St. John - Beaches

Cinnamon Bay Beach
North Shore

This large and spectacular beach is a favorite among families, college students and young adults. Directly off the main pathway to the beach is a surfside hut that rents windsurfers, sailboats and snorkel gear. Since Cinnamon Bay is known for its strong winds, this is an excellent place to sail a small boat. Snorkeling is also fun here as there are a myriad of underwater mountains and caverns to see. The beach features a snack bar, restaurant, mini-grocery mart and shower facility.

Trunk Bay Beach
North Shore

Reputed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Trunk Bay is also one of the most populated beaches on the island. Vacationers flock here to snorkel the reef and its underwater trail complete with plaques to explain the sights. We recommend coming here in the early morning and evening when the beach is particularly pleasant. Trunk Bay offers a snack bar, showers and restrooms.

Hawksnest Beach
North Shore

Hawksnest is the first of the National Park beaches you will reach when traveling the North Shore Road from Cruz Bay. Hawksnest provides a wonderful place to swim without much reef. A local favorite, the beach has changing rooms, picnic tables, grills and restrooms.

Maho Bay Beach
North Shore

Maho Bay offers a calm, tranquil beach which is less crowded and often quieter than Trunk and Cinnamon Bay beaches. The bay is a mecca for turtles -- you can usually see their heads hitting the surface of the water. If you like to snorkel, try the right side of the bay to view angelfish, trigger fish, and stingrays.

Leincester Bay and Waterlemon Cay
North Shore

Located next to the Annaberg Plantation are Leincester Bay and Waterlemon Cay. If you drive down the short dirt road to Leincester Bay, the small, pebbly beach will lead you to excellent snorkeling. However, if you're a strong swimmer and would like to experience a bit more snorkeling delight, try hiking the 30-minute path, which is part inland and part shoreline, to Waterlemon Cay. Swim out to the cay where you can see mammoth sea turtles, enormous starfish and colorful fish.

Francis Bay Beach
North Shore

Just down the road from Maho Bay is lovely Francis Bay Beach. This long and flat beach is home to many Hawksbill turtles so keep your eyes open in order to see them surface. Francis Bay is one of the least populated beaches on the island affording many vacationers the privacy they desire.