St. Thomas: Finding the Right Beach on a Beautiful Island
“Life is simple: just add water.” Unknown
4/12/20267 min read
St. Thomas is a beautiful island and one of the most popular stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It offers a great mix of easy logistics, stunning views, and crystal clear water, making it an ideal cruise port whether you want to relax or explore.
The island has a rich history shaped by European powers, originally settled by the Danish in the 1600s before being sold to the United States in 1917. Today, it remains a U.S. territory, which makes travel simple for Americans with no passport required and the U.S. dollar used everywhere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, was once a major hub for pirates and trade in the Caribbean and still carries that historic charm.
One of the best things about St. Thomas is how easy it is to get around. Taxi services are very well organized, and prices are set, so there is no guessing or negotiating. If your goal is to spend the day at the beach and do some snorkeling, there is really no need to book an excursion which cost over $90 per person.
Prior to arriving, we watched multiple YouTube videos to figure out which beach we wanted to visit. Each beach is known for something different.
Magens Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the island and is often ranked among the best in the Caribbean. However, we also heard that it can be overcrowded and a bit overrated. There is an entrance fee of about $7 per person to access the beach, and many excursions bring large groups there throughout the day.
Coki Beach is another popular option, especially for snorkeling. From what we saw and read, chair availability can be limited, and facilities such as bathrooms are minimal. It is located next to Coral World Ocean Park, a marine attraction where visitors can experience aquariums, sea lion encounters, and underwater observatories, which can be a nice add on if that interests you.
We ultimately chose Sapphire Beach based on reviews highlighting its facilities and snorkeling.
The taxi ride there was $15 per person each way. Once you arrive, beach chairs are available for rent at around $15 each. The water here is absolutely beautiful, crystal clear, with that bright Caribbean blue color you hope for. The total cost for the two of us for the roundtrip taxi and 2 beach chairs was $90 as opposed to the shore excursion price of $95 per person.
The snorkeling was enjoyable, with some seagrass areas where turtles are known to hang out, along with rocky sections that attract fish. It was a great experience, but if you have snorkeled in places like the Florida Keys or Hawaii, it may not quite match that level of coral and marine life. That said, we still had a great time in the water.
The facilities at Sapphire Beach were excellent. There are bathrooms, an outdoor shower to rinse off the saltwater, and several food options. We split a sausage and mushroom pizza that cost about $22. It was very good, and the views from the seating area made it even better.
Looking ahead to our next visit, we want to spend more time exploring the island beyond the beaches.
One of the more interesting attractions is Blackbeard’s Castle. Despite the name, there is no confirmed history that Blackbeard actually lived there. The site includes a historic watchtower called Skytsborg Tower, which dates back to the 1600s. To get there, you climb the famous 99 Steps, which, in reality, is closer to 104 steps, but who is counting.
We are also interested in visiting Drake’s Seat and the Mountain Top lookout. Drake’s Seat offers one of the best panoramic views of Magens Bay and is named after Sir Francis Drake, who is believed to have used the vantage point to watch for enemy ships. Mountain Top is the highest point on the island and provides incredible views of the surrounding islands. It is also known as the birthplace of the banana daiquiri and has a large gift shop and observation deck.
If we have more time on our next visit, we would also like to take a trip over to St. John, which is mostly protected as Virgin Islands National Park. Ferries depart from Red Hook, which is about a $15 taxi ride from the cruise port. The ferry costs roughly $16 per person roundtrip. Once on St. John, you can explore the park by taxi, rent a Jeep, or join a guided tour to visit some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean, including Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay.
Overall, we enjoyed our time on St. Thomas. The views are incredible, the water is crystal clear, and it is an easy island to navigate without much planning.
There is clearly much more to the island than what we experienced on this visit, and it is a place we look forward to returning to so we can explore it further.
St. Thomas is a beautiful island and one of the most popular stops in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It offers a great mix of easy logistics, stunning views, and crystal clear water, making it an ideal cruise port whether you want to relax or explore.
The island has a rich history shaped by European powers, originally settled by the Danish in the 1600s before being sold to the United States in 1917. Today, it remains a U.S. territory, which makes travel simple for Americans with no passport required and the U.S. dollar used everywhere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, was once a major hub for pirates and trade in the Caribbean and still carries that historic charm.
One of the best things about St. Thomas is how easy it is to get around. Taxi services are very well organized, and prices are set, so there is no guessing or negotiating. If your goal is to spend the day at the beach and do some snorkeling, there is really no need to book an excursion which cost over $90 per person.
Prior to arriving, we watched multiple YouTube videos to figure out which beach we wanted to visit. Each beach is known for something different.
Magens Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the island and is often ranked among the best in the Caribbean. However, we also heard that it can be overcrowded and a bit overrated. There is an entrance fee of about $7 per person to access the beach, and many excursions bring large groups there throughout the day.
Coki Beach is another popular option, especially for snorkeling. From what we saw and read, chair availability can be limited, and facilities such as bathrooms are minimal. It is located next to Coral World Ocean Park, a marine attraction where visitors can experience aquariums, sea lion encounters, and underwater observatories, which can be a nice add on if that interests you.
We ultimately chose Sapphire Beach based on reviews highlighting its facilities and snorkeling.
The taxi ride there was $15 per person each way. Once you arrive, beach chairs are available for rent at around $15 each. The water here is absolutely beautiful, crystal clear, with that bright Caribbean blue color you hope for. The total cost for the two of us for the roundtrip taxi and 2 beach chairs was $90 as opposed to the shore excursion price of $95 per person.
The snorkeling was enjoyable, with some seagrass areas where turtles are known to hang out, along with rocky sections that attract fish. It was a great experience, but if you have snorkeled in places like the Florida Keys or Hawaii, it may not quite match that level of coral and marine life. That said, we still had a great time in the water.
The facilities at Sapphire Beach were excellent. There are bathrooms, an outdoor shower to rinse off the saltwater, and several food options. We split a sausage and mushroom pizza that cost about $22. It was very good, and the views from the seating area made it even better.
Looking ahead to our next visit, we want to spend more time exploring the island beyond the beaches.
One of the more interesting attractions is Blackbeard’s Castle. Despite the name, there is no confirmed history that Blackbeard actually lived there. The site includes a historic watchtower called Skytsborg Tower, which dates back to the 1600s. To get there, you climb the famous 99 Steps, which, in reality, is closer to 104 steps, but who is counting.
We are also interested in visiting Drake’s Seat and the Mountain Top lookout. Drake’s Seat offers one of the best panoramic views of Magens Bay and is named after Sir Francis Drake, who is believed to have used the vantage point to watch for enemy ships. Mountain Top is the highest point on the island and provides incredible views of the surrounding islands. It is also known as the birthplace of the banana daiquiri and has a large gift shop and observation deck.
If we have more time on our next visit, we would also like to take a trip over to St. John, which is mostly protected as Virgin Islands National Park. Ferries depart from Red Hook, which is about a $15 taxi ride from the cruise port. The ferry costs roughly $16 per person roundtrip. Once on St. John, you can explore the park by taxi, rent a Jeep, or join a guided tour to visit some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean, including Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay.
Overall, we enjoyed our time on St. Thomas. The views are incredible, the water is crystal clear, and it is an easy island to navigate without much planning.
There is clearly much more to the island than what we experienced on this visit, and it is a place we look forward to returning to so we can explore it further
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