Photo: Gruepig · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBeach· St Thomas· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Magens Bay
18° 22.0′ N · 64° 55.8′ W
St. Thomas's most famous beach: three-quarters of a mile of white sand at the head of a deep, calm bay between the Peterborg peninsula and Tropaco Point, a public park deeded to the people of the Virgin Islands by Arthur Fairchild in 1947.
Practical
Coordinates are Wikipedia's for Magens Bay. Wikipedia: run by the Magens Bay Authority with lifeguards, showers, a snack bar and rentals; about 300,000 visitors a year; turtles, rays and tarpon but little reef to snorkel; small local fishing boats anchor in the eastern part. The park charges admission at the gate (Magens Bay Beach Club rental site). Coast Pilot: depths 5 to 12 fathoms, with a 1.25 fathom bank 0.3 mile off the head of the bay; open to the northwest and exposed to rollers; entering from the north avoid Ornen Rock (6 ft) a mile east of Inner Brass, and from the east give the rocks 30 yards northeast of Picara Point a wide berth in ground swell. Not on DPNR's designated-anchorage list (Noonsite 2018): check stay limits. Busy on cruise-ship days.
Best for
A classic beach day; flat water for swimming
Season
Best Apr to Oct; winter north swells can roll in
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).