtles, stingrays, octopuses, jellyfish, coral, and parrotfish. The is pretty great for the Virgin Islands, with about 50 spots.
About Trunk Bay
- Entrance fee ($5).
- Trunk Bay is St. John’s most visited beach, so plan accordingly.
- The western end of the beach tends to get less crowded.
Note: There aren’t currently rentals available at Trunk Bay, so BYOSG. I like this inexpensive set from Amazon.
Best beach ruins: Cinnamon Bay Beach, St. John
Cinnamon Bay Beach is the longest beach on St. John and one of the only places you can camp on the island.
What makes me love this beach so much is the ancient ruins that frame the ocean in the most poetic way (see above). I was fortunate enough to see this beach at sunset, and it was definitely one for the books.
Other reasons to love Cinnamon Bay Beach
Shipwreck Snorkeling
Off the eastern end of the beach (to the right, if you’re facing the water) lies the remains of a small airplane. The wreckage is in about 8 feet of water, and you can snorkel the motor, prop, and wing.
To get there, you must make it to Little Cinnamon Beach, a short hike along the rocky shoreline to the east toward Peter Bay.
Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail
Across from Cinnamon Bay beach is a short, half-mile walking trail through the Cinnamon Bay ruins.
The Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail was originally a Danish road and winds through the old sugar factory structures, complete with informative signs. The trail is shaded by Bay Rum Trees, and you’ll see small lizards, deer, and the buried remains of the Danish family that once owned the land.
Remember
This plantation was fueled by the blood, tears, and labor of slaves. Though beautiful, this land was once the site of great suffering and deserves respect and consideration from those whose lives were destroyed and lost here.
St. Croix
At 23 miles long and 8 miles wide, St. Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Islands and the least visited of the 4 main islands.
Here you can access Buck Island Monument, an uninhabited island and prime snorkel spot off St. Croix’s northern shore.
Visiting the two largest towns of St. Croix will tell the story of the island’s colorful history—from the lovely 18th-century homes in Christiansted to the vibrant Fort Frederik in Frederiksted.
National Geographic’s favorite: Turtle Beach, Buck Island
Turtle Beach was named one of the “world’s most beautiful beaches” by National Geographic.
This isn’t exactly a surprise-Turtle Beach is located on Buck Island, a beautiful and uninhabited island off of St. Croix.
Buck Island National Monument includes the island, water, and coral reef systems. Snorkeling in the coral grottoes (which requires a guide) on the informative underwater trail is a treat.
The Monument can only be reached by boat; even private boats still need permits. Try these options-
- Seas the Day Charters and Tours (From St. Thomas, also includes Honeymoon Beach)
- Big Beard’s Adventure Tours (From St. Croix)
- Alternative to Buck Island: Snorkel St. John with gear included
Note: Buck Island is known for its world-class snorkeling, not its amenities. A picnic area with grills and restrooms is located on the beach, but Buck Island also has no restaurants or bars.
The most untouched beach: Sandy Point Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix
The western tip of St. Croix boasts a beach unlike the others: Sandy Point remains resolutely untouched and unexplored.
The reason for this?
The 400-acre natural refuge is a protected habitat for sea turtles. Sandy Point is closed for sea turtle nesting season (April-August). During people season at Sandy Point, the beach is only open on weekends.
Restrictions:
- Because Sandy Point is a nesting habitat for the endangered leatherback sea turtle, the beach is only open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm and is closed from April-August for nesting season.
- No pets!
- Nothing can be staked/anchored into the sand, so no umbrellas or chairs.
Water Island
Water Island is a small residential island with fewer than 200 people.
There are no taxis, public transportation, gas stations, shops, hotels, or even a main town on the island. Residents of Water Island must meet those needs in St. Thomas via the ferry. These conditions make for an unspoiled island paradise full of untouched beaches and tropical foliage.
For pictures: Honeymoon Beach, Water Island
Honeymoon Beach is a beautiful white sand beach lined with palm trees. Tiny thatched umbrellas dot the coast, offering more shade. The water at Honeymoon is known for being calm and gradually deepening.
So aside from the beauty that pretty much every beach in the USVI has, what’s so great about Honeymoon Beach on Water Island? The (lack of) people!
Stop by on a weekday, and you’re likely to get the beach to yourself; the exception is for a couple of hours in the afternoon when the charter boats stop by, bringing a temporary wave of beachgoers with them. There are 2 beachside bars on Honeymoon that serve up painkillers and food.
Best beach for tide pooling: Limestone Beach, Water Island
Limestone is a long, shallow beach, rocky in several areas and rarely populated, perfect for exploring.
You can walk from the beach to a reef for fair snorkeling, but it isn’t the best. Behind the reef, the water drops off quickly, and the currents are strong.
Limestone is better known for the tide pools that form around the rocks in the center of the beach. Wade through them to see hermit crabs, starfish, or small fish. Water shoes are recommended because the rocks are, ya know, rocky, and there can be sea urchins, also.
I used these shoes for my entire trip to the US Virgin Islands, and they were the perfect balance of protective and soft/comfy.
Frequently asked questions about US Virgin Islands Beaches:
How do I get between each of the Islands?
Water Taxis, Ferries, Charters, Tours- there are so many different ways to get around the other islands that I wrote an entire How To.
How many Islands are in the US Virgin Islands?
There are 4 major islands: St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island. There are over 50 smaller islands and cays, some private and some inaccessible.
Which US Virgin Island has the best beaches?
When visiting the islands, one inevitably asks, “Which is the best island to visit in the US Virgin Islands?” The answer will depend on what type of beach you’re seeking, but, in general, beaches on St. John or Water Island will have fewer crowds and more clear water.
Are the beaches in the USVI free?
Most of the US Virgin Islands’ beaches are free, but some exceptions exist, such as Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas or Trunk Bay in St. John.
Does the US Virgin Islands have any nude beaches?
The short answer is ‘no.’
The long answer is ”kind of.’ Nude bathing is overlooked at some beaches, such as Francis Bay on St. John.
However, be aware that public nudity, including on beaches, is illegal in the US Virgin Islands. So, the official answer is no, the US Virgin Islands does not have any nude beaches.
The USVI only allows a specific type of sunscreen. Where can I find it?
When packing for any beach, make sure to go reef-safe, especially in the USVI, since the law requires that all sunscreens be reef-safe. This just means they don’t contain the “toxic 3 Os” (oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene).
I like this hydrating, reef-safe sunscreen because my skin reacts to everything. This is the only sunscreen I’ve ever found that doesn’t give me breakouts.
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Which of the US Virgin Island beaches is THE best, in your opinion?
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