St. John is a tiny unspoiled jewel in the Caribbean. Two thirds National Park, St. John is the nature island of the Virgin Islands. A United States territory, St. John is easy to get to as no passport is required and the currency is U.S.. The tranquil island hosts several hiking trails, stunning white sand beaches, fabulous snorkeling and a boaters paradise. St. John offers a safe, welcoming and peaceful retreat for visitors.
Beaches
World renowned for its beaches, St. John gives visitors plenty of options for laying in the sun and sand. Here are the more popular North Shore beaches.
Trunk Bay
The most popular beach. Trunk Bay is the only beach that charges an entrance fee. It offers bathroom and shower facilities and snorkel rentals.
Hawksnest
The most convenient from Cruz Bay, St. John’s main port, Hawksnest offers bathrooms, pavilions and plenty of parking.
Cinnamon Bay
The longest beach on the island, Cinnamon can be rough on windy days and attracts amateur surfers.
Solomon Bay
From the National Park Visitors center in Cruz Bay Solomon is a 40 minute hike. It is a small beach but well work the effort.
Honeymoon
The options to access Honeymoon are to take the same trail to Solomon or take a dinghy from town. You may also take a golf cart ride from Caneel Bay Resort’s parking lot. There are concessions and and watersports equipment rentals.
Caneel Bay
Caneel Bay Resort is currently closed and so to access the beach, visitors must hike from Honeymoon.
Francis Bay
Lots of fish and wildlife can be seen at Francis. It is usually calm and there is a hiking trail nearby.
Maho Bay
The longest of the St. John beaches, Maho is perfect for small children. The shallow water and proximity to the road make it easy to haul little ones and all their gear. Great place to see turtles. You can rent kayaks and SUPs, there are food and drink concession stands across the road.
Hiking
For nature enthusiasts there are fabulous hiking trails with great views and opportunities to see sugar plantation ruins and ancient rock carvings. For a full list of trails and descriptions you can visit the National Park Visitors center in Cruz Bay.
Watersports
The water surrounding the Virgin Islands is World renowned for boating and water sports. Enjoying the stunning turquoise beaches and colorful display of aquatic life is essential to making your Caribbean vacation amazing. Sail out of Coral Bay to hidden coves, kayak and snorkel untouched coral reefs, dive shipwrecks, or island hop in the BVI with stops in Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Hire a private charter or adventure with others and meet new friends. Kayak to private coves. Rent a stand up paddle board for the day. Snorkel coral reefs. Parasailing or fishing adventures are also available.
Restaurants and Shopping
Open air dining is common to take advantage of the warm tropical breezes as diners enjoy their ice cold cocktails and local dishes. Cuisines from around the world can be enjoyed on St. John as the population is diverse. Fresh caught fish and lobster are popular and local drinks are a must try like the Painkiller.
Art and Culture
St. John is home to many artists and musicians. Purchasing local art is effortless as many shops feature Virgin Islands made items. Live music can be heard every night at any one of the islands bars or night spots. Annual events like Carnival highlight local cuisine and music. A cultural tradition that lasts several weeks in the Summer and ending on July 4th with a huge parade, fireworks and live music.
The history of the Virgin Islands is a turbulent one, from the original inhabitants to its settlement by Europeans to the slave trade to the purchase from the Danish by the U.S. Government in 1917. Read more about the history of the Virgin Islands or visit St. John Historical Society.