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The Virgin Islands…a haven for sun lovers and beach enthusiasts!
About 24 years had passed since we first visited the Virgin Islands…it was high time that we went back, especially since our children had yet to experience its magnificence.
Deciding that it was best to stay on St. Thomas for a wider array of things to do, we left bright and early and arrived to beautiful, blue skies and warm temperatures.
Though our condominium was located on stunning Sapphire Beach, known for its snorkeling, it was advantageous to have a car in order to experience some of the other beaches located throughout the island.
It is helpful to know that all of St. Thomas’ beaches are public and accessible to anyone, however, visitors should avoid using hotel or condo chairs and other equipment reserved for those staying in these properties.
We tried out three other beaches while visiting St. Thomas…Magen’s Bay, Secret Harbor and Coki Beach.
Magen’s Bay is truly one of the most stunning beaches I have ever visited. Such an impression it made on us all those years ago, we knew we had to make it a priority on this trip.
The drive to Magen’s Bay from the part of the island on which we were staying is a bit harrowing with hairpin turns, narrow lanes and a lack of shoulders, but if you’ve got the guts, you’ll pass some stunning overlooks along the way and be rewarded on your arrival.
After paying our entrance and parking fees, we secured a convenient parking spot and grabbed a picnic table under the shelter of a large, shady tree. Since we had our own beach chairs (courtesy of our condominium) we spread out in the white sand, lathered up and admired the azure waters of Magen’s Bay.
Magen’s Bay public park was donated to the people of the Virgin Islands by Arthur Fairchild and consists of a one mile of white sand beach, a six-acre arboretum with trees from four tropical continents, a two-acre camping ground, five acres of coconut groves and fifteen acres of mangroves and wetlands. It is the only beach on St. Thomas that charges an admission fee which is used to maintain the facilities and the beach.
After relaxing for a while, we then grabbed our snorkels and dove in, eager to see what was below the water’s surface. While our waters at Sapphire Beach offered an amazing amount of coral and marine life, sadly, Magen’s Bay did not. A bit more coral borders the rocky outcropping at each end of the beach, but the most impressive thing we encountered was the large, shoaling silver-side fish whose location was apparent by the diving seagulls.
A perfect day for visiting with no cruise ship in port, the beach was uncrowded even with a group of summer camp-goers learning to paddle board. Though more visitors tend to congregate nearer to the concession stand area, if you desire more privacy, a short walk to either end of the beach will offer more space. We loved swimming in the calm, crystal clear waters and picnicking under the large shady trees. It is advisable to bring a cooler if you have one available. Although there is a concession stand, drinks and food are on the pricey side. Drinks and lunch for a family of four could potentially run over fifty dollars.
Make sure to to wade through the shallow waters to the boulders, on the right side of Magen’s Bay, to experience some rock climbing and amazing photo opportunities.
After Magen’s Bay, trying to decide on another beach was tough. Would any other measure up?
Our next trip was nearer to our end of the island. On our first visit to St. Thomas, many years ago, we stayed in a private home near Secret Harbour. Unspoiled, it was actually a little primitive and unkempt. After a quick walk to check it out, we spent most of our vacation time on St. John since we were so close to the ferry in Red Hook Harbor.
After reading that Secret Harbour beach was considered one of the best beaches on the east end of St. Thomas and we were only a couple of minutes drive from it, we decided to spend the morning there. Parking in front of Secret Harbour Beach Resort, we made our way down the right side of the resort to the dive shop. After inquiring about the best area to snorkel and which part of the beach was best for non-residents, we set up camp on the right side of the beach.
The beach area is not as large as Magen’s Bay but offers many shaded areas due to the large number of palm trees that line the coast. Most of the beach is clean and sandy with the surface becoming a bit more rocky to the right. A swimming raft is located just offshore and a few of the dive operator’s boats are moored in the bay on the right side of the bay.
My husband and sons did a bit of snorkeling along the rocky areas on the right side of the bay which extends quite a ways out. Lots of coral was present as well as a great bit of marine life. The water was calm and perfect for swimming, however, they admitted that at times the water was not as clear as Sapphire Beach or Magen’s Bay.
Two sit-down restaurants are located along the beach area, however, again, it would be advisable to bring a cooler if you don’t plan to have a more formal meal.
After an enjoyable morning at Secret Harbour, it was time to try another nearby strand…Coki Point Beach.
Our final visit, was located on the North East side of the island adjacent to the Coral World Ocean Park. Greeted by a local upon pulling into the parking area, we were charged five dollars to park. Though it is stated that there are no fees to use any of the beaches besides Magen’s Bay, I was a bit skeptical as to whether the locals charge this fee unofficially.
As we made our way to the beach area, we were immediately greeted by a woman offering to get us what we needed…chairs (we had them), food (burgers, chicken and seafood all smelled great), drinks (she actually peeked into our cooler and told me that we need something stronger than water and soda).
The water was clear and calm and deepens gradually, however, the beach was teeming with local families out to enjoy the Friday afternoon and was a bit on the crowded side. Surprisingly, there were large piles of seaweed all along the shore, something I would have thought would have been cleaned up by the many locals in this area, especially those benefiting from the parking fees!
My husband and sons, once again, went out to check out the snorkeling and thought it very similar to Sapphire Beach. The waters were teeming with many species of fish due to the fact that some of the vendors sell food so that snorkelers can attract them for photo opportunities.
Coki Point Beach was a great place to spend a few hours, however, when cruise ships are in port, I have been told that the beach can be quite crowded. The beach has a reputation for locals harassing visitors with offers of hair braiding and souvenirs, although we encountered none of that. There was the distinct odor of marijuana smoke every now and then, although we didn’t actually see anyone partaking.
If you get tired of the atmosphere here, you can wander next door to Coral World where you can come face-to-face with sharks and other underwater creatures. Swimming with sea lions or touching turtles…there’s much to learn about the underwater life that inhabits the waters around St. Thomas. Descend fifteen feet in the undersea observatory tower to marvel at the coral reef, schools of silversides and other fish or take an hour-long cruise on the park’s semi-submarine.
There are many different beaches throughout the island of St. Thomas. Wherever your interest lie, you are sure to find one that fits your needs.
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Magen’s Bay
- http://www.magensbayauthority.com/rates.html
- Address:
- Hours: Daily, 0800-1700
- Admission: Local Residents: Adults, $2.00, Children under 12 years, Free, Children 13 years and over $2.00. Non-residents and guests: Adult, $5.00, Children under 12 years, Free, Children 13 years and over $5.00. Vehicle parking, $2.00
- Concessions: Snack Bar, Bar and Boutique. Beach chairs ($8.00), floats, snorkeling sets, paddle boats, kayaks, and sunfish are available for rent.
- Public bathrooms and changing rooms available.
- Lifeguards on duty every day. No driving on beach. No bottles. No pets. No jet skis. No nudity.
Secret Harbour
- http://www.secretharbourvi.com/
- Address: 6280 Estate Nazareth, St Thomas 00802, USVI
- Hours: Daily, unlimited
- Admission: free
- Restaurant: Sunset Grille (1730-1000, daily) and Cruzan Beach Club Bar (0800-1000 Sunday-Thursday, 0800-1100, Friday and Saturday)
Coki Beach
- http://www.vinow.com/stt/stt-b/coki-point/
- Address: Coki Point Rd, Smith Bay 00802, St. Thomas
- Admission: free, Parking, $5.00
Coral World
- https://coralworldvi.com/conservation/
- Address: 6450 Coki Point, St. Thomas, USVI 00802
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 0900-1600, closed Friday and Saturday until November 1, 2017. Ticket booth closes at 1500.
- Admission: Adults, $20, Children ages 3-12, $11, Children under 3, free. Family Day Pass (2 adults, 4 children, ages 3-21), $65. Local family day pass (2 adults, 4 children), $33. Sea Lion swim, Adults, $127, Children under 13 (over 50 pounds), $118, includes admission. Turtle or Shark Encounter, Adults, $60, Children, ages 3-12, $51, includes admission.