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.

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.

OMG! First beach we visit! Took the water ferry to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island! Stunning! Upon…read morearrival there are free trucks that will take you over the hill to the beach and back to the dock every hour on the hour. There is a stand to rent chairs, umbrellas, other beachy items. Not very crowded and beautiful white sand. The water was so clear, clean and pretty! The only reason for loosing a star, is because the bathrooms were not well kept and no shower or fresh water to rinse your feet before returning to St. Thomas. Don't forget to grab lunch and a drink at the Dinghey! Delicious chicken tacos!

The beach is amazing and snorkeling out of this world. The only bad thing is the food truck owner…read moreand bar owners are incredibly rude and unprofessional. Yelled at people for no reason. My whole family was incredibly kind and spent a lot of money. The female owner yelled at us for having a float in the water when we asked prior to putting the float in. They originally said it was ok. Tried to charge other people's food and drinks on our tab. Go enjoy the beach but don't waste your money on the food truck or bar!!

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!

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

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.

So in our cabin on the ship, they kept broadcasting this beach as a place to visit so I added it to…read morethe list to check out on our adventure day in Saint Thomas. We get our rental right off the ship and head on our way. It's early in the day(~10am local time) so with how many folks are on our boat, my expectations were that this beach would be busy but... surprisingly, there were only a few other couples there so we had this absolutely stunning beach pretty much to ourselves. I immediately get my snorkeling gear out and jump in the water. There were schools of baby permit jacks everywhere and they'd swim right up to you and even play with you while your back was turned. It was pretty exciting. There was a local there and he was laughing with us because I simply didn't expect the whole they are touching me experience(that admittedly may have cause me to squeal in excitement). The water was pristine. Almost dream like. I really feel like this beach was one I will dream about for decades. Just a prefect place to spend time. The folks working here were super nice as well. It was $16 to park in the lot and make the 500' walk to the beach. Plenty of shaded areas right off the beach. A few picnic tables and chairs. Even have a lifeguard which would be nice if we had smaller kids.

I live here on st Thomas and this is probably my number 1 beach. It has great snorkeling, and has a…read morelittle something for everyone, in the middle of the beach is great for just sitting in the water or on the beach as there are not many rocks. The left has big rock as and coral all along in the water where you can find octopus, crabs, fish, stingrays. If you are more adapt at snorkeling you can go out towards the left and past the university dock and there is some great snorkeling there with sea cucumbers, giant pufferfish, eagle rays, some have reported lion fish over in that area even. The right of the beach is filled with rocks, coral and sea glass on the sand. I will leave some photos of all the creatures Ive got on my GoPro. Also tons of sea turtles

Exceptional out of the way beach with a local vibe…read more What we loved: * accessible from the terminus Jitney cab university stop (just a short walk up over a hill) * shaded areas to put out your towels * clear calm water perfect for snorkeling * bathrooms with shower to rinse off * cool handmade signs to promote maintaining the environment Loved visiting Brewers Bay Beach which felt clean safe and family friendly. We felt 100% safe leaving our backpack on the shore while snorkeling and swimming. Saw plenty of fish! There were food trucks as well as a kayak rental option but we did not partake of either.

I call Magen's Bay paradise! One of my favorite Caribbean…read morebeaches and my mother's favorite beach in the world. We have visited several times while cruising. We usually take the group transport offered from port and pay the entrance free. The rest is a day to enjoy the calm waters and a day of relaxation.

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.

Culebrita is an uninhabited island off Culebra's east coast. It is a very beautiful island with…read moreeven more beautiful beaches. It has two main beaches, Tortuga Beach and Playa del Sur (South Beach). Tortuga Beach is by far the more popular beach. Many consider it to be Puerto Rico's best beach. I love Flamenco Beach, but I won't argue with Tortuga's beauty. It also has a natural pool. Playa del Sur is great in its own right. It is smaller and has less beach, but I find it has better snorkeling. It is also more secluded and quieter. Tortuga Beach's biggest problem is it is so popular it can get too crowded. Unless, you have no other option, I would say suggest avoiding this beach on the weekends and holidays. It becomes a marina, so many boats. That also means somebody is more than likely to fill the air with music blasting from their stereos. Their inner dj fills them with the need to make sure everybody on the beach knows what they are jamming. If you are interested in sampling both beaches, there is a trail that crosses the middle of the island d and connects both. I believe it is takes 15-20 min. Another hike I strongly recommend is the hike to see the ruins of the old lighthouse. It takes about 15-20 min and is an easy hike. Best to wear shoes or sandals that aren't flip flops. But if flip flops are all you have then it's fine. My wife hiked it in flip flops. You will notice a dried up lake in the middle of the island. The view from the top is spectacular. There is the lighthouse itself, but the real prize is the view. You can see the whole island and beyond. Breathtaking. There is Cayo Norte, a smaller island, to the north, and some other tiny island's. To the west is Culebra, maybe even Vieques on a clear day. South is the open sea, and to the east, on a clear day, you can see St. Thomas. Excellent photo and selfie ops. As you cross the middle of the island, on either hike, you might hear or see goats or deer. Culebrita is a must visit of you are staying a couple of days in Culebra. The only way to get there is by boat. If you don't own one or have friend that does, you can always male a reservation with a water taxi service or charter an excursion. There are a couple that offer rides to Culebrita, and other places such as Cayo Luis Peña (great for snorkeling). H20 Water Taxi, Cato Norte Water Taxi, and blue Water Excursions are some examples. The each have a Facebook page with more info, as well a a Yelp page. You can always ask local businesses about other services and/or their recommendations.

This is my favorite place in Culebra. It's a magical place. All your problems dissolve in the…read morewater. It's small but there is so much to do. You can chill on the sand or in the water, relax in the natural pool in Tortuga Beach, snorkel, hike to the lighthouse, kayak, paddle board, etc. Tortuga Beach and Playa del Sur are equally both great. Take one of the many services that offer trips here, you won't regret it. I came here with H20 Water Taxi.