St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands is home to some of the world’s most dazzling, pristine beaches. It’s a place to escape and recharge, with powdery white sand and waters that shift from turquoise and teal to crystal-clear azure. If you’re thinking about a Caribbean vacation, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful setting.
At The Hills, your beach day can begin with gourmet coffee on your villa’s veranda, overlooking Cruz Bay. After a day on the sand, return for dinner on your patio as the sun sets over the Caribbean.
To help you plan those days, we’ve rounded up the best beaches in St. John, USVI. You’ll also find beach picks from The Hills’ villa pages and a glimpse of what makes each vacation rental inviting.
Already thinking about your villa? Speak to a member of our concierge team. We can explain what makes each vacation rental stand out, including details a short description can’t capture.
In this guide
St. John Beaches at a Glance
Compare the beaches below by access, facilities and activities. The villa column connects each beach with a published owner recommendation or, for Francis Bay and Frangipani, a guest review.
| Beach | Getting There | Facilities | Best For | Villa With a Published Beach Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawksnest | North Shore Road | Restrooms, changing rooms, grills, picnic tables and accessible paths | Snorkeling close to shore | View Come True |
| Honeymoon and Salomon | Lind Point Trail from Cruz Bay | Drinks, snacks and chair rentals at Honeymoon | Walking to the beach from town | No published villa pick |
| Trunk Bay | North Shore Road | Food, drinks, snorkel rentals, restrooms and showers | The underwater snorkel trail | Twilight |
| Cinnamon Bay | North Shore Road | Cafe, beach shop, watersports center and campground (closed September and October) | Beach time and a morning hike | Twilight |
| Maho Bay | North Shore Road | Pavilions, restrooms and vendors across the road | Green sea turtles and watersports rentals | Frangipani, guest review |
| Francis Bay | North Shore Road | Parking, picnic tables and toilets | Snorkeling for beginners and birdwatching | Jasmine, guest review |
| Waterlemon Cay | Walk from Annaberg parking | No facilities listed | Reef snorkeling | Gardenia |
| Salt Pond Bay | Short, rocky trail from parking | No food or rentals listed | Turtles, rays and coastal hikes | Papaya and Gardenia |
| Jumbie Bay and Denis Bay | Stairs from a small North Shore Road lot; path from Peace Hill parking | No facilities listed for Jumbie or Denis | Quiet, secluded beaches | Pineapple |
Access and facilities are summarized from National Park Service information and local St. John guides. Trunk Bay charges a $5 admission fee for visitors 16 and older.
Plan Your Beach Days From The Hills
With so many amazing beaches across St. John, it can be confusing to sort through all the choices. As you research, you might start asking: Where can we snorkel? Which beach is good for the kids? And where should we stay to reach the beaches we want to visit?
That’s where the concierge team at The Hills can help. Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll help you plan a beach day you’ll love. Whether you’re bringing the family, vacationing with friends or celebrating your honeymoon, we’ve got you covered.
Nearly all the beaches on our list sit inside Virgin Islands National Park. Staying at The Hills puts you above Cruz Bay, where the North Shore Road begins at the foot of our hill.
Your Stay, Shaped by Our Concierge Team
From the moment your booking is confirmed, our full-time, gate-exclusive concierge team begins shaping your stay around your tastes and needs. Whether you’re seeking a seamless arrival, a private chef or a sunset sail, our team turns those ideas into plans.
Every villa at The Hills shares one gated hillside, giving all guests similar access to St. John’s beaches. Therefore, choose your villa for its layout, amenities and outdoor spaces, not for a shorter drive to the beach. Our concierge team can explain those differences and help you plan beach outings around your interests.
How We Chose These St. John Beaches
Our list helps couples and families choose a St. John beach for each day of the trip. We chose the beaches below for what each one does best, from reef snorkeling and watersports rentals to coastal hikes and secluded swims.
We’ve also included beaches you can walk to from town. The facts about access and facilities come from the National Park Service and local St. John guides.
Several Hills villa pages carry the owners’ own beach picks. Those published recommendations explain the villa pairings below. For instance, Francis Bay’s pairing comes from a guest review on the Jasmine villa page.
Hawksnest Beach
Just six minutes from Cruz Bay, Hawksnest is the St. John beach for snorkeling close to shore. On this narrow beach, the reef starts just steps from the sand. Three fingers of elkhorn coral reach out from the beach, and juvenile fish weave through the branches. Between swims, sea grape trees and mangroves along the shore offer cool patches of shade.
It has changing rooms, restrooms, picnic tables, grills and accessible paths and beach ramps. Those facilities make it an easy first-morning beach for a family.
The caveat is the reef itself. The park advises against snorkeling directly over it. Shallow water above the coral can be dangerous when the sea picks up, so snorkel along the reef’s edges.
Stay at View Come True
The owners of View Come True call Hawksnest a favorite for snorkeling.
The villa has two bedrooms, each a king suite with its own bath, and sleeps four. Evenings here center on the only wraparound balcony at The Hills. Light the grill, pour a drink, and watch the water turn countless shades of blue as the sun sets toward St. Thomas. Inside, 20-foot vaulted ceilings and local St. John art and photography set an island mood.
Honeymoon Beach and Salomon Beach
Honeymoon and Salomon are the national park beaches you can reach on foot from Cruz Bay. The Lind Point Trail starts behind the park visitor center. Take the lower trail to reach Salomon first, with Honeymoon a little farther on.
Both can also be reached from a trailhead off the North Shore Road or by boat.
Salomon is tree-lined, with shade or sun as you like. Off the rocky point between the two beaches, brain, elkhorn and pillar corals shelter a wide variety of colorful fish.
Honeymoon is one of the few park beaches with a concession selling drinks and snacks and renting chairs. Those conveniences make it the easier of the two with children. Bring water for the walk back.
Back at The Hills: The Clubhouse Terrace
After walking back to town, ride up the hill for an evening at The Hills. During its operating season, the Clubhouse offers Sunset Social from 4 to 6 p.m., with $2 off drinks and complimentary bites.
The Clubhouse is closed August 15 through November 1. Keep that seasonal closure in mind when planning your stay.
Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay is St. John’s best-known beach, frequently ranked among the world’s top beaches. Its crescent of calm, crystal-clear water stays warm year-round, and a small cay sits just offshore. The Underwater Snorkel Trail follows the west side of that cay, with plaques identifying coral and fish along the way. For the classic photo, stop at the Trunk Bay Overlook on North Shore Road before you head down to the sand.
Admission is $5 for visitors 16 and older. Facilities include a snack shack, a bar, snorkel rentals, a beach shop, restrooms and showers. Expect company, as this beach is world-renowned and extremely popular.
Our Trunk Bay article gives you a few interesting facts about why that is, and it also covers other things to know before you go.
Stay at Twilight
The owners of Twilight suggest a plunge at Trunk Bay after a hike.
Back at the villa, settle onto the covered patio as the sun sets over Cruz Bay and Pillsbury Sound. Vaulted wood-beam ceilings and relaxed coastal decor create an inviting place to unwind. The villa has three bedrooms, sleeps six and keeps Yetis in the kitchen for beach outings.
Cinnamon Bay
Located on St. John’s North Shore, Cinnamon Bay offers an idyllic stretch of soft white sand extending approximately one mile. On calm days, wade into the turquoise Caribbean water for a leisurely swim.
Away from the sand, explore the Danish warehouse ruins, dating to the late 1600s. The warehouse is among St. John’s oldest surviving colonial structures.
For a full day here, you’ll find the Rain Tree Café, a lunch food truck and watersports rentals nearby. A beach shop and campground sit behind the sand. The café, rentals and campground close each September and October.
A Morning Out From Twilight
For guests who enjoy a challenging hike, Twilight’s owners recommend the Cinnamon Bay Trail. The strenuous one-mile climb starts east of the ruins and passes through shaded mango and kapok forest.
For a morning in the water instead, snorkel at Cinnamon Bay or swim at Trunk Bay. Look for a fish pen believed to have been built by the Taíno or their ancestors, and a submerged historic village. The remains of a 1940s airplane lie near Little Cinnamon Bay.
Afterward, return to Twilight for a slower afternoon, with everything on one floor so you can give your legs a rest. If you’re still in the mood to swim, the community pool is nearby. As evening approaches, settle onto your covered patio to watch the sunset over Cruz Bay.
Maho Bay
Maho Bay is a long, calm curve of sand with water so clear on still days that you can watch your shadow move across the bottom. Just offshore, green sea turtles graze in the seagrass and come up for air a few yards from snorkelers.
Swim a little farther and you’ll find angelfish and schools of brightly colored tropical fish. Some dart away, while others swim right up to see what you’re doing. Look closely in the coral crevices, too, where an octopus may be tucked away.
The best viewing is early in the morning and late in the afternoon. North swells can stir up the sand and cut visibility, so the calmer days are the ones to choose.
Maho has pavilions you can rent and restrooms at the western end. Across the road, vendors sell food and drinks and rent snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards.
Stay at Frangipani
A published guest review on the Frangipani page names Maho among the reviewer’s favorite beaches and suggests early afternoon drinks at the beach bar.
Back at Frangipani, floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the water and the neighboring islands, and a private pool sits beside a sun-drenched patio. For shade, move to the covered patio or the private veranda. Inside, vaulted wood ceilings and marble and wood finishes set a polished tone. Three bedrooms, 3.5 baths and two sofa beds in the living room sleep up to 10, and beach chairs, towels and a cooler are provided for your outings.
Let Us Help You Choose Your Villa
Have a few beaches in mind? Let our concierge team help you plan the rest. Tell us who’s coming and what you want from your stay.
We’ll explain the differences between our villas and help you choose before you book. Call 800-727-6610 to speak with our team.
Francis Bay
Francis Bay’s calm water makes it a gentle first snorkel, from the west end of the beach to Little Maho.
Schools of juvenile fish flash past sea fans and tube sponges, sea turtles glide by, and pelicans dive for their lunch overhead. The quarter-mile beach has parking, picnic tables, and toilets.
Behind the beach, a trail loops around a salt pond and through dry tropical forest, past the old Mary’s Point Estate house. Herons and other shorebirds feed in the pond, so anyone who would rather watch birds than swim has plenty to see.
Stay at Jasmine
A published guest review on the Jasmine page names Francis Bay as their favorite among the beaches they visited.
Jasmine sits at the highest point on the property, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Caribbean and the boats passing below. At sunset, head up to the top balcony, stretch out on a chaise lounge, and look out toward St. Thomas as the light fades.
Inside are four bedrooms, each with its own bath, and room for eight. All four are king suites, and the primary has a wing all its own, with a Jacuzzi tub for a long soak after the beach.
Waterlemon Cay and Leinster Bay
Waterlemon Cay is our pick for reef snorkeling on St. John. From the Annaberg parking area, a flat 0.8-mile trail follows the edge of Leinster Bay. Along the way, you’ll pass twisted maho trees, old stone walls and plantation ruins, with open views of the bay and nearby islands.
The park’s snorkeling guide describes coral heads on sand, blue chromis, sea turtles and sea fans along the steep drop-off.
Getting into the water here takes more care than at the North Shore beaches. Rocks and long-spine sea urchins line the entry, and a strong current runs on the Tortola side of the cay.
Follow the park’s guidance, stay on the southern side and stand only on sand.
Stay at Gardenia
The owner of Gardenia recommends hiking and snorkeling at Waterlemon and Salt Pond.
From Gardenia’s floor-to-ceiling windows, Cruz Bay and Pillsbury Sound spread out below, and at night the lights of St. Thomas glow in the distance. Upstairs, two balconies off the loft are made for sunset photos and stargazing. The villa has four bedrooms, sleeps eight, and runs on Tesla Powerwalls. Bring the supplies you’ll need for a beach without concessions. Our concierge team can help you work out transportation and plans for the day.
Salt Pond Bay
Salt Pond Bay is the quiet beach on the far side of the island, past Coral Bay on the southeast shore.
A short, rocky trail leads from the parking area to a long white-sand beach that slopes gently into clear water. Snorkel over the seagrass, and you may spot green sea turtles grazing and southern stingrays gliding along the bottom.
Two trails start here: the easy Drunk Bay Trail and the steep 0.9-mile Ram Head Trail.
The trade-off is the drive. The park lists no food or rentals here, so bring lunch, water and something for shade.
Stay at Papaya
The owners of Papaya recommend Salt Pond for its solitude.
After a long day at Salt Pond, Papaya has a private infinity pool waiting on the deck. Float at the edge as the sun goes down over the Caribbean and the green hills around you, then light the grill for dinner on the covered patio. The villa has three bedrooms with their own baths, sleeps six, and also has four Powerwalls and Starlink.
Jumbie Bay and Denis Bay
Jumbie Bay is a small, secluded beach about 100 yards long, tucked below North Shore Road just east of Hawksnest. A short path and wooden stairs lead down to soft sand on either side of a rocky center, where sea grape trees shade quiet coves.
Few visitors find it, though. That means you may have the view toward Trunk Bay and the nearby islands mostly to yourself. On calm days, snorkel the shallow reef on the right, where angelfish and groupers turn up. Since the parking lot holds only about six cars, arriving early pays off.
Next door, Denis Bay is just as peaceful. From the Peace Hill parking lot, a narrow path veers right and drops to the white-sand beach in about 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll look straight out at the British Virgin Islands, and snorkelers can follow the rocky outcroppings along the shore. The land behind the beach is private, but the beach itself is open to the public.
Stay at Pineapple
The owner of Pineapple recommends both Jumbie Bay and Denis Bay.
Pineapple is a two-bedroom villa for four, with an ocean-view king suite on each side of the great room. Original local artwork gives it a laid-back Caribbean feel. Out on the patio, a whirlpool spa doubles as a plunge pool, and after dark you’ll hear tree frogs singing in the gardens around it.
Its 1,261-square-foot covered patio is the largest among the two-bedroom villas. It is also a short, level walk to the Sunset Terrace.
Planning a Christmas Beach Vacation?
Trade winter weather for Christmas morning on your villa terrace, followed by a day at your favorite St. John beach. Christmas is one of the highest-demand weeks for Virgin Islands vacation rentals, and The Hills’ most popular holiday villas are booking fast.
A Christmas Stay at Twilight
Twilight is featured in our Christmas villa collection. Its three bedrooms accommodate six guests, with views over Cruz Bay and Pillsbury Sound.
Spend a morning at Cinnamon Bay or Trunk Bay, then return to your villa for an evening together. Our concierge team can help coordinate grocery pre-stocking, boat charter planning and island recommendations.
Explore our St. John Christmas villas and contact our concierge team to check your holiday dates.
How Beach Days Work From The Hills
A beach day from The Hills starts with gear you don’t have to pack. Our villas provide beach chairs, beach towels and a cooler for guests.
The concierge team can arrange a Jeep rental, a private driver taxi or a snorkeling tour.
Parking is the one thing to plan around. The park says beach and trailhead parking is limited and fills quickly. Arrive early and park only in marked spaces. A private driver taxi arranged through the concierge can help you avoid searching for parking.
Before heading out, check your sunscreen, too. Choose a reef-safe formula without oxybenzone, octocrylene or octinoxate, which Virgin Islands National Park identifies as ingredients shown to bleach coral.
With your beach bag packed and transportation sorted, you can enjoy the day knowing what’s waiting when you return. End the day back at your villa or by the community pool before dinner in Cruz Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which St. John beach is best for snorkeling?
Waterlemon Cay is our pick for reef snorkeling, while Trunk Bay offers an underwater snorkel trail for beginners. Hawksnest has coral close to shore. Maho Bay and Francis Bay offer opportunities to see sea turtles. For more options, see the best snorkeling spots in the USVI.
Which beach is better, Cinnamon Bay or Trunk Bay?
Trunk Bay suits a first snorkel, while Cinnamon Bay offers more room for a longer family beach day. Trunk Bay has an underwater trail and charges a $5 fee for visitors 16 and older. Cinnamon Bay has a cafe, watersports center and campground, which close each September and October.
Do you have to pay to go to beaches on St. John?
Trunk Bay charges $5 per person, ages 16 and older, for a day pass. The park says no entrance pass is required to visit Virgin Islands National Park.
Which St. John beaches can you walk to from Cruz Bay?
Honeymoon and Salomon are national park beaches within walking distance of Cruz Bay. The Lind Point Trail starts behind the national park visitor center. The lower trail reaches Salomon first and continues to Honeymoon.
Where can you see sea turtles on St. John?
Maho Bay, Francis Bay and Salt Pond Bay offer opportunities to see sea turtles. At Maho, green sea turtles feed in seagrass beds close to shore. The park recommends early morning or late afternoon for the best viewing.
Where should I stay on St. John to be close to the beaches?
Stay in or above Cruz Bay, where the ferry lands and the North Shore Road begins. The Hills is a gated villa community on the hillside above Cruz Bay. Its villas share the same location, giving guests similar access to the beaches.
Contact The Hills
Let our concierge team design your perfect stay. Share your travel dates, group size and what you have in mind for your vacation.
Our team will respond promptly with tailored villa options, insider island experiences and any special touches you desire, from yacht charters to in-villa chefs.
We can explain the details that make each vacation rental stand out and help you plan your beach days. Call 800-727-6610 or send us a message to speak with our team.
