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At Coki Beach, you arrive expecting a quiet little Caribbean beach... and instead you get something far more entertaining a lively slice of island life. Parking can be a bit of a treasure hunt and you might have to pay a few bucks to tuck your vehicle somewhere respectable, but once you step onto that sand the water steals the show. Crystal clear, warm, and loaded with reef fish, this spot is famous for some of the easiest snorkeling on Saint Thomas just walk right in and you're suddenly swimming in what feels like a natural aquarium. Right next door sits Coral World Ocean Park, where they've been studying and showing off Caribbean sea life since 1978, which explains why the waters around Coki are absolutely teeming with colorful fish. But the real charm here isn't just the water it's the scene. Picture beach bars pouring rum punches, food stands grilling up island favorites, music drifting across the sand, and an assortment of savory characters , "I'm not saying it's a party... but it's definitely not a library." It's colorful, a little chaotic, and completely unforgettable the kind of beach where the snorkeling is world-class and the people-watching might be even better.
Small beach with clear water and a relaxed, laid-back vibe. My favorite part was definitely the pineapple drinks you can get them with juice, rum, or vodka added. There were quite a few vendors around, plus a beachside bar, so it was easy to grab food and drinks without having to go far. The area felt a bit sketchy , but once you're on the beach it's small, nice, and enjoyable overall. I'd go back for the drinks and views alone.
This beach is absolutely stunning! The water is crystal clear & the sand is soft. It's perfect for lounging on a beach chair or a little walk(beach isn't that big) along the water.It's honestly a little slice of paradise. The only downside is that the waves were pretty strong & a bit risky. There wasn't a lifeguard on duty so you def need to be cautious if you're swimming. There is even a sign that says enter @ your own risk. Overall, it's a gorgeous spot to relax, take in the view,& enjoy the sand & ocean(just stay safe in the water)!
Amazing view! Can't wait to be back! Visited Coki Beach and overall had a really enjoyable experience. It is a busy beach, but despite the crowds, it was surprisingly very clean and well maintained. The water was clear and perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and the atmosphere was lively and fun. That said, one thing to be aware of is that you will likely be bombarded by merchants offering chairs, food, drinks, hair braiding, and souvenirs. While most were friendly, it can feel a bit overwhelming if you're looking for a more peaceful, low-key beach day. If you don't mind the energy and know how to politely say no, Coki Beach is a great spot to enjoy beautiful water, good vibes, and a classic St. Thomas beach experience. Just go in knowing what to expect.
Coki beach is beautiful! Be prepared to negotiate with the folk who sell chairs/umbrellas. They dynamically price the access to these. The beach is very very busy but has access to restrooms/food/drinks. Pretty snorkeling available and bring some dog bones to feed the fish. They love it! This was about a $14/person/a leg taxi ride from the cruise port.
Took a tram here when my cruise ship stopped at St Thomas. This is a lively spot with beautiful, clear blue water that's perfect for swimming or snorkeling, though the ocean can get a little wild. The sand is lined with booths and vendors playing music, serving food and drinks. I heard the price for renting chairs and umbrellas varies, so be careful. I bought something from the gift shop at the entrance that I later found at the mall for cheaper. As the day progressed it got a bit busy, it's an active beach with lots of local culture and energy. overall it's a great place to soak up the Caribbean vibes and enjoy a classic island beach day.
10/10/10. Island culture, melting pot, variety of food. Most gorgeous beach probably in all st Thomas. No cover charge. Tube rentals/ jet ski rentals. Live music. Careful because some of the food places are unsanitary. Also why is there a cemetery on the beach. Cemetery brings it down to 4 stars or else I would've given 5.
Heaven! I love this beach so much!!! The water is so beautiful and sand is too. It's never that packed which makes for a nice day on the sand and in the water. It's small but has everything you could ever want from a beach. They have several places to eat and drink and the servers walk around taking your orders for drinks or food and they bring it to you. You can also rent chairs and umbrellas. They have several restaurants to sit down and eat and drink too. We walked over here several times while staying at Margaritaville Vacation Club which is literally a 5 minute walk. I can't say enough good things about this place and the people who work on the island. I can't wait to come back and enjoy it all over again :) Enjoy :)
LOVED Coki beach, I went twice! Once on Tues and again Thurs. I saw online this has some of the best snorkeling in St. Thomas - I believe that is true! I didn't see any stingrays or sea turtles, but the variety of fish and corals here is unmatched to other beaches I went; it was actually about as good as Trunks bay in St. John at the national park imo! I saw lots of the same fish here as there too (eg parrotfish). This beach isn't big, but if you come early there's tons of space! I came around 9a on Tues and it was empty; by the time we left around 1:30, it was PACKED. We had gotten a nice spot under a tree though, and they charge $7 per chair if you want one. One other thing I like about this beach is they have stands for snorkeling rental or scuba lessons, as well as a nice beach cafe where we got breakfast the first morning (like pancakes and eggs). It's adjacent to a famous aquarium with a lot of experiences you can pay and do, so it's rather touristy in the area. Nevertheless, they have decent public bathrooms, little stands where you can get other snacks and tourist items, and foot wash stations. Lots of taxis are hanging around too, so not hard to get a ride. The water is crystal clear, and you can go pretty far out and still see a lot under water. One other cute thing too - when you get in there water, there are quite a lot of fish even near the shore. At one point I think they thought I had food, and several of them came right up to my face/hand; I even petted one fish like a dog; it swam away immediately when it realized I had no food lol. So that's a thing. One negative at least imo: there's a lot of folks smoking (mostly cannabis) at this beach. It was kind of a lot, even though we weren't sitting right next to the entrance where most people were smoking. Didn't love that. But otherwise, this beach is dope! Would absolutely recommend a visit while in st. Thomas, even if you aren't staying close by! And for what it's worth, my taxi driver said this beach is best over other famous ones for snorkeling, including sapphire beach, and magens bay.
This beach is great. Get there early to avoid getting a bad spot. Waiters/waitresses walk along the beach to get drink/food orders. You can rent chairs, umbrellas, and snorkel stuff. No one pressures you to buy anything. Green friendly. Has a public bathroom. View is beautiful. The drinks are STRONG.
Overall the beach area here is pretty nice. It's a small beach that's near the oceanarium just a few steps away. It's not a bad beach for snorkeling or for families as it is fairly shallow - although the water could be a little rough at times (not crazy though). The beach itself isn't very big so it can get very crowded especially as the cruise ships arrive and people who take excursions to the oceanarium next door hop over to get some sun. There is a changing area and shower nearby though which is very helpful. It is also a good beach for snorkeling.
2 years ago
Coki is a beautiful beach and the snorkeling is top notch. Coral world was great. Be aware that the way the beach servers work is with raised prices to account for their commission. So an entree from one of the beach restaurants might cost $20 from the restaurant but the servers have a $5 surcharge on the fees to account for getting it for you and serving it on the beach. This is not the tip. All the vendors are really working the crowd, just be prepared for this. And don't leave your valuables at your umbrella. read more
1 year ago
6 years ago
Simply Beautiful! Mother Nature is just magnificent! This is a great beach. Great view and great place for snorkeling. It is a small beach next to Coral World. It has everything you need. You can rent umbrellas, beach lounge chairs (I paid $20 for 1 umbrella and 2 lounge beach chairs for all day) and snorkeling gear ($5 for the mask. I did not rented the flippers). They only take cash. You can order food and drinks from local vendor. The food was good (average $15 per plate/cash only) and good size portions (see pics). You can park in a lot next to it ($5 all day). Drinks are just to die for. Some vendors are nicer than others :) But overall we had a good experience. The surroundings might not be what tourist might expect but my family and I felt secured. We enjoyed and relax Coki Beach. Just in case you are visiting soon, everyone is wearing masks. read more
4 years ago
I had an absolutely amazing time. This being a public beach I was concerned there would be a lot of trash, maybe glass and plastic. But looks like it's maintained really well. Not that it matters but I went in January and the water was pretty warm. I guess it wud be more or less the same year round. If you go on the right side of the beach you can see Fish and you can swim with them. Pretty close to the rocks. I brought my own snorkel so I didn't have to rent but that would have been an option. I rented a locker though and it was five bucks. Pretty convenient. There were a couple of restaurants. One thing is certain. There is definitely a lot lot more alcohol than food options. It's so close to Coral World. You should make a trip for both in a day. Keep this in mind if you're taking public transportation. The Safari buses do not always go to the beach point. Best option is to get a taxi and they charge $10 from the city. You can do the same on the way back but if you are by yourself they can charge you up to $15. And it is per person. There are plenty of things that you can rent at the beach: snorkel masks of different types, umbrellas, chairs, lockers. You can buy dog food to feed fish. There are no showers but there are a few taps to cleanse off your feet. The only thing I really hated were the bathrooms. They were stinking like really really bad. You do not even want to use them to change your clothes but there weren't other options so I had to use. Overall, it exceeded my expectations. read more
5 years ago
Coki Beach is a hugely perfect beach destination that's just a hop, skip, and a jump from Margaritaville Resort! Tip: To optimize your fish encounters while visiting this lovely beach, bring left over food (i.e., sandwiches, bread, burgers, etc.) to use as fish food. Failing that, you can buy fish food once you arrive :-) Armed with your "fish treats", once you enter the water the fish will find you VERY quickly! If you're snorkeling, the fish encounters will be even more picturesque. The swimming/snorkeling conditions here are ideal, with crystal clear turquoise water and beautifully clean white sand. On the down side, the prices for food and drink you might buy on the beach are decidedly high, but so is the quality; servers come to wherever you're sitting on the beach, so everything is easy :-) Tip: Coki Beach is really close to Coral World (just a quick walk), which is a nice place to visit while you're visiting St. Thomas. read more
We were staying on the island so luckily this place was only a 5 minute drive and we were able to get when not all the cruise ship people were there crowding up the beaches. The snorkeling was AWESOME. plenty of fish not far out. beautiful scenery and views. Ok a few things, its not fancy. It's definitely full of more locals than tourists so it's more casual and unfiltered. And the smell of weed just blows at you most of the time you're there. Also apparently after 7pm you want to be gone from there for reasons I will leave off yelp but improvise how a great "drop off" point would look like. Just face the water and you won't be reminded of the beach side of the place. :) We had our own chairs but you can rent them there. Also plenty of neighborhood chickens to say hello! There is a place to eat there and public bathrooms and we were able to park right up front. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
7 years ago
If you're looking for a polished glitzy touristy type of beach experience, you're going to be disappointed if you go to Coki Beach. On the other hand if you're looking for a relaxed beautiful beach with good food and snorkeling, and lots of locals, this is the beach for you. The beach it's self is relatively short from the loss of sand caused by the most recent storm. As you wade into the water you'll notice that it drops off very quickly from 4 feet to 15 feet, and the bottom is just a little bit rocky. But the water is very warm and crystal clear. Snorkeling here is decent if you don't want to go out very far, but very good if you're willing to venture out a little bit or go to the far left or right of the beach. The food at Coki Beach is nothing short of excellent. I have been to Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas barbecue, but none of them are as good as the ribs prepared by the chef at Coki Beach. His jerk chicken is also quite good and really moist with tasty Caribbean spices. All the meals are served with deliciously prepared plantains. The parking here is a little difficult if you don't get there early. But there's also plenty of parking down the road which is just a short walk. The charge to park in the lot at the beach is five dollars but it's good for all day if you want to come and go with your car. As with any tropical beach, bring mosquito repellent! On the day we were there there are very few tourists and mostly a bunch of locals enjoying the great mixed drinks from the bar and visiting. We had a great day at Cokki beach, and if this is the atmosphere you're looking for or you will also. I read the reviews were people were disappointed, but I think they were expecting something completely different. Cokki Beach is on my list of places to return to if we ever come back to Saint Thomas. read more
5 years ago
So many good things to say! But first let me start with the only negative thing to say, normally it's not something I would really mind but it may help someone: - constant smell of weed. So if you have kiddos or don't want to smell that, this may not be a spot for you! But also take into consideration that we just so happened to visit on 4/20.... Okay, now onto the good stuff! -Rented two chairs ($5 dollars a chair, and $10 for an umbrella) and you get them for the whole day! (Worth it) -If you're staying at margaritaville it's literally a 5 minute walk, call the lobby and they can explain the quick and simple directions! -Amazing food! They have people walking around and you can order from your chair. Ask for the food menu, we ordered the plate with jerk chicken and it was AMAZING (photo attached) -Drinks are overpriced (we thought) but they have different places so maybe you could find a place that has better prices. -As an elementary school teacher, I'd say it's kid friendly! (Aside from the smell of weed). -Snorkeling was fun! We brought our own, but if you don't have one there's a shop where people were renting them. All in all I highly reccomend this beach! We spent the whole day here read more
I read a lot of reviews prior to coming to Coki Beach. I think our experience aligns with what I read. Upon driving up to Coki Beach, you notice it's a thin strip of land with limited parking. There are men who claim they are parking attendants who tell you where to park. They are actually shop owners who want to get you parked quickly in hope you'll spend money on rentals or souvenirs. The man told us to park right in front of a "no parking sign" so I double checked with him and he said since it's not super busy from the cruise ships, its ok. I was hesitant to believe him but we wanted to get on the beach so we parked there. It turned out to be not a problem at all, and we were able to enjoy our beach day without any issues with our cars. The snorkeling itself was mediocre, and we saw less here than we did on St. John or even at Limetree Beach. The beach is relatively small but it never felt crowded. Beautiful scenery there. There are snacks, drinks, bathrooms, and showers. read more
5 years ago
Best snorkeling spot on all of St. Thomas!! They have beach chairs and snorkel gear for you to rent, they even have fish food you can buy. This beach also has food and a bar, pizza and ice cream shop Parking is easy, just don't push at coral world cause they will tow you. read more
Whether you like or dislike Coki Beach is likely to depend on a couple of factors: 1. Is there a cruise ship in port? Coki Beach is a blissful, authentically local island experience. When I arrived before 11 a.m. I parked for free in the small, beach-adjacent dirt lot. The beach was essentially empty except for workers and one million umbrella'd chaise lounges arranged neatly all over it. The water was turquoise and warm. I rented two chaises and an umbrella ($20 total) from a friendly worker who told me to "go snorkeling now. It's cruise ship day. Soon the water will be packed with people". She might also have added "and the sand". I'd spent the previous 4 days either on chartered boats or at pristine empty beaches and was interested to see this other animal - the cruise ship beast (and economy stimulator) - and oh, what a trip it was. In time every chaise was filled with people speaking languages I don't recognize. The water was packed with people snorkeling, playing, or floating about with a drink in their hand. It's a different animal but in the right mood, a fun one to observe. 2. If you come not on cruise ship day (or stay after those masses have departed), can you get down with the locals? That is: do you mind smelling weed or seeing it smoked? There's quite a bit of that here when the cruise ships aren't but it's all relative, eh? Several vendors compete here to sell alcoholic drinks which I imbibed, so no judgement here. In fact everyone, whatever their state of sobriety, was mellow and friendly. If I had only one day in St. Thomas I'd not spend it at Coki Beach on cruise ship day. But if I had a bunch of days, I'd certainly make time for it, cruise ship or not, and in fact I did on a second day when no cruise ships were in port. Arriving before the crowds and staying long after their departure (when the Caribbean dance music is turned up to deafening volume) is an experience. A fun experience. As I left just before sundown I asked a bartender how long he stays open to which he replied "as long as there's people". As the last of the beachgoers left locals were arriving and I have a feeling the bar(s) here stay open quite a while. Great attitude from all the beach workers (a sizable free sample of a mango daiquiri was offered to me well before noon), plenty of food/drink available for purchase, and a full array of snorkel/raft rentals (at least on cruise ship days) make Coki Beach a unique experience which ranges from authentic to its opposite depending on the day and time of your visit. Other stuff: * Check out cruise ship schedules here so you'll know what to expect: https://www.vinow.com/cruise/ship-schedule/ * When cruise ships aren't in port the beach isn't covered with chaise lounges but they're still available to rent. * Some have complained of rampant vendors but I found the opposite. In two visits I was offered drinks only upon arrival, never offered food, and saw only one person selling anything else (hair-braiding). Perhaps if you arrive as part of the cruise your experience differs. * Much smaller than Magens Bay, Coki is its own fun thing. Unlike Magens, admission to Coki is free of charge. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
One of my absolute favorite beaches in St Thomas. In fact, I went to 9 beaches and this was our favorite beach to snorkel. The water is very clear, warm with white sands and many tropical fishes especially by the rocks. It's $5 to park and very hard to find parking so come by before 10am on a weekday. There are two small restaurants and bar by the seaside with a live DJ popping out hip hop and island tunes. I love that this beach has a local flair and not frequented by tourists. Water is very clear. The food here is priced very reasonably but they're super slow with service. I waited 45 mins after ordering just to get a fried fish plate and a chicken sandwich with fries. As almost everywhere on the islands, the workers are super slow with everything they do! read more
2 years ago
Very small beach but pretty view and very good snorkeling at either edge. Small shops and bars. Drinks can be ordered from your chair. Gets crowded but everyone was nice. read more
2 years ago
This was an awesome beach experience for us. Seating on the beach was arranged perfectly for our party of 4. The restaurant had great adult beverages and even tastier food. The overall vibe and music were perfect. We will definitely visit again. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
This beach gets a lot of positive reviews which is why we gave it a try, but to me it was very much a waste of time and money to park. Not family friendly. Very young party atmosphere to us. We are mid-30s with children under 10 so we don't have a problem with drinking and such but we were about the only family there at 11am on a Wednesday. Parking is sketch and there is trash everywhere! Our son got a piece of chicken bone stuff in his toe. So many better beaches that will cost you basically the same. Give Lindquest a try for nice facilities and a bigger, better beach. Trash all over the beach. Sand fleas. Just not what we expected at all. View on the beach was nice. Snorkeling was just okay. Saw some fish but nothing much else. read more
We got there around 10am I think and before we even reached the beach a fellow approached us wanting to know if we needed any chairs or umbrellas. It kinda made me wary because he walked toward us while we were on the street to the beach instead of waiting for us to get to the beach to make the offer. After we were situated we rented the chair and umbrella for about $20. Not very many people there at that time. It got packed by like 1 or so. Unfortunately, the beach had sargassum seaweed on the shoreline when we went last week, and it got worse as the day went on. I've seen pics of the beach so I know what it should look like. We were just unlucky this time. It didn't keep us from going into the water though. It was only on the shoreline. The water is beautiful beyond that. I kept overhearing people seeing all kinds of underwater creatures as they snorkeled further out. Loved the fact that I could order food and drinks at my beach chair. I had the oxtails which were pricey but delicious. There's a public bathroom and places to rent snorkels and other beach stuff if needed. Small cute beach. read more
5 years ago
I have been coming here 7+ years. I love it, never fails me. They will walk around and take your dink and food order. Always plenty of fish to see while snorkeling. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
the closest beach to Margaritaville however, this wasn't my favorite beach at all. it's close but i'd recommend going to another beach! there are some good vibes tho! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
We loved this place! Recommend getting there early. We got there at about 8:30-9:00am and no one was there except a few people. It started getting a little chaotic by lunch time but we were ready to leave by then! The staff working were super nice and helpful. They'll help you set up the rental chair snd umbrella and walk around asking if anyone needs a drink. It wasn't annoying or persistent they were simply checking to see if you needed anything. My husband and I LOVED the smoothies they had. The gentleman was so nice and enjoyed the random creations we wanted to try. Make sure to bring cash! read more
4 years ago
My favorite beach on the Island. The food at the restaurant wasn't nothing to brag about but the views and quality of the beach made up for it. There is great music and drinks with free showers and shops. You can rent a lounge chair for $5. I took the Safari with my two kids from the airport there for only $2. The walk from the safari bus stop was only 8mins. You will love it. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Best beach on St Thomas. Clear water, waitresses take your order and bring you food. People are nice. What more can you ask for. read more
2 years ago
What a great time here. Everyone here was very laid back and friendly. Staff and tourists. I had good conversations with a few of the tourists and staff was very laid back (island culture). The "Fresh Catch of the Day Bar & Grill" was superb and only $25. They grilled the lobster to perfection. Even though it's a 1/2 Caribbean lobster. It's actually about 6 oz. of meat. Much more than a full 1 lb. Maine lobster. The only catch is that it took the chef 1.5 hours to prepare my lobster. It takes a while. They so let the marinade soak in the lobster well. It's best to order and jump into the ocean and come back later for it. Or sit there and buy drinks. :) I ordered the rum runner cocktail. It's the strongest and best one I had so far on the island. $10. They give you good food and drinks here for reasonable prices. The beach is beautiful. One of the most beautiful on the island. I know because we took a private boat charter to see the most beautiful beaches in all of the US Virgin Islands. Snorkeling here is awesome!! So many cool looking fishes by the rocks on both sides and even in the middle part beach. OceanFront rentals was great! Got some snorkel gear and umbrella and lounge chairs. Great experience. Update: I had a splitting headache later that day from the 2 rum runners I ordered. Cheap quality alcohol will do that, possibly tainted alcohol. Ruined the rest of the day. I noticed other customers, who were locals, only ordered bottled drinks here. Smart. read more
8 years ago
3 years ago
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Smith Bay
St Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
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Review Highlights - Coki Beach
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