Top Things to do in St. John
Things to do in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: The Best Bodies of Water
Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography—of course. This is the Caribbean, after all.
Restaurants in St. John
1. Hurricane Hole
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
A storm-protected bay in the arms of mangrove trees with a lively and colorful nursery of fish.
Reviewed By noseeums2019
My fiance and I rented a tandem kayak from Crabby's in Coral Bay and spent the day kayaking around Hurricaine Hole and out to Princess Bay. Gorgeous trip. We were on our own the whole day. We stopped in Borck Creek and found a secluded stop to get out of the kayak and snorkel. Absolutely beautiful starfish we saw here. Then we kept going to Princess Bay, checking out the Mangroves and then stopping at Whitesand Bay on our way back to Coral Bay. We were completely alone and the views were so amazing. Bring snacks and drinks!
2. Coral Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
A home decidedly away from home for a number of U.S. expats who now reside in this eclectic community.
Reviewed By Cosmopolitan724616 - Wailea, United States
Peaceful, gorgeous location. aqua bistro for the best food take out we thought. zemi had the coolest most unique jewelery on the island, and the best prices. beaches are just about as close from this side. you do need a vehicle, a jeep most likely. miss lucy's is great for a laid back meal on the water. flyaway charters leaves for private boat snorkel tours out of coral bay and was the best snorkeling we have done anywhere. we hit cruz bay about once a week for a meal, gas and extra food shopping but didn't miss the crowds of tourists at all. if you are coming to party stay in cruz bay. if you want to enjoy the natural splendor of st john and try to enjoy the local culture when you travel, coral bay will give you more of that.
3. Leinster Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
A rocky, windswept bay on the northern coast of St. John.
Reviewed By Beachgirl42 - Woodstock, United States
This was one of our favorite hikes. Beautiful walk and hike in. Encourage going the entire trail up to the Great House! Passed some sweet donkeys along the trail. Brilliant views. Snorkeled at Watermelon Cay afterwords. Gorgeous.
4. Waterlemon Cay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 923 reviews
A short swim from Leinster Bay, you'll find some of the best snorkeling on this small island, with its plethora of marine life.
Reviewed By GJL79 - Walkersville, United States
This is our favorite place to snorkel on St. John's. Wear sneakers and walk on a gentle hike for about a mile, from the Sugar Mill parking lot and then enjoy the beautiful view. Swim around the tiny island just offshore. The live coral is beautiful and there are lots of fish, sea turtles, birds and starfish to observe. Be sure to use plenty of sunscreen so you do not get sunburned. If you plan to picnic after your swim, be sure to either hang your bag in a nearby tree, carry it in a thick plastic cooler or leave your food in your car. The mongoose steal food from backpacks and plastic bags when no one is around.
5. Tektite
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
The clear waters of this cove, once the site of an underwater NASA research station, make for excellent diving.
Reviewed By lccTulum_Mexico - Collegeville, United States
My husband and I hiked this trail in the morning. We were the only ones in it. Spectacular views and a nice work out. It gets hot so go early. A dip in Little Lameshur Bay afterwards was perfect.
6. Hawksnest Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 605 reviews
This narrow, sea-grape-tree-lined stretch of sand is a popular beach on St John, especially for island residents, which offers gazebos for parties, barbecues or family get-togethers.
Reviewed By thouks1 - Fort Worth, United States
Ample parking right next to the beach, fine sand with decent snorkeling, snady bottom for swimming, gentle wave action, potential to swim over to Gibley / Oppenheimer Beach, picnic tables, restrooms and many beachside spots with shade. Only things missing are a beach bar and rental chairs, so bring your cooler, snacks and beach chairs.
7. Salt Pond Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 648 reviews
This scenic bay on St. John offers a secluded beach with good swimming and snorkeling, plus a graded hiking trail leading to and from the beach and picnic area.
Reviewed By BPKBroiler - McLean, United States
We made a great stop at Salt Pond Bay during our tour last week with Sonic Charters. It was a windy day, but Salt Pond was protected and the water completely calm. The beach itself is beautiful, with white sand and some shady areas with picnic tables if you are looking to bring a picnic lunch. There is a single, public bathroom, but no other services. We stopped at Lime Out in Coral Bay and took out lunch to eat on the beach. After lunch, we snorkeled in the crystal clear water and immediately found a stingray and two juvenile sea turtles. To the right side of the beach, there is excellent snorkeling with lots of fish and some coral. We definitely will return on our next trip.
8. Francis Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 367 reviews
A pretty and amenable bay on St. Johns north shore. Beware: no changing facilities here.
Reviewed By KEITHE15
Francis has become our favorite beach on St. John. It's super peaceful and the views are spectacular and the fish feeding in the bay are fun to watch. There are always plenty of turtles to see and the reefs along the right side are amazing. We call that area "the aquarium" because of all the fish we see. We spent two days there on this past trip and can't wait to get back.
9. Little Lameshur Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Bay with a beautiful, broad beach that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling, with a view of Bordeaux Mountain, the island's highest point at 1,277 feet, in the background.
Reviewed By dann2277 - Rochester, United States
Found this beach by google maps. We were worried about getting there from the reviews but it was not that bad at all ( were from the country. Those from the city may have a heart attack) when we got there there was a maintained bathroom and trash cans. Beach was nice the 10-12 feet of rock before getting to the sand in the beach. Go to the left side of the bay for some great snorkeling. It really was awesome. It was a rough water day everywhere else but this bay was pretty quiet
10. Haulover Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By John-Evelyn-Travel
The snorkeling was very good at Haulover Bay. Enter on the left side of the bay and there are a lot of fish and coral structures close to the shore. Very nice variety of sea life. It might be good for kids as long as they can keep from touching the coral, since you are in shallow water. Easy swim to experience a lot with no crowds later in the day. Rocky shoreline.
