Honeymoon is one of the best beaches on St. John for day trippers from St. Thomas. I would strongly consider wearing dive booties with your snorkeling fins. Thomas certainly has good beaches for it, like Coki Point Beach, but we think the best are in St. John (probably because it's more secluded and less built-up). The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. Whether you want to enjoy the North Shore's Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Beach and Caneel Bay beaches or favor the solitude of a beach that's off the beaten path - like a "secret" beach, Lameshur, Haulover Bay and Salt Pond Bay - this guide has it all. Honeymoon Beach is home to some of the last remaining leaning palms the island as once famous for prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017 along with crystal blue waters, white sands, along with a snack shack ( The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. This beautiful environment continues out and around the point. If you are coming from Coral Bay on Centerline Road, take a left on Route 107 and follow it down PAST Concordia. Trunk Bay is a long stretch of white sand with a rock island just off the shore. So when you see pictures of St. John, chances are you are going to see a photo of the famous Trunk Bay overlook. We went twice to Salt Pond Bay: once around 9:30 am (only 1 other car there) and once around 12 pm (the parking lot was full and we had to wait for a spot to open up). There is also great snorkeling along the first set of jagged rocks out in the middle. Despite the fact that Salomon is the closest north shore beach to Cruz Bay, it remains a private island paradise, as its accessible only by trail. We also saw a few stingrays. Most of the reef lies in calm shallow water, with some sections even rising above the surface at times of extreme low tides. Deserves its designation as the most popular snorkeling destination on St John. Last updated Jan 29, 2023 | Best Snorkeling Caribbean, St. John. Salt Pond - Can get a bit crowded but offers . It is located on the eastern end of the island along East End Road right past a sign that states you are leaving the Virgin Islands National Park. If you try to park there, you will be trespassing across private property to get to the beach. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. Coral Bay, St. John USVI - A Snorkeling Paradise By Terri Clemmons Concordia Cafe Open Mic Night on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 on the East End. The walls and ceiling of the cave are covered with beautiful cup corals and sponges. I cannot stress this enough invest in good snorkeling gear! Parking: Paid parking lot ($5) and roadside parking. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. You will almost certainly see parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, damselfish, and schools of blue tang, along with a vast assortment of invertebrates such as sponges and plume worms. Turtles, turtles, and more turtles! The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. Every now and then, one of these larger fish will enter to feed, moving quickly into the glittery mass. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Thanks so much for sharing! The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). It has the best of both worlds when it comes to snorkeling with sandy shores and gorgeous natural reefs. I always wear a snorkel vest in case I get tired. Honeymoon Beach This little beach gets LOTS OF SUN and doesn't afford much protection. Porcupine fish at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. Its also the only St John beach with a lifeguard . 1. Be aware that it is a somewhat long snorkel to reach the reef and that the sea is often choppy at times, causing waves to break over the rocks. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. STJ has amazing offshore snorkeling. Trunk Bay Beach has a large parking lot right off North Shore Road, however, get there early because spaces fill up quickly! I went to the left and saw nice fans, fish. Watermelon Cay occasionally has strong currents, making this option best for more experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers. Snorkel gear and watersports equipment are available to rent at Honeymoon Beach, and there are various facilities, including a beach bar and grill. July 25, 2019 With miles of natural coral reef, excellent visibility and a gentle coastline with access, the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John is a snorkeler's paradise. Entering is a bit rocky. Also, expect much more snorkeling fins in your face because of the increased crowds. Wear proper footwear. Using the offline map, you should be able to continue to navigate your way over to Grootpan. She also provides chairs, portable bathrooms, kayaks, and paddleboards. Bay. Drive PAST the Greater Lameshur Bay to reach Little Lameshur Bay Beach. You'll find underwater signage that helps you identify the common fish and coral in front of you. 2nd ed., Dive Guide BVI, 2010. Maho Bay Beach 2,799 Beaches By Flahe Beautiful beach Good service is delicious Drinks are also available Taxis are plentiful as are gift shops 2022 3. Although we did not do it, you could technically swim all the way over back to Salt Pond Bay Beach. Coki Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in St. Thomas. I would advise starting this adventure early in the morning. Maho Bay Once youve crossed the Durloe Channel youll find a protected sandy cove on the western side of the cay. Some of the best snorkeling on the island can be found along the rocky outcroppings on both sides of the bay, especially to the left, where angelfish, tang, parrotfish, and the occasional barracuda swim through the corals. Keep in mind that land access to this remote location requires driving down a bumpy dirt road that may be challenging to navigate without a jeep, SUV, or off-road vehicle. More info on Haulover North NOTE: Conditions at Haulover North depend on wind and waves. Be aware the far side of the Cay can have strong currents. If you are looking for a secluded place where you can lay on the sugary sand to tan, dip into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, or just enjoy some reading, then Salomon Bay is the place to be. Getting to this remote beach requires a 20-minute walk (one way) along a flat, scenic trail. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. This is one of the best beaches on St. John for foraging along the shoreline and discovering what the tide washes up. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. Located at the eastern end of Leinster Bay, Watermelon Cay is known as the top snorkeling spot on St. John. Its an easy path about 100 yards long that goes over flat terrain, passing by a small salt pond about halfway along the trail. What I loved about snorkeling in St John was that all of our snorkeling spots could be accessed from the beach. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. The water is usually calm. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. Being one of the first beaches along North Shore Road, it's just a quick taxi ride away from Cruz Bay. Both beaches can be reached via the Lind Point Trail or from the Caneel Bay Resort. One of the best snorkeling spots on St John. Along the way youll see beautiful hard and soft corals and a large variety of Caribbean tropical fish. Find out where to go snorkeling on your Virgin Islands vacation. For a full appreciation of this area, one should also have the ability to free dive in order to investigate the environments under ledges, beneath coral heads, and within caves and tunnels. A large variety of fish including Atlantic Blue tangs, Blue Headed wrasses, Sargeant majors, as well as Caribbean lobsters, crabs, conch and more! Weve selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. Trunk Bay: St. John's most famous beach (most visited and most photographed) doesn't disappoint. Take the North Shore Road towards Annaberg Sugar Plantation. Explore the beautiful coral reefs by following along the popular underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay Beach to discover the stunning, colourful reefs up-close. Jumbie Bay Beach is one of St. John's hidden gems. Along the reef edge on the underwater hillside are gardens of sea fans and other gorgonians, such as sea rods, sea plumes, dead mans fingers, and sea whips. Before our trip, I researched a ton trying to find all the top St John snorkeling spots. The oceanfront boutique resort provides a luxurious yet laid-back experience with access to a wide range of outdoor activities, including snorkeling, sailing, surfing, and paddle boarding. The Most Popular and Most Photographed Beach on St John! The highlight was seeing a lemon shark. Snorkel in the middle of the bay (but more towards the right) to see turtles and rays hanging out in the seagrass. There is a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly. Go for the beach and not the snorkeling. Outdoor Activities Nature and Wildlife Tours On the Ground On the Water Boat Rentals Kayaking Tours Sailing Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Tektike Bay. Thalia, the owner of the land in front of the beach, very kindly upkeeps the beach through donations. One of the highlights was seeing a shoal (family) of squid along the rocks on the right side. You will be snorkeling in a location that is somewhat far awayfrom a convenient place to get out of the water, and there maybe areas of rough seas. Trunk Bay Widely regarded as one of the finest beaches in the world, Trunk Bay Beach lies on St. John's northwestern coast within Virgin Islands National Park. Off-the-beaten-path location with a beautiful beach, food and some of the best snorkeling. . Cinnamon Bay is also one of the few places to camp on St John. There is a little bit of a pebbly transition right at the shoreline. It is also the best place on St. John for numerous water sport based St John activities such as windsurfing, kayak, sailboat, snorkel equipment, beach chair and umbrella rentals. This created an incredibly frustrating experience. Cinnamon Bay. If you decide to make the long swim out there, be SUPER CAREFUL because there is boat traffic. Required fields are marked *. Snorkeling out along the east side of the bay, you can reach the coral reefs that lie just north of Blue Cobblestone Beach. And we agree! Just be sure to use approved anchorages so you don't harm precious reefs. Access is easy with a shallow sandy entry. The result is literal forests of gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. There is also plenty of colorful coral. Lush v. The area can get crowded, so plan to arrive early for the best experience. The US Virgin Islands are famous for their beaches, and Salomon Bay Beach is considered one of the gems on St. John's island.. Although we did not see any turtles and stingrays, they are often spotted due to the presence of seagrass beds. Another one of the best spots for snorkeling in St. John is Salomon Bay. Access is easy due to the shallow entry and sandy bottom. After a morning snorkel, visit Vies Snack Shack and pay the nominal fee she charges to access the sandy beach next to Hansen. 2022 adagio digital arts. There are two rooms or chambers with rock walls on three sides. A Boomer and Millennial Board a Virgin Voyages CruiseWill They Both Enjoy It? The rugged dirt road out to Lameshur will remind you of why you rented a jeep in the first place, but the beach is well worth it wide and sandy with plenty of shade. The southern bay is calmer than its counterpart in the north, has an easier entry, and is more suitable for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. Where to Stay in St. John If you're not sailing in for the day from a cruise ship, consider staying in St. John for a holiday. Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. We love snorkeling and purposely seek out all the top snorkeling destinations in the world. Because the island is surrounded by fragile coral reef, swimming too closely to it is not advised. (888) 651-9785 Top St John Snorkeling When are you traveling? In fact, Maho is our #1 recommendation for anybody that wants a chance to swim with a sea turtle on St John. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. Trunk Bay Beach is also quite famous for the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, which makes it one of the premier spots in the U.S Virgin Islands National Park for snorkeling. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. Strongly consider wearing dive booties with my snorkeling fins to arrive early for the best spots for snorkeling in morning! Stj Bucket List reef community is colorful and diverse use approved anchorages so you don & # x27 ; harm... The morning also provides chairs, portable bathrooms, kayaks, and the reef lies in calm shallow,! 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