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Does anyone know the legality of camping on the beach in the usvi and the bvi? I'm aware some of the campgrounds, but would really prefer to camp directly on the beach. Thanks for any info!
On STJ, no camping on VINP beaches except at Cinnamon Bay. Vie does permit camping on her beach (for a fee).
You can camp on some of the more local beaches. I can think a few you would have no problem on Hull Bay, Mandahl Bay, Little Magens, Tutu Bay (although there is a permanent camper aka squatter down there now), Lindquist if you walked around the point, you could probably even do little Sapphire just walk past the Catamaran shipwreck to the end of the beach.
STJ has more restrictions, but depending on how long you are staying you could get away with a few beaches. I'd hike into Honeymoon.
Jost Van Dyke in the BVI has bare tent sites on the beach in white bay and Ivans also has tent sites.
In the BVI you can camp along the beach on Tortola at Brewer's Bay, on Jost Van Dyke at White Bay and on Anegada at Loblolly Bay. In the USVI there's Cinnamon and Maho. Camping here is in specific areas to protect the environment. Imagine if everyone who wanted to camp on our beaches did so -- if nothing else, the lack of toilet facilities would leave our beaches funky.
I'd absolutely NOT recommend Little Magens, Tutu, Mandahl or Lindqvist on STT. The latter is not presently open to public access (and there were prior problems there after daylight) while the former are very remote, accessibility is limited and safety issues could be a big problem. I think you would also get kicked off at Sapphire as their security is quite tight.
Cinnamon and Maho on STJ would be your very best bets and those sites have always received very favorable reviews. Have fun!
Lindquist you would have to walk around the point as I mentioned. The main access road to the beach is closed but the beaches are open to the public so you can definitely do that. Security on Sapphire stops at the wrecked catamaran which is why I send go all the way down to the end t othe corner where there is a flat clearing.
All of the beaches have no facilities so it depends on how much you want to rough it, but I don't think safety would be too much of a problem but you never know. Who wants to rob a camper, they clearly aren't rolling cash. Just keep to yourself and use your judgement. There is a squatter down at Tutu already so if you talked to him he might let you camp down there no problem since its "his" territory.
I guess its all what you are comfortable with.