Top 7 Nature & Parks in East End, St. Thomas

December 10, 2021 Toi Mattera

Discover the best top things to do in East End, U.S. Virgin Islands including Sapphire Beach, Bluebeard's Beach, Coral World Ocean Park, Lindqvist Beach, Vessup Bay, Coki Point Beach, American Yacht Harbor.

1. Sapphire Beach

St. Thomas
Excellent
55%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,970 reviews

Sapphire Beach

A favorite of windsurfers, the beach has fine white sand and beautiful views of St. John and offshore cays, and offers excellent snorkeling at the reef to the east, near Pettyklip Point.

Reviewed By reedmangreg - Chicago, United States

With many great beaches to choose from I would say Sapphire and Megans were my favorite in our 7 nights on St Thomas - we stayed at the Sapphire Beach Resort for 4 nights and having this beauty right in front of us was a blessing :) We did try some other beaches but this one packs everything great in one like no other in St Thomas - you have a nice beach bar and a great coffee/breakfast place on the spot, plenty of shade, peaceful water and soft sand, good for sunsets (despite being on the side) and the chickens/iguanas roaming around - it's the real Caribbean deal :) TIP: it's a free beach and appears to be part of the condo/resort area but it welcomes visitors as well so don't be shy, otherwise you will miss out on something great!

2. Bluebeard's Beach

St. Thomas
Excellent
61%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 211 reviews

Bluebeard's Beach

This tranquil and uncrowded beach is ideal for windsurfing, snorkeling, sailboarding or for simply watching the sailboats go by.

Reviewed By 53kimberlyt

We stayed here for 6 weeks and hated to leave! The beach is clean, uncrowded, and quiet. The water is crystal clear with a mild surf (unless a storm's on the way). There's good snorkeling off either point of the horseshoe shaped bay--barracuda, squid, rays, conch, fish galore (even once a lion fish), an occasional green turtle, lobsters, urchins, etc. The Lanai restaurant is right at the beach offering food/drinks all day. The Lime Tree pool bar is open to the public as well and serves sandwhiches, snacks and drinks. There's also a small store featuring "essentials" such as snacks, packaged foods, microwave friendly dinners, souvenirs, and of course various types of rum. The Aquamarine Beach Hut can outfit you with snorkel gear, kayaks, paddle boards, shirts, and other beach items in case you forgot something.

3. Coral World Ocean Park

6450 Coki Pt, Smith Bay 00802-1805 St. Thomas +1 340-775-1555 [email protected] http://coralworldvi.com
Excellent
55%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,104 reviews

Coral World Ocean Park

Voted top attraction in the V.I. since 2004. Get up close and personal with the beauty and magic of Caribbean marine life in a stunning setting. View life on a coral reef from the unique Undersea Observatory. Hand feed a rainbow lorikeet! Add-ons, Dolphin Trek, Dolphin Splash or moment, Dolphin Kayak, Sea Lion Swim or Encounter, Shark Encounter, Snuba Dive, and Sea Trek Helmet Dive. Open Friday to Wednesday in season 9am - 4pm. Off season hours (May to October) vary.

Reviewed By ihatethiswebsite123

I have been to Coral World every time I visit St. Thomas, and it is a place close to my heart. The staff truly care about each and every animal and I wish some of the reviewers here had half as much compassion for these creatures as their handlers do. No, it is nothing like SeaWorld and that's a good thing because the animals here are never forced to do anything, live in conditions that exceed standards, and enjoy a culture of respect and the ultimate focus on the welfare and safety of animals and guests. That doesn't mean you can't have a full day of magical experiences. Do not go in here expecting a circus performance. You must respect the animals' space and understand that you might not get that perfect picture. I first met Duncan and Chelly, the sea turtles, a few years ago. Their pool is adequate. If you respect their space and don't touch them they are very cool to spend time with. The shark encounter is also incredible and it is a special treat to watch them be fed, that's your best chance to see the nocturnal Nurse Sharks. We also learned a lot about the importance of sharks and the risks they face. The native sharks and rays are released once they mature beyond the more vulnerable stage of their life. The rainbow lorikeets are very entertaining to watch and Paesh the sweet conure is a delightful addition. Look out for Cecil and YellowPants, two male lorikeets who have mated for life and nest together, as this likely wouldn't occur in the wild. The one thing that upsets me is that the three rescued macaws live in pretty small cages. However, I understand that they don't mix well with the smaller birds, cannot return to the wild and there currently aren't enough resources to create a larger habitat for them. Perhaps Coral World could start raising funds to accomplish this? The dolphins are a newer addition and I was initially very skeptical about them. I think that Coral World is doing the best they can with a tough situation. The dolphins were rescued from a small cement pool in Arizona where they were dying. Some had never seen the ocean before and their matriarch Ping is still afraid of the water, she hangs out in a small corner of the enclosure of her own free will and they do not force her to leave (she is coming out more as she becomes more comfortable). We swam with Liko and he came right up to us and stared at us. He's very curious about his environment and visitors. They don't do any circus-like tricks. The encounters are focused on appreciating the uniqueness of the dolphins and playing with them in a way that they enjoy. I am still not 100% happy with the dolphins being contained here, but I understand that they can't return to the wild and Coral World provides them a better situation than some other places might. Of all the features of Coral World, the sea lions are my absolute favorite. We have been visiting them for over 14 years. I'm told Remo knows more than 150 tricks and behaviors and I was able to swim with him, get a big kiss on the cheek, watch him jump like a dolphin and even play a game where he invents his own tricks. (think it's called "Do Something"?) They are very close with their handlers; I remember hearing a magical story about Omar who was sick and wouldn't eat, but they were still able to examine him and find out what was wrong by rewarding him with pets and scratches instead of food. ASK QUESTIONS, the staff are very qualified and knowledgable. Snuba is a unique experience. The guide is great and you will enjoy it as long as you listen to instructions. We spent 30 minutes down there but it felt like 5. The observatory is cool and on a good day you can see reef fish and giant tarpon. All in all, I think Coral World is an amazing place to stop by and see unique marine life firsthand. If you follow the schedule you will find there is plenty to do and see. As they are still recovering from Irma and Maria, nothing is perfect but it is a wonderful small, conservation and education focused park that truly functions for the benefit of its residents.

4. Lindqvist Beach

Smith Bay Road, Smith Bay 00802 St. Thomas
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,095 reviews

Lindqvist Beach

Beach between Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club and the Sapphire Beach Resort

Reviewed By 72amieb - Tucson, United States

Any time you pay to get into a beach you know it is well kept (or much more so than other public beaches). So is the case with Lindqvist Beach. The $5 entrance fee and $2 parking fee are nothing when you don't have to worry about broken bottles under your feet or trash everywhere. I cam for the snorkeling and was able to see a good amount of fish, a couple turtles and a southern ray. I would say a good day for a beach without a coral reef. The beach was nice, not crowded (thanks to the entry fee) and not loud. Very relaxing. And I am always very grateful for a place to rinse my feet before getting back into my car. Make sure you bring your own snacks and water, and of course your own reef safe sunscreen!

5. Vessup Bay

St. Thomas
Excellent
50%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
8%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 12 reviews

Vessup Bay

Stylishly tropical, with cacti and seagrape trees adorning this rocky white sand strand.

6. Coki Point Beach

Coki Point Rd, Smith Bay 00802 St. Thomas
Excellent
47%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
6%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 3,947 reviews

Coki Point Beach

Reviewed By 777lizetteu - Eaton Rapids, United States

Just breathtaking!! Our family loved it and we had great service getting an umbrella and chairs next to the water!

7. American Yacht Harbor

6100 Red Hook Quarters #2 Red Hook, 000802 St. Thomas +1 340-775-6454 [email protected] http://www.igymarinas.com/marinas/american-yacht-harbor
Excellent
49%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
4%
Terrible
8%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 120 reviews

American Yacht Harbor

Located in Vessup Bay on St. Thomas' East End, American Yacht Harbor features everything you need for a supreme stay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The modern, full-service marina features 128 fixed slips and accommodates vessels up to 110 feet with a max 10 foot draft. Situated in St. Thomas' Red Hook area, American Yacht Harbor marina offers first-class amenities, professional staff, shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Reviewed By Nubeinrocker - New York City, United States

Beautiful serene quiet Harbor. Everyone were very friendly snd help. Never seen so many boats. Everything’s is clean quiet picture perfect. Loved it

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