Beaches of St. John

Without further ado here is a guide of my favorite beaches on St. John:

1. Francis Bay – this is my favorite beach on the island! It’s secluded as it is far from Cruz Bay and more difficult to get to. The water is so calm it just laps at your ankles. The best part about the beach is the snorkeling. You will swim with large sea turtles and stingrays! If you go to the far right side there are huge schools of fish to snorkel with. I even saw and octopus! It is the best of both worlds as far as what you can see snorkeling and the secluded vibe of the beach.
2. Maho Bay – Maho Bay is very similar to Francis Bay. The snorkeling is known for the sea turtles that occupy the area. The one reason I put Francis Bay first is because of the added schools of fishes on the far right. Maho Bay is a little easier to get to and a local favorite. Any day on Maho Bay is a dream come true!
3. Trunk Bay – this is the most popular beach on St. John and there is a good reason! The water is a light clear blue filled with fish for snorkeling. There is an underwater trail you can follow snorkeling. The best part about staying on St. John is you can enjoy the beach long after the cruise ship passengers leave for the day. While no cruise ships stop at St. John a lot of people will ferry over from St. Thomas to see Trunk Bay. Trunk Bay is a must see during your time in St. John!!
4. Salt Pond Bay – Salt Pond Bay is on the south side of the island. The bay is enclosed and sheltered from the sea so if there is a bad north swell this is the beach to come to. The beach has a completely different feel than the North Shore beaches. It is more of a desert with less of the vegetation and ‘Lost’ feel. Even the snorkeling is different. It is large and you have to search a little more for sea life. It can be fun, almost like a where’s waldo for what you will find. There are turtles, spotted eagle rays, and a ton of schools of fish! I like this beach for how unique it is compared to the rest of the island! If you want to do some hiking this is where to come and there even is a salt pond as the name entails. 
5. Cinnamon Bay – I didn’t spend a ton of time on this beach but it was expansive with lots of room to spread out. The waves are a little bigger at Cinnamon so if you are here on a day with a bad swell you won’t be able to snorkel. I scoped out places for snorkeling, and was disappointed the water was too rough when I went. The beach was still gorgeous and worth hanging out for a couple hours!
6. Hawksnest Bay – this beach is close to town making it the best beach to go to when you first arrive and want to be on the beach ASAP or you only have a half day on your last day before the ferry out. The beach is beautiful and has enough people you can make some friends for the day! It is beautiful and close by making it easy on days you don’t want to explore.

There are plenty more beautiful beaches on the island, but these are my top beaches in order!