US Virgin Islands
By Anna Lynn Sibal
The US Virgin Islands have three main islands, namely St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, along with some 70-odd islets. These islands are all blessed with the pristine white sand, palm trees and crystal-blue waters which are the elements that give the Caribbean islands their fame and beauty.
Some beaches are more popular because of their sheer accessibility and are often crowded with tourists. On the other hand, there are beaches that, because of their remoteness, are seldom frequented by tourists; therefore, some peace and privacy is assured in these beaches.
Below is a listing of the beaches of the US Virgin Islands.
St. Thomas Beaches
- Bolongo Beach. A public beach with lots of crowds on the southern shore of St. Thomas.
- Brewers Beach and Lindbergh Beach. Situated on the southern side of St. Thomas, it is a stretch of sand that is not often visited by tourists. It is a good place for some quiet time.
- Coki Beach. Coki Beach is found on the northeast of the island. It is quite popular, and so, quite crowded.
- Hull Bay and Dorothea Bay. These spots are where the fishermen and the surfers come to play. The sand is a little rough and stony.
- Magens Bay. Located on the north side of the island and stretching out for a mile, Magens Bay is the best known beach on St. Thomas. Because it is very popular, it is to be expected that it is crowded on weekends.
- Mandahl Bay. If you want to snorkel or lay about on the sand in peace and seclusion, this is the beach to go to.
- Morningstar Beach. Another popular beach, especially for snorkeling and diving.
- Sapphire Beach. This beach faces the Atlantic and is known for good snorkeling. It also has a marina for those who want to sail.
St. John Beaches
- Caneel Bay. A public beach, but access is restricted over land.
- Cinnamon Bay. This stretch of sand is close to the trees where guests can go camping. Kayaking, hiking and other activities besides water sports are on offer here.
- Maho Bay and Francis Bay. Popular, easily accessible and located right next to Cinnamon Bay.
- Oppenheimer Bay. Though very near to Trunk Bay, this beach is very secluded and often deserted. It does not have any facilities.
- Salt Pond Bay and Lameshur Bay. A secluded beach located on the south coast. Beautiful and absolutely no facilities nearby; a good spot for picnics.
- Solomon Beach. Not accessible and could be reached only after hiking for a mile. It is beautiful, but often deserted and does not have any facilities around.
- Trunk Bay. This is the most popular beach on St. John and reputed to be among the best in the world. The coral reefs and the tropical fish that live there make this place great for snorkeling.
St. Croix Beaches
- Beauregard Bay. A public beach, though restricted to guests of Buccaneer Hotel. Admission is charged from non-guests.
- Buck Island. This is the best beach on St. Croix and it is an offshore island as well as a National Park.
- Cane Bay. A popular diving point to the northwest of the island.
- Chenay Bay. The waters here are calm and shallow, which makes it a popular destination for family vacations.
- Cramer Park Beach. Another popular beach on St. Croix, located to the northeast.
- Grapetree Bay. A secluded spot located to the southeast of the island.
- Isaac's Bay. Another isolated beach, though popular for the snorkeling.
- Protestant Cay. A small island just off Christiansted that can be reached by swimming or by ferry.
- Sandy Point. A nesting ground for leatherback and green sea turtles and located at the western side of the island. A National Wildlife Refuge.
- Shoy Point. Situated at the southwest of St. Croix, this beach is quite unspoiled and has no facilities.
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