St. Thomas USVI · Best Beaches

Limetree Beach

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Limetree Beach is a small south beach running along a natural cove, east of downtown and next to Morningstar Beach and three major resorts and home to the iguanas, the native tropical American lizard and the population is largely made up of Caribbean people whose ancestors were Africans and Europeans as well as Americans from the mainland, Hispanics and people from all across the Caribbean.

Most islanders in St. Thomas are religious people although superstitions and stories about jumbies (spirits) that walk around in homes are a Caribbean tradition and often used as cautionary tales for children but fascinating as natives storytelling for tourists. Some of Limetree Beach tales that you can hear from locals are:

If you want to give the clue to your guests to leave you must put a broom upside down by the door and throw salt over the doorstep.

• Keep a chicken, especially a shaggy one because jumbies don't like them.
• Scatter ninety-nine grains of corn outside the door and the jumbies will be preoccupied with looking for the 100th and away from you
• If you hear a sound in the streets at night it is the ghost of any old pirate clanking their chains.
• When in troubles with jumbies point a pen at an evil spirit and it will leave quietly.

The serenity of Limetree Beach with its luring backdrop of sea grape trees and shady palms are the perfect place to throw a Frisbee around, lay out watching sailboats and cruise ships sailing by or just catching the iguanas playing hide-and-seek in the blooming bougainvilleas and other tropical foliage that frames the seashore in front of the Bluebeard's Beach Club. The iguanas are so accustomed to visitors that you can often feed them with a red mallow or hibiscus flower, their favorite snack.

Limetree Beach offers a restaurant and bar next to the beach for your convenience with light food and tropical refreshments. The amenities range from bathroom, lounge and beach chairs, towels, snorkeling gear. The water sports center is limited and with sports equipment and kayaks available to rent. Swimming in Limetree Beach is mild to rough surf and somewhat difficult in the entry as the initial area is rocky and not child friendly without supervision in water. Complimentary activities include windsurfing, surfing, tennis and non-motorized water sports.

There is no public transportation in Limetree Beach although it is easily reachable by taxi or car from Charlotte Amalie or using a free shuttle that connects Bolongo Bay to Limetree Beach although it only runs from one beach to the other every half-hour and it is usual to find a big group of people waiting to get into the 7-minute ride at each side.

During your visit enjoy playing on kayaks, water trikes, foam mattresses or feeding iguanas but don't miss an afternoon sit on the beach to watch the sunset, an enjoyable experience.

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