If you’re planning a trip to St. Thomas, you’ve got to check out the St. Thomas beaches that you have to add to your itinerary! St. Thomas is a popular destination for cruisers and travelers hoping for a Caribbean getaway. With many direct flights from the USA like New York City, Atlanta, Miami, and no passport required for US citizens, there’s no question why it is continually one of the more popular destinations to visit in the Virgin Islands. Keep reading for the ultimate beach guide to St. Thomas!
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The Best Beaches for Snorkeling
St. Thomas has some amazing beaches for snorkeling, and honestly you should bring a snorkel to any beach you visit! These beaches are known to be some of the best on island for snorkeling.
Coki Beach
On the Eastern coast of St. Thomas’s Smith Bay, you will find Coki Beach. This short stretch of beach has some incredible snorkeling and is home to a variety of wildlife that may swim by. The snorkeling off of Coki Beach is predominantly coral reef, so you can see lots of fish, colorful corals, and may even see sea turtles, sharks, or dolphins swim by!
Coki Point Beach is a great beach to scuba dive off of too, with the reef descending down to around 60 feet. CWORI Dive Center is a great option for certified divers or for people looking to try a Discover Scuba course. If you’re not interested in getting scuba certified, but still want a little more than just snorkeling, try SNUBA or SeaTrek which is offered through Coral World!
Want to try helmet diving off of Coki Point? Book your tour here!
Brewer’s Beach
If you want to experience snorkeling with sea turtles on St. Thomas, then Brewer’s Beach is a must visit. Located on the South Side of the island, just past the airport, you are almost guaranteed to see juvenile sea turtles here. The Green Sea Turtles feed on the underlying “turtle grass” and this is also a hotspot for stingrays! If you’ve had enough snorkeling, head to shore to relax as you watch the planes take off and land.
If you visit Brewer’s, note that you will not be allowed to use umbrellas that screw into the sand, or dig deep holes, as the beach is a protected nesting ground for mama and baby sea turtles. Be sure not to touch the turtles or chase them as they are a federally protected and endangered species, but bring your camera in case they swim up towards the surface, the patterns on their shells are amazing!
Can you snorkel at all beaches in St. Thomas?
While you certainly can bring a mask and snorkel to all the beaches, not all of them are optimal for snorkeling. Choose beaches with calm and clear waters, be sure to snorkel with a buddy, and know your swimming skills.
Best Beaches with Hotels and Amenities
Not all beaches in St. Thomas have restaurants, showers, or hotels. These are some great beaches to visit if you are staying at the hotels, or even if you are staying elsewhere! All of these beaches have public beach access as well, so you can visit even if you are not staying at the hotels.
Need a hotel for St. Thomas? Check out these to find your perfect stay!
Sapphire Beach
If you want the beach club feel, then Sapphire Beach is a must visit. This beach not only has multiple bars and restaurants, but also offers rentable cabanas that you can relax in for the day. The beach resort offers many different condos that are available for rent, making it a great option for a beachside vacation, especially if you want the option to cook in your accommodation.
This beach also has some amazing snorkeling if the water is calm, but can be a little rough if there are strong winds or seas. It is also a popular spot for cruise tours to visit, so arriving early will help guarantee that you get a shady spot to relax in!
Secret Harbour
One of my favorite beaches to visit, Secret Harbour is another resort beach that offers some beautiful snorkeling. A bit smaller than Sapphire, this beach can feel a bit more secluded. There are rentable chairs and umbrellas from the dive shop on the far right side of the beach, as well as snorkel gear or even scuba dives or classes! The bay is typically calm, and is a great spot to float and relax, or even snorkel out to the reef in search of sea turtles, eagle rays, or other amazing ocean life.
Secret Harbour has a great view for sunset, and a restaurant and bar aptly named Sunset Grille. If you aren’t staying on property, parking can be a bit tight, so plan to get there early or even opt for a taxi to avoid driving back and forth to find a parking spot in the limited lot.
Limetree Beach
Limetree Beach is on the South side of the island, and is a bit quieter than the other two resort beaches. The beach itself is a bit smaller and has a rocky shoreline, so consider bringing some booties if your feet are sensitive. The resort itself has a beautiful pool, restaurants, and an awesome sunset view. They offer a pool bar and a beach bar, both of which offer great drinks and food.
This beach is not known for amazing snorkeling, but this is a great spot to enjoy the beach itself, and the incredible views. The resort is very quiet compared to some, so this is a great spot to relax and get away from the bustle of town.
Can I visit the St. Thomas Resort Beaches even if I’m not staying on property?
By law, all beaches in St. Thomas are public beaches. Some resorts (like the Ritz Carlton) may limit the public access or not offer public parking. All the resorts listed here are easily accessible with plenty of space for the public and resort guests alike.
Morningstar Beach
Located behind the Buoy Haus Resort, this beach offers gorgeous views of the ships leaving the harbor, and on a clear day, even views of St. Croix. The resort has umbrellas and chairs that you can rent, and a gorgeous beach bar. There are a variety of restaurants to explore, and the resort itself has villas to stay in. If you don’t need an entire villa, the Westin just up the road is their partner resort, and is a great option for a more “traditional” resort experience, with access to the Morningstar Beach as well. When you get in the water, there is a rock shelf, that then drops off into mostly sandy bottom, and is a great beach to float and relax at.
The Best Beaches for Surfing
While St. Thomas may not be known as a surf destination, these two beaches have some great waves for surfers and paddle surfers alike. Even if you’re not a surfer, these two beaches are popular for sunset and photographers alike.
Hull Bay
Hull Bay is a popular spot frequented by locals that offers an abundance of wildlife, a couple small beach bars, and a unique place to stay, the Hideaway. When there is a North Swell, this beach becomes a hotspot for surfers. It’s a pretty far paddle out, that most people opt to take a dinghy to tow the surfer, but some of the waves are pretty impressive. Don’t worry, if you’re not a surfer, closer in towards the beach has snorkeling and shallow areas to swim and wade in, or just enjoy a couple beach cocktails from The Shack or Nomad’s.
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Dorothea Beach
A bit more secluded and tucked behind a condo complex, Dorothea is the next beach west from Hull Bay. Similarly, this beach is a popular spot for surfers, but the beach itself is pretty rocky. As it is in a condo complex, it is not frequented by many people other than guests of the condos, as the parking around the condos is for the residents. Most surfers will park at Hull bay and dinghy over to Dorothea.
St. Thomas’s Most Famous Beach: Magens Bay
Of course no St. Thomas beach list is complete without the infamous Magens Bay Beach. This is the most popular beach on St. Thomas, and arguably one of the most popular beaches in the world. The white sandy beach stretches for one mile lapped by crystal clear blue water. There are a plethora of beach chair rentals, a beach bar, rentable pavilions, and even kayak and paddle board rentals.
Are beaches in St. THomas Free?
Most beaches on St. Thomas are free, however, a few do charge parking and/or access fees, to help maintain the facilities on site.
Magens Bay is a popular spot to stop for cruise visitors on an island tour, so it can get a little busy on days that there are lots of cruise ships in, but it is still an amazing beach to visit. There are lots of sea birds that you can watch dive after fish, sea turtles swimming around, and even sailboats or yachts bobbing in the harbor. If you want to experience more at Magen’s Bay, head towards the east side for water sports rentals like kayaks, paddle boards, or hobie cats! There is a parking and an entrance fee, but it is definitely worth the price.
A trip to the St. Thomas is not complete if you haven’t been to Magen’s Bay, so be sure to add this to your USVI Itinerary!
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