Gapa: Your first stop should be the Visitor's Information Center for the VI National Park in Cruz Bay. They have GREAT maps and knowledgable staff who can direct you to the best trails, etc. Sign up for the guided Reef Bay hike and you will learn about the flora, fauna and history of the VI!

Hello Gapa,

I second the suggestion for the guided Reef Bay Hike with the Park service - great hike and really great to not have to hike all the way back up - its a long trail. Great.

Beaches for beginners - Trunk Bay has a snorkeling trail and you swim out to it from shore - it isnt difficult. Cinnamon Bay and Lameshur Bay also - not to bad for a beginner. Waterlemon is nice but a bit more trying of a swim with the currents. Salt Pond Bay is also good and not to bad for a beginner. The swim factor is what I am considering in terms of difficultly - as for as snorkeling once you get it you get it... not much to it.

There are some beaches connected by trails - go to the top of this page and select St. John - select the sub topic National Park and then trails... there is a list of all trails and a short description, time it takes, where it goes ect.

There is a trail connecting Solomon, Honeymoon and Caneel Bay that is nice. There is a nice trail out at Lameshur and Salt Pond Bay also.

The National Park Visitor Center will provide a map and the list of trails. Annaberg and Cinnamon bay ruins are worth hiking around and are easy to do.

--Islander

Francis Bay beach. Not a ton of coral but lots of fish to see. Also, there is a hiking trail, I believe called Francis Bay nature trail, which is easy and interesting. The beach is beautiful, easy in and out of the water.