Such a BEAUTIFUL BEACH - highly recommended beach... also with a gift shop with souvenirs and…read moresnacks and more   - - -   June, 2025 Visit   - - -   Short Review,   Cinnamon Bay Beach...   ... has an island you can swim / snorkel to... many fish to see closer to the island   ... has a view of Great Thatch, British Virgin Islands   ... has indoor facilities... gift shop, snack bar (indoors and outside), campsites   ... not crowded       - - - Additional information: - - -   My wonderful wife planned a relaxing trip for us to St. John's, US Virgin Islands (just east of Puerto Rico), in June, 2025; we had a great time... such a beautiful island!     We snorkeled two beaches on St. John, and we enjoyed them both.   Cinnamon Bay Beach stuns you with its beautiful colors... the beach has light tan sand, helping make the water is a light green-blue color... stunningly beautiful!!     - - - Why Cinnamon Bay Beach - - -   Most of St. John is a National Park and most of the northern part of the island provides a nearly continuous beach... nearly continuous because peninsulas that extend into the water separate each beach from the other.    We looked at the map and read the reviews and picked Hawksnest and Cinnamon Bay beaches  because they looked more likely to have slightly smaller crowds, as cruise ships apparently visit other beaches (at least when we visited).  When we visited we were not alone and it was also not crowded.   Both are within a couple miles of each other, so while they are similar in overall look and feel - similar color of the water and sand, similar plants, etc., they are unique in what you can see underwater when you're snorkeling, and unique in the views from the beach.     - - - Taxis to and from - - -   To get to and from Cinnamon Bay Beach, you can drive or take a taxi.  The taxis on St. John, at least the ones we saw, are all trucks, with the driver in the cab, and the passengers sitting, open air, in the back... on benches with a roof over our heads.  The taxis run all day and will stop at multiple beaches to drop off and pick up passengers along the way.      - - - Cell / Mobile service - - -   Cell phone service is present, but the signal is a bit weak - 1 to 2 bars of signal strength.      - - - The beach - - -   Even if you never get in the water, the scene is beautiful... the water color is such a beautiful shade of blue...   Enya's "Caribbean Blue" (from 1991 album "Shepherd Moons") was playing in our heads, and was surely inspired by waters like these...   The sand is light and soft   Beautiful green trees and plants along the beach.     - - - The view from the beach - - -   Cinnamon Bay Beach is a beautiful beach and view of the British Virgin Islands' (BVI's) Jost Van Dyke in the distance and Great Thatch island closer... both BVI; St. John's Whistling Cay is visible, closer to the left, and Mary Point, closer to the right; Cinnamon Brach curbs east, and out into the water to a point that becomes Maho Bay and we stayed within Cinnamon Cay..     - - - The water... snorkeling - - -   On any given day, the water quality and aquatic life are things you cannot control.  The day we visited water quality and aquatic life were both goo -  the water was so clear and we saw so many fish, especially as we snorkeled out toward the island... which is much closer than it looks.. 5-10 minutes of calm to quicker leg kicking should get you there.     - - - Snorkeling - what we saw - - -   While snorkeling we were blessed to see: ⁃            a stingray swam by right as we started out !! ⁃            many more parrotfish-like blue-green-purplish fish and others ⁃            on the way back in, two squid!!     - - - Back on the beach - - -   We enjoy laying back and relaxing... and taking photos of our feet as they point toward the sand + surf... and we captured another one here on Cinnamon Bay Beach.   What a great afternoon!     - - - The surf, the lack of on St. John - - -   We have been blessed to visit the Caribbean a couple times and have noticed that there is not much surf, not many waves. On an early trip someone explained that the Caribbean is just at a position in the ocean that the rides are not small; brief internet searches suggest the tide only varies a few inches to a foot or so... such small changes don't lead to many waves. You'll likely see and enjoy hearing waves "lapping at the shore," but you're not likely to do much body surfing... if you have a boogie board, while you could bring it on your flight, you'll likely be better off leaving it at home. - - - Gift Shop - t-shirts, hat pins and more - - - - - - Thank you - - - Thank you to all the park team members who maintain Cinnamon Bay Beach, and to the taxi drivers getting us visitors to and from the beach! ----- ----- -----

Full disclosure I didn't actually swim at this beach but I spent an hour or so here because it's…read moreactually a huge beach! The internet says it's one of the most famous ones and I can see why - the water is crystal clear, bright blue (as are most of the other national park beaches lol). It's spacious though, and in addition to the beach itself, there is a snack vendor area where you can buy lunch (like sandwiches and drinks), and a gear rental place for snorkeling etc. They also have a small restaurant adjacent to the campground cafeteria area which does breakfast and dinner (but not lunch). They have pretty clean bathrooms and showers too, and the most parking of all the beaches that I went to. They even had an info booth; the lady there was fairly knowledgeable about the park although I don't think she was an actual ranger (she wasn't in the ranger outfit). There's also a little area right at the entrance to the beach that is part of some ruins, it's a nice photo op spot. Overall this is a great beach! Def recommend.

absolutely heaven on earth!!…read more clear blue waters, soft sand, snorkeling (lots of fishes and saw a permit fish almost a yard big!!), showers & restrooms, bar with alcohol, food & dessert shacks (get the shrimp burger), rentals (for chairs, canopy, snorkel gear), $5 admission I do appreciate how they don't give out plastic!! Please protect the oceans and be green :) recycle + reusable metal straws

Trunk Bay is an absolute must when you're in the USVI National Park! Took the Red Hook Car Ferry…read moreover to St. John. Talk about a wildly stunning ride! Trunk Bay is home to the only underwater snorkeling trail in the U.S. national park system. The beach is pristine, tucked into the park with soft white sand and crystal blue water. The marine life is incredible! Full of depth, color, and light. Totally dreamy, super chill, and the perfect spot to soak up the sun. Out of all the beaches in VI National Park, this is my favorite. A radiant, sun soaked escape!

Beautiful beach with crystal-clear, lovely water and breathtaking scenic views. The atmosphere is…read morepeaceful and perfect for relaxing or enjoying nature. However, the bathrooms were a bit scary and could definitely use improvement.

We tried Trunk Bay first but parking was a nightmare so we headed on down (up, down, up down) the…read moreroad to Maho Bay. We found a parking spot in a lot and only had a short walk to set up our camp in some nice sun/shade. There are a lot of kids and families here, so expect playing, screaming, etc. but eventually they have to eat something so you'll get some nice quiet. We snorkeled right in front of where we were sitting and saw sea turtles munching on the sea grass. So cool. The beach is not super wide but it's enough to plunk down a chair and have a little shade. Perfect. Water is calm. It's the first place we saw donkeys on the island. We loved it.

Beautiful beach, great for snorkeling and relaxing…read more - - - - - - - - June, 2025 Visit - - - Short Review, Hawksnest Beach... ... is an absolutely beautiful beach... so much color... ... is so relaxing ... not crowded - - - Additional information: - - - My wonderful wife planned a relaxing trip for us to St. John's, US Virgin Islands (just east of Puerto Rico), in June, 2025; we had a great time... such a beautiful island! We snorkeled two beaches on St. John, and we enjoyed them both. Hawksnest Beach stuns you with its beautiful colors... the beach has light tan sand, helping make the water is a light green-blue color... stunningly beautiful!! - - - Why Hawksnest Beach - - - Most of St. John is a National Park and most of the northern part of the island provides a nearly continuous beach... nearly continuous because peninsulas that extend into the water separate each beach from the other. We looked at the map and read the reviews and picked Hawksnest and Cinnamon Bay beaches because they looked more likely to have slightly smaller crowds, as cruise ships apparently visit other beaches (at least when we visited). When we visited we were not alone and it was also not crowded. Both are within a couple miles of each other, so while they are similar in overall look and feel - similar color of the water and sand, similar plants, etc., they are unique in what you can see underwater when you're snorkeling, and unique in the views from the beach. - - - Taxis to and from - - - To get to and from Hawksnest Beach, you can drive or take a taxi. The taxis on St. John, at least the ones we saw, are all trucks, with the driver in the cab, and the passengers sitting, open air, in the back... on benches with a roof over our heads. The taxis run all day and will stop at multiple beaches to drop off and pick up passengers along the way. - - - Cell / Mobile service - - - Cell phone service is present, but the signal is a bit weak - 1 to 2 bars of signal strength. - - - We really enjoyed the snorkeling and views on Hawksnest beach. - - - The beach - - - Even if you never get in the water, the scene is beautiful... the water color is such a beautiful shade of blue... Enya's song "Caribbean Blue" (from the 1991 album "Shepherd Moons") was playing in our heads, and was surely inspired by waters like these... The sand is light and soft There are some brain coral close to shore, at the water's edge, that you can readily see Colors... beautiful green trees and plants along the beach. - - - The water... snorkeling - - - On any given day, the water quality and aquatic life are things you cannot control. The day we visited water quality and aquatic life were both goo - the water was so clear and we saw many fish, and a ray! - - - Snorkeling - what we saw - - - While snorkeling we were blessed to see: - A sea turtle right away - Then a school of blue fish with yellow fins - so nice floating with them - as we approached the beach, a ray swam by !! - - - Back on the beach - - - We enjoy laying back and relaxing... and taking photos of our feet, pointing toward the sand + surf... and we captured another one here on Hawksnest Beach. What a great afternoon! - - - The surf, the lack of on St. John - - - We have been blessed to visit the Caribbean a couple times and have noticed that there is not much surf, not many waves. On an early trip someone explained that the Caribbean is just at a position in the ocean that the rides are not small; brief internet searches suggest the tide only varies a few inches to a foot or so... such small changes don't lead to many waves. You'll likely see and enjoy hearing waves "lapping at the shore," but you're not likely to do much body surfing... if you have a boogie board, while you could bring it on your flight, you'll likely be better off leaving it at home. - - - Thank you - - - Thank you to all the park team members who maintain Hawksnest Beach, and to the taxi drivers getting us visitors to and from the beach! ----- ----- -----

This is another of the pretty famous USVI national park beaches. I didn't actually swim here but we…read morecame to scope it out. The parking lot is smaller compared to other beaches, and there wasn't much area available on the side of the road either - that was part of why we decided to not bother with swimming. That said, I walked onto the beach and it is as blue and stunning as the other main beaches, just gorgeous! Pretty spacious too, and I could see not too far out from shore a darker area which would be consistent with the "excellent snorkeling" I read is available at this beach per the internet. Random note, there were also quite a few chickens on this beach lol. I saw online sometimes random wild donkeys also walk by? The internet says don't pet them. I didn't see any lol.

The beach was beautiful -- soft and clean sands perfect to spend the day. Clear and calm blue water…read morewith fish swimming around my feet. A few picnic benches and a porta potty. What else can you need when enjoying the magic of St John? Ok. I'm not going to lie. I would have loved a flushable toilet and sink. But, not enough to knock off a star

First time hitting this beach in all my years visiting STJ and this one could be the best. Very…read morecalm waters so perfect for families. Great for paddle boarding. Worth the drive out, plus you you can visit the Annaberg Ruins. They do have some picnic tables but get there early if you want one. If you want a break from the Maho chaos, just keep driving past and check out this gem.

Magens Bay , a place so beautiful it feels like a Caribbean postcard come to life…read more This famous crescent beach on Saint Thomas stretches nearly three-quarters of a mile, tucked between green hills that naturally block the Atlantic swells. That's why the water is so unbelievably calm and clear the kind of crystal blue where you can watch fish glide beneath you while you float or stretch out in the sun. But there's a little history beneath all that beauty. Centuries ago the Taíno people lived along these shores, and legend says the notorious sea rogue Sir Francis Drake once used this peaceful bay to hide ships while waiting to ambush Spanish treasure fleets sailing through the Caribbean. Today it remains protected as a public park a perfect curve of white sand and glassy turquoise water where travelers come to swim, sunbathe, and for a moment... live the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

We didn't realize you had to pay to enter. $7 per person plus $2 for parking. We only planned on…read morestaying an hour or so but still paid so we could see the beach. We walked from one end to the other which was a nice way to people watch and enjoy the white sand and blue water. We were there on a Sunday and it was crowded. Parking was easy to find. It was quite lovely. The water was calm. Wish we would have had more time to swim and relax here.

Hidden inside Lindquist Beach, part of the peaceful shoreline of Smith Bay Park, is one of those…read morerare places on Saint Thomas where the crowds seem to disappear. The sand stretches out wide and pale, the water sits calm and glassy, and the trade winds drift through the sea grapes like a quiet whisper. It's the sort of beach where time slows down, where you spread out a towel, listen to the gentle surf, and realize you've stumbled into a corner of the Caribbean that still feels wonderfully untouched. I remember being here with my wife somewhere between the warm sun and that impossibly blue water, the day turned quietly romantic. We wandered down the beach laughing, the breeze tugging at her hair, and at one point she reached for my hand and pulled close enough that the world seemed to shrink to just the two of us and the sound of the tide. We lingered there a while, wrapped in the moment, the kind of simple, sun-soaked memory that makes a place feel a little magical long after you've left the sand behind.

Absolutely beautiful Well kept and less crowds if you're…read morelooking for that. Water is amazing

Kids (20 and 22) don't like lots of people. This place was worth the hour drive. It was on the…read morefurthest point on the island from where we are staying in Fish Bay. So worth it. We got there at 10, the drive was crazy. Steep, 350 degree turns, really crazy so we went slow. The beach is very private and not overly small. We rented a cabana for a day $20, and we got the last one. I think there are 4-5. Snorkeling was super great, people were quiet and there were just not many people there. You give a donation, too. Will def go back.

This place was worth the drive! It is definitely off the beaten path as you have to go to almost…read morethe eastern most part of St. John to get there. There is a large parking lot with a portable bathroom. The owner, yes, this is privately owned, will greet you and give you a lay of the land. It is all donation based to use the chairs, equipment, etc. The have all types of chairs, picnic tables, some cabanas, water sports like kayaks, etc. The beach itself was nice, a decent length, and there was a good view. Bring food as there is nowhere close and definitely not within walking distance. You can also no longer get to Lime Out from here as they only cater to paid charters now I was told. We spent half a day here and enjoyed ourselves.

Sapphire Beach is stunning! Come for the sunset and you'll definitely end up staying. Soft light,…read moreblue water, with easy, breezy island energy. There's parking right by the beach followed by a beautiful walk through the cabanas that sets such a peaceful tone. The event space is dreamy! Open, airy, and perfectly placed. Once you step onto the sand the water is clear, glowing blue. Simple, stunning, and a really nice place to unwind.

Listen, not all beaches are created equal. Some are crowded, loud, filled with people wearing hats…read moretoo big for their heads and taking selfies like it's an Olympic sport. Sapphire Beach? That's a whole different animal. This is where I first stumbled back when I was younger, fresh off a cruise ship that still somehow catered to humans with actual careers and social skills. We're talking a mix of doctors, nurses, librarians, accountants basically a bunch of people who could've handled a cocktail conversation without spilling it on the floor. Somehow, we all crammed into a cab together like a weird, classy, floating circus and headed into paradise. From the first step onto the sand, it was like sneaking into a secret club. Quiet, but not dead alive in that off-the-beaten-path, slightly dangerous way that makes your heart race. And just to make sure I was awake, an iguana ran across my path like it had a personal vendetta against my shoes. Almost had a heart attack, but then I laughed because that's the thing about Sapphire: it keeps you on your toes. It doesn't apologize for being beautiful. It doesn't care if you're clumsy. You just show up, and it rewards you. The people you meet here are the kind of humans that make you feel like life is actually interesting. A local guy struck up a conversation, telling stories I'm pretty sure he made up, but I didn't care he had charm, he had laughter, he had a way of making the sun shine brighter. You can sip a drink, let the waves tickle your toes, and feel like you're part of some romantic, slightly naughty adventure. This is not a beach where you're polite and reserved. No, this is where you can be foolish, wild, flirt with danger a little, maybe even flirt with the cute stranger who's laughing too loud nearby. I've been back to St. Thomas a handful of times since that first visit. I've done tours, cruised other islands, seen a million beaches but none hit like Sapphire. It's my private playground, where you can act like a bad boy, a romantic, a reckless genius, all while the ocean hums in approval. And the best part? You don't have to shout to be noticed. You just exist there, and somehow that's enough. So here's the takeaway: take a cab with strangers, meet a few locals, sip something dangerously strong, and let the beach do the rest. You'll leave with sand in your shoes, a tan line on your soul, and a story that sounds like it belongs in a movie. Sapphire Beach isn't just a beach. It's adventure, romance, comedy, and a little bit of crime all rolled into one glorious, sun-drenched package. It's my kind of bad, my kind of fun, and if you listen closely, you might just hear it whispering your name too.