Magens Bay & Trunk Bay
One port, two of the world’s most-listed beaches: Magens Bay’s heart-shaped mile of calm water on St. Thomas, and Trunk Bay’s national-park perfection one ferry away on St. John.
Two Beaches Worth the Superlatives
St. Thomas gives beach lovers an embarrassment of choices, but two names top every world-beach list for a reason. Magens Bay is twenty minutes from the pier over a mountain ridge — pause at Drake’s Seat for the overlook photo — with a protected, wave-free mile of sand made for floating the afternoon away. Trunk Bay asks a little more (taxi, ferry to St. John, taxi again) and pays it back double: two-thirds of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park, and Trunk Bay’s underwater snorkel trail has marked plaques along a shallow reef.
The Excursion, Up Close
St. John & the National Park
The 20-minute Red Hook ferry turns a port stop into a two-island day. Trunk Bay’s overlook is among the most photographed views in the Caribbean, and the beach below lives up to it — soft sand, snorkel trail, changing facilities, and park-service tidiness.
Confident snorkelers can push to Honeymoon or Maho Bay, where sea turtles graze the grass beds most mornings.
- Trunk Bay snorkel trail — underwater signage over a friendly reef
- Maho Bay — turtle central, calm as a pool
- Timing — aim for the first ferry; the day goes fast
Magens Bay + The Views
If you’d rather keep logistics minimal, Magens Bay is the play: taxi over the ridge, claim a palm, float. The bay’s calm water is superb for young kids and lazy swimmers, and beach bars handle lunch.
On the way back, the Skyride to Paradise Point lifts you 700 feet above the harbor for the classic photo of your ship below Charlotte Amalie’s red roofs — best with a Bushwacker (the local frozen legend) in hand.
- Magens Bay — calm, shallow, family-perfect
- Drake's Seat — the overlook en route
- Paradise Point Skyride — harbor panorama + famous frozen drinks
Some ports you tour.
This one you float.
Questions We Get Asked
Is Magens Bay or Trunk Bay better?
Magens wins on ease — twenty minutes from the ship, glassy water, zero logistics. Trunk Bay wins on beauty and snorkeling, at the cost of a taxi-ferry-taxi chain. Our rule of thumb: under 7 hours in port, Magens; 8+, take the ferry and thank us later.
Do I need cash on St. Thomas and St. John?
It’s all US dollars (the USVI are American territory — no passport needed for US citizens), and cards work nearly everywhere. Keep small cash for the open-air taxis, chair rentals, and Trunk Bay’s park entry fee.
Can I snorkel right from the beach?
Yes. Trunk Bay’s marked underwater trail is made for beach-entry snorkeling, and Coki Beach back on St. Thomas is the local fish-bowl favorite. Magens is glorious water but sparse on fish — bring the mask elsewhere.
How do I get to Trunk Bay from the St. Thomas cruise dock?
Trunk Bay is on St. John, a different island, so it means a ferry — typically a taxi across St. Thomas to Red Hook, then the ferry to Cruz Bay, then a taxi to the beach. It is a lovely day but it is three legs each way. Magens Bay, by contrast, is a straightforward taxi ride on St. Thomas itself.
Is there an entrance fee for the beaches?
Yes for both, and they are separate things. Trunk Bay sits inside Virgin Islands National Park and charges a per-person day-use fee for visitors aged sixteen and over. Magens Bay charges its own admission, with a parking charge on top if you drive. Carry small notes; do not assume a card will be taken.
What is the underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay?
It is a marked, self-guided trail through the shallows with underwater signs identifying the coral and reef life as you go. It is one of very few of its kind and it is genuinely good for a first snorkel. The Park Service asks that you be confident of your swimming before you set out on it, and stand only on sand — never on coral.
Which beach is easier for a short port day?
Magens Bay, comfortably. It is on St. Thomas with no ferry involved, so you spend your time on the sand rather than in transit, and the bay is long, calm and sheltered. Choose Trunk Bay when you have a generous port day and want the snorkel trail and the national park setting, and accept the travel that comes with it.
What should I bring for a beach day here?
Reef-safe mineral sunscreen, a hat, a towel from the ship and swimwear worn under your clothes. Both beaches have facilities and rent snorkel gear and chairs, but bringing your own mask saves queuing and fits better. Take cash for the entrance fees, taxis and lunch, and leave valuables in your cabin safe.
Let's Plan Your Beach Day
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