St. Thomas USVI · Attractions

Magens Bay

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

One of the best white sand beaches in the Caribbean and notably popular is Magens Bay with it's over sized scallop of sand and palm trees and located at the end of the well known tree-shaded Route 35 Magens Road on St. Thomas' north shore and west of the Mahogany Run Golf Course. This elongated horseshoe-shaped bay is usually listed as one of the most beautiful top ten beaches of the world, including National Geographic citation, and the most visited in the US Virgin Islands.

Popular among visitors and locals alike, the one mile long Magens Bay stretch is undeveloped and deeded to the people of the Virgin Islands to be used as a public park, is the only beach on St. Thomas that has an entry fee, however those funds are used to maintain the facilities and the beach itself. Admissions are as follow: $1 USD per car, $1 per person and 25 cents per child under 12.

On Sundays and holidays, Magens Bay has a busy activity of numerous cruise ships stopping on tour itineraries, but to appreciate its natural beauty it is recommended to visit the beach after 5 pm when it is sparsely populated and ideal to enjoy, time when the locals use to walk on the beach for exercise after the work on weekday afternoons.

With a flat sandy bottom and a very calm, warm and clear water deepens gradually from shore, Magen Bay is ideal for swimming and great as a family beach making it perfect for small children to float along or learn to swim. There is also a Life Guard service from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Sunday and 365 days of the year which is contrary to other beaches in St. Thomas, nude bathing is not allowed on Magens Bay except at Little Magens Beach which is a short swim away.

Explore Magens Bay natural attractions at St. Peter Greathouse Estate & Gardens following the trail through nearly 200 varieties of tropical plants and the orchid jungle that leads to the 11 acre tropical restored world-class estate at the top of the volcanic peaks of St. Thomas. Enjoy the classic native stonework and Caribbean architecture showcase with a gallery of Duty Free local artwork, visiting the Greathouse Botanical Boutique for a truly tropical gift or remembrance or just taking a rum punch break to watch the scenic botanical gardens perched on the mountain side 1,000 feet above sea level.

Not only Magen Bays, but the whole Virgin Islands are a duty-free Shopping paradise and there are not any sales or luxury sales taxes; U.S. citizens are allowed a $1,200 duty-free shopping allowance per person, which means twice that of any other Caribbean island and three times that of European countries as well. Shoppers may send through the postal service one duty-free gift per day worth $100 or less excepting perfumes, liquors or tobacco. Duty free items include; electronics, fine jewelry, linens, liquor and spirits, cigars, cigarettes, coffees, designer clothing, imported soaps and perfumes, designer beauty care products, watches, cameras, and island made hot sauces and other native items.

Back to the beach activities, there are not any specialized centers nor snorkeling facilities at Magens Bay for water sports enthusiasts, but snorkeling is possible along the rocky areas on each end of the heart shaped mile-long and it is easy to find sailboat rentals, kayak and sailing crafts are available to the guests.

Magen Bay offers food, drinks and refreshments through a snack bar, a pizzeria, full-service bar, restaurant and the "Udder Delight Dairy Farm" at south of Magens Bay's entrance, where a fresh milkshake is obligated to discover why this farm is justifiably renowned. The range of amenities include covered picnic tables, beach chairs rental, floats, a small boutique, showers, bathroom, restroom and dressing and changing lockers areas added to the overall comfort and convenience of this public park. Taxis are plentiful throughout the day as well as it is easy the accessibility by car.

As Territorial Park, do not attempt to remove sand, shells or coral, dead or alive, from Magen Bay or any other beach at the Virgin Islands.

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See you on the Island, John "Big Hat" Walsh