Anchorage· St John· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)

Maho Bay Moorings

18° 21.5′ N · 64° 44.8′ W

A calm, shallow, sand-and-seagrass bay on the north shore where green turtles graze under the boats, with a beach bar across the road.

British Virgin IslandsUS Virgin IslandsSpanish Virgins

Practical

Position is the GNIS point for Maho Bay. NPS moorings (white with blue stripe, up to 60 ft); the Compendium lists 2 big-boat moorings (61 to 100 ft) here. Maho is part of the designated Francis/Maho anchorage for vessels up to 210 ft when moorings are full (boats 60 ft and under may anchor only if all suitable moorings are taken). The head of the bay is shoal with a fine sand beach (Coast Pilot). Dinghy tethers at Maho Bay beach and Little Maho beach. Water goes murky in north swells (NPS). Ashore: pavilion, restrooms, Maho Crossroads bar and food trucks. Pay at the Francis Bay floating station or by app. Park mooring rules (NPS marine page and 2026 Superintendent's Compendium): no anchoring while on a mooring; never secure to a mooring with stern cleats; catamarans run a bridle with one line from each bow cleat through the pennant thimble; no fishing from moorings; 5 mph / no wake in and near mooring fields; vacate park moorings when tropical-storm conditions (winds of 40 mph or more) are forecast. Overnight fee US$26/night (US$13 with Senior/Access pass; NPS fee table labelled 2024, page updated Sept 2026; a 2024 proposal would raise it to US$40 for boats up to 60 ft and charge 24 hours a day, so verify locally), payable before spending the night (5 pm to 7 am) via the Recreation.gov app (scan the QR code on the pay station, site 10214380) or envelope; limit 7 consecutive nights per bay and 30 nights per year. First come, first served; no reservations.

Best for

Overnight with turtles and an easy beach-bar run

Season

Year-round; murky and rolly in winter north swell

Itineraries that stop here

Nearby