WHY ST. JOHN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CARIBBEAN ISLAND

Young woman floating on bodyboard near beach

WHY ST. JOHN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CARIBBEAN ISLAND

St. John, US Virgin Island at Cruz Bay.

if you are heading to the islands and have a choice this article will tell you why St. John is the most beautiful Caribbean island.

St. John is the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and can be found in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is located just east of St. Thomas, and 80 miles (130km) east of San Juan in Puerto Rico. St. John measures 9 miles (14km) in length and 5 miles (8km) wide.

It’s not going to be difficult to show you why this is such a beautiful island, The allure is magical!

Because it is so small, I believe that many people forget about St. John. It’s not possible to get there by plane. Instead, you need to travel through St. Thomas to catch the ferry to Cruz Bay. There are few resorts in St. John. This is actually a benefit of living here and why its unspoiled nature makes St. John the most beautiful Caribbean island.

Its irregular coastline is dotted with picturesque coves and harbors, including Trunk Bay. The majority of the population is black and can be found in two settlements: Coral Bay, which is the capital, and Cruz Bay, which is the most important harbor refuge in West Indies.

They are located at the western and southern ends of the island. Trunk Bay, St. John Island, U.S. Virgin Islands

Christopher Columbus visited St. John on November 17, 1493. Although Christopher Columbus exterminated the Kalinago or Carib aboriginal inhabitants, planters from St. Thomas settled the island in 1717.

In less than 20 years, sugar and cotton plantations became rampant in the land. The population consisted of 208 blacks and 1,087 African slaves. Although there was an eight-month-long slave revolt in 1733, slavery was not abolished until more than 100 years later.

Islands and Archipelagos

Old sugar plantation on the island of St John in the US Virgin Islands

The island’s economy focuses on cattle-raising, bay leaves, which are collected from an old forest and shipped over to St. Thomas to be processed into bay Rum; and tourism.

The island covers more than 4/5ths of its surface with second-growth and tropical vegetation. In 1956, two-thirds were declared a Virgin Islands National Park.

In 1917 the United States purchased St. John from Denmark In the 1930s news of the American island was spread across the United States and began a boom in tourism on St. John.

Laurence Rockefeller donated land to the Federal Government in 1956 to create a National Park. The nation’s twenty ninety-ninth National Park was established on 5000 acres.

Fred Seaton, Secretary of the Interior, received the land and promised that the government would take good care of the 5000 acres, verdant hills, valleys, and miles of sandy beaches.

St. John is a popular tourist destination. It has seen a lot of development and traffic in recent years.

Enjoy the Beautiful Landscape

The U.S. Virgin Island is the second-smallest island. It tends to be overlooked, and this can be a blessing for those who try to stay. The high season (December through April) is busier. Although crowds can be unbearable, they don’t interfere with one’s ability to relax.

Although St. John’s infrastructure may be a little shaky compared to other more developed islands, it still has everything you need. There are many good restaurants, grocery stores, clinics, car hire companies, and car rental agencies. I can’t forget to talk about the gorgeous beaches that will likely instigate you to pay a visit anytime so soon.

Keep scrolling to learn more about St. John, the prettiest Virgin Island, and perhaps the entire Caribbean. Some friends have been to this island a couple times and they had a lot of fun. You’ll soon be researching vacation rentals and flight prices.

St. John has Sea Views like No One Else

The most unique feature of St. John is its breathtaking views out over the Caribbean Sea. Many of the Virgin Islands are located in mountains, and many businesses and vacation rentals are perched on top of hills.

View of Coral Bay from a Scenic Viewpoint

There are many breathtaking views from the numerous hills of St. John. This island offers many landscape photography opportunities that will delight anyone who is interested in photography. It is this picture perfect natural scape that makes St. John the most beautiful Caribbean island.

Beautiful views of the sea from your windows will reward you as you drive around St. John, particularly on North Shore Road. This is the road that runs along the northern side of St. John, where you will find the most beautiful beaches.

It is best to slow down to enjoy this road. You don’t have much choice – the speed limit on the island is 20-25 mph.

Stop at the scenic overlooks to capture the perfect shot with the backdrop of a St. John beach.

St. John Beaches are Incredibly Beautiful

Group of tourists horseback riding on the beach in Antigua Island, Day at the beach in St.John, Antigua & Barbuda Island, Caribbean.

St. John’s beaches are, to be honest with you, the reason most people vacation here. Like the festivals and events in Tobago, there are many things to do here. However, the best time to spend on the Island’s north shore is when you soak up the sun and swim in the turquoise waters of Maho or Trunk Bay.. You really can’t cop the award for the most beautiful Caribbean island unless you have to die for beaches.

Famous North Shore Beaches of St John

The beautiful beaches of the North Shore are included in every list of the Top St John Beaches. There will be much debate about which beach is the best.

The truth is that Trunk Bay Beach is the most popular. These are the most visited beaches. They’re all found along St John’s North Shore.

They share the following in common:

  • US citizens are not required to have a passport in order to visit the Virgin Islands.
  • Beautiful beach with white sand
  • Amazing aqua-blue waters with crystal clear clarity
  • You can snorkel from the beach in shallow water
  • Protected by Virgin Islands National Park

Here are my top picks for St John beaches:

Trunk Bay Beach

Family of father and daughter enjoying aerial view of picturesque Trunk bay on St John island, US Virgin Islands considered by many as most beautiful beach in Caribbean

Trunk Bay is St John’s most photographed and visited beach. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in St John, if not the entire Caribbean.

It is a must-see on every visitor’s STJ Bucket List. So stunning it is that even cruise ship passengers to St Thomas will make the trek to Trunk Bay by taxi and ferry to enjoy it for a few hours!

Trunk Bay offers it all. You can enjoy the Underwater Snorkeling Trail and white sand with towering palms. There are also showers/bathrooms, snorkel gear, and chair rentals. It is the only St John beach to have a lifeguard…. There is an entrance fee.

The most photographed and popular beach on St John!

What’s the best spot to snorkel at Trunk Bay? It’s right off Trunk Cay’s center. You should keep an eye out to see brain corals, gorgonians, and bluebell Tunicate corals. There is also many tropical fish such as Yellowtail Snapper and Puddingwife Wrasse.

The top beach in St. John US Virgin Islands is Maho Bay Beach

Maho Bay Beach

Woman in bathing suit floating on back in Maho Bay St. John USVI

St John Sea turtles in Maho Bay Beach. Maho Bay has been voted the best beach. It should be because it’s so convenient, right next to North Shore Road. The convenience of loading coolers, chairs, snorkel gear, and children’s floaties into the vehicle is a great benefit for families.

The western end of the beach has a covered pavilion with picnic tables and a covered grill. While the beach is narrow, with tall coconut palms and shade trees. It is a popular spot for parents with floats and younger children.

The water is shallow and sandy. St John standards call for plenty of parking, with designated areas at the Pavilion and an even larger lot at the eastern end.

One of the many reasons that people love Maho Bay Beach is snorkeling. You can see sea turtles, conch, rays, and tarpon from the seagrass beds located about 30 yards away from the beach.

Maho is the best option for anyone who wants to swim with a turtle on St John. For experienced snorkelers, you should head towards the western and eastern shorelines.

These are the best places to find thin patches of reefs, which are home to a wide variety of corals as well as a large number of tropical fish species. Are you convinced yet that St. John is the most beautiful Caribbean island?

Cinnamon Bay Beach

Sailboat on the beach in Cinnamon Bay on St. John in US Virgin Islands

Cinnamon Bay is St John’s longest white sand beach. A cay is located just off the beach, much like Trunk Bay. Just like the other beaches on St John, you will find white sand and palm trees along with shade from seagrapes.

You can also snorkel in shallow waters. Cinnamon Bay is one of the few spots where you can camp on St John. You can stay in newly renovated eco-tents and “cottage” accommodations.

Each morning, the beauty of Cinnamon bay will greet you. Bathrooms, RainTree Café, watersports rentals, and a souvenir shop are all available.

There are many options for snorkeling at Cinnamon bay. You can snorkel around the Cay, which is just off the beach. You can find several fish species. These include Blue-headed Wrasse, Jacks and Queen Angelfish, French Angelfish, French Grunts, and Pork Fish.

Hard corals are corals such as maze brain corals and fire corals. You can snorkel off the beach’s eastern end and find a large, shallow table reef in 5 to 15 feet of water. This spot is amazing and home to many fish and corals that are rare in St John.

The corals and patch reef are thin at the western edge, towards Peter Bay. The sunken wreckage of a plane just off Little Cinnamon Beach is a highlight.

It is a motor, prop, and a portion of the wing from a small plane. It’s still a great sight, especially in shallower waters of 8 feet or less.

Honeymoon Beach

Couple on Honeymoon beach St. John

If you are going to challenge the top spot as the most beautiful Caribbean island you have to have a honeymoon beach. Couples have been flocking to Honeymoon Beach for as long as time remembers.

Honeymoon Beach, despite its name, is great for both couples and families. It is the ideal St John beach destination because of its soft white sand and shallow water entry. The beautiful aqua blue waters, snorkeling, and watersports make it a great choice.

Visitors can choose to hike or park at Canel Bay Resort, and then walk the approximately 5 mi EW. You can also take a taxi from Canel to Canel Bay Resort and ride the Honeymoon Beach Hut golf cart to Honeymoon Beach.

The eastern and western shores of Honeymoon Beach are the best for snorkeling. You’ll find large schools of Sergeant Major Damsels and French Angelfish along the shoreline connecting to Canel Bay.

There are also wrasse, French Angelfish, and many other hard and soft corals. A good place to spot a sea turtle is just off the beach’s center. You’ll also find a patch of reef along the western end, towards Salomon Beach, with colorful fish and hard corals.

Enjoy Glorious Sunrises & Sunsets

Sunset at Coral Bay Marina, St. John

It is hard to deny that there are beautiful sunrises and sunsets in St. John. If you stay in Coral Bay, you will have the opportunity to see the sunrise almost every morning.

Sunrise over Coral Bay in St. John

Some mornings, there might be too many clouds, which can obstruct beautiful views. When you make a trip to St. John, you will be able to see clear horizons every day.

Pink clouds at sunset are reflected in the blue swimming pool water of Coral Bay at Sunset.

Coral Bay is more suitable for sunrises than sunsets because it faces east. It still enjoys beautiful sunset lighting and pink clouds.

Crossing the Island to Cruz Bay is a great way to enjoy sunsets. You can also grab dinner there and have some fun with your friends as you enjoy the delights of this most beautiful Caribbean island.

Even at Night, You Can See Stars

St. John offers many opportunities to see the stars. The sunsets at 7:00 PM every day, so the sunrise and sunset are pretty consistent throughout the year. To see a sparkling sky, make sure you look up every once in a while.

Starry Night above Coral Bay

St. John has very little light pollution, so star gazing is possible. The clouds may obstruct you from time to time. If the night sky is beautiful, be on the lookout for constellations and take advantage of the opportunity to practice night photography, as many did.

Conclusion

You can see that St. John is gorgeous and certainly a contender for the most beautiful Caribbean Island. It might just be the paradise you have been looking for. If you were worried about your return after Irma, this is your visual St. John update. It will give you the assurance that everything is fine.

Are you planning to book a Caribbean vacation to St. John anytime soon?

10 Comments
  • Millie "Pioneer Kitty" Zeiler
    Posted at 13:33h, 01 September Reply

    I love to travel!  I also love it whenever I come across content that focuses on a vacation destination, sharing experiences and reviews as this helps me, as a traveler, determine where I’d like to visit next.

    Because of COVID, clearly, the ability to travel about as freely as before is no longer the same.  However, this should not stop a person from wanting to see parts of the world that is as beautiful as St. John!

    • Melting Pot
      Posted at 06:20h, 03 September Reply

      I totally agree Pioneer Kitty. We have to learn to live with our environment of course following all safety recommendations put in place. Thank you for visiting our page and look forward to seeing you one day traveling in the Caribbean.

  • Paolo
    Posted at 01:06h, 03 September Reply

    I have been planning a trip to Saint John. Initially I thought it would be very expensive. But I have found out that it could cost around $150 per day on vacation. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors I have read on blogs and posts. My calculations are $45 on meals for one day and $39 on local transportation.

    • Melting Pot
      Posted at 10:10h, 03 September Reply

      Hey Paulo what type of accommodation are you aiming for? Typically lodging will run on the lower end at $100/ night in the low season. As you can see there are loads of seaside and nature-related activities for you to enjoy.  Here’s hoping that your intended visit lives up to all your expectations.

  • Caleb
    Posted at 19:51h, 04 September Reply

    I enjoyed reading your article on St John! I have actually been but the one beach that interested me the most that I would love to visit after reading about it is honeymoon beach. I love to snorkel and I think that this beach would be a perfect fit for the family. St John is on my list for another vacation spot. 

    • Melting Pot
      Posted at 13:52h, 05 September Reply

      Hey Caleb while you are at it try also to hop over to Turtle Cove where the array of fish amidst the coral will blow your mind. Enjoy!

  • Sebastian Ephraim
    Posted at 04:18h, 07 September Reply

    Your review and especially pictures speak volumes about St.John – the aesthetic, beauty, adventure, home away from home. 

    I really can’t wait to visit this island. What really stood out for me are the many ideas I could copy from there onto the soon-to-be mine island in Africa so when I visit I will definitely enjoy it but will also be doing some research – so I’ll visit all the island.

    You know what this will be the best for my honeymoon come next year 2022. That way I will get to have a long wedding trip while working online and researching. 

    I can’t thank you enough

    • Melting Pot
      Posted at 08:38h, 07 September Reply

      Hey Sebastian we want to first congratulate you are your impending marriage. 2022 must be filled with so much expectation of love and joy for you. We are elated that you enjoyed our review of St. John and are happy that you can use ideas for activities on your African isle. We also look forward to seeing you right here in St. John or another beautiful Caribbean island one day. If you are interested another stop you may wish to make is Tobago to see some of what they offer +10 MUST SEE FESTIVALS and EVENTS in TOBAGO (meltingpottravel.com) Enjoy!

       

  • Lily
    Posted at 22:13h, 08 September Reply

    This sounds simply heavenly and I can’t wait to be able to travel again. I simply adore island holidays and I didn’t realize that St John was so very beautiful. I’ve sailed to Grenada from Trinidad and it was lovely but nothing like St John. Truly a hidden gem that everyone will want to visit.

    • Melting Pot
      Posted at 23:47h, 08 September Reply

      Here’s hoping that you will indeed be able to do a getaway to St. John. Truly an island for your 2022 bucket list. 

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