Select a Beach by Location: Snorkeling ------ North Shore Beaches ------ Salomon Bay Honeymoon Bay Caneel Bay Scott Bay Turtle Bay Caneel Hawksnest Hawksnest Bay Little Hawksnest Bay Gibney Beach Very Little Hawksnest Denis Bay Jumbie Beach Trunk Bay Cinnamon Bay Little Cinnamon Bay Maho Bay Little Maho Bay Francis Bay Leinster Bay / Waterlemon ------ East End Beaches ------ Brown Bay Haulover (North) Hansen Bay/Vie's Haulover (South) ------ South Shore Beaches ------ Salt Pond Kiddel Bay Grootpan Great Lameshur Bay Lameshur Bay Europa Bay Reef Bay Genti Bay Little Reef Bay Parrot Bay ------ Cruz Bay Area Beaches ------ Ditleff Point Klein Bay Monte Bay Hart Bay Chocolate Hole Great Cruz Bay Frank Bay Cruz Bay

St. John USVI Beaches: Honeymoon Bay

Why Honeymoon?
Honeymoon and Salomon Beaches exist within the same bay and are separated only by a small rocky point of land. They both contain the magnificent qualities common to all the beaches of St. John's north shore, but they differ from the other beaches primarily in how you get there. You can go by boat, but almost everyone arrives by trail.

Walking along these forest paths gives you the chance to experience the beauty and tranquility of the unspoiled interior of St. John. Although the hike is relatively easy, there is enough of a physical challenge to make your arrival at the beach, followed by a cooling dip in the crystal-clear Caribbean, a sensuous and welcome reward.

Consequently, if you like the idea of taking a trail to the beach, or if you want to experience the excellent snorkeling described for Salomon Bay, but prefer a venue offering a more traditional experience in terms of beach attire, Honeymoon Bay is a fine alternative. It lies just to the east of Salomon and enjoys the same natural beauty and fantastic views. The snorkeling reef fringes the rocky point between the two bays and is just as easily accessible from either beach.

Getting There
Like Salomon there is no road to Honeymoon. You need to walk the trail or go by boat.

Sailboat anchored in Honeymoon Bay

Shortest Walk (steep)
For the shortest walk (less than a half mile, with a descent of 250 feet) to Honeymoon Beach, take Route 20 past Mongoose Junction and up the hill. Turn left at the top of the hill where there is a blue Virgin Islands National Park sign.
Immediately on the right hand side, is a parking area for approximately four vehicles. Park here if you drove. The Caneel Hill Spur Trail intersects Route 20 and is marked with a sign that reads: "To Lind Point Trail." Take this trail north and downhill bearing to the right at the Lind Point Trail junction.

Easiest Walk
The Caneel Bay Resort provides public land access to Caneel and Honeymoon Beaches. Unlike the narrow forest trail that winds down a rocky hillside, the dirt road from the Caneel Bay parking lot is well-maintained and there are no hills to climb. On your way to the beach, you can enjoy the magnificent landscaping that borders the road.

From Town
If you would rather walk from town, Honeymoon can also be reached by taking the Lind Point Trail. It will be a little over a mile from Cruz Bay to Honeymoon. Follow the directions to Solomon Bay, but when you get to the Solomon Bay spur, continue on the Lind Point Trail instead of turning left.

Morning at Honeymoon Bay

Honeymoon Bay Afternoon

Facilities
Facilities available at Honeymoon include garbage cans and two portable toilets located in front of an old block and wood structure.

Couple at St John's Honeymoon Bay

Shade
Honeymoon offers the possibility of shade beneath the large maho tree near the center of the beach or under one of the low-lying seagrapes.

Honeymoon Bay

Tip
Only the reef area on the west is protected by swim buoys, thus allowing boats to come right up to the rest of the beach. As the only St. JOhn north shore beach where this is permitted, Honeymoon Bay has become a favorite destination of day charter boats, which arrive in late morning and depart by mid afternoon.

View from Honeymoon Bay

The View
From both Salomon Bay and Honeymoon Bays you can see most of the islands that define Pillsbury Sound. Looking from the west to the east you will see St. Thomas, Thatch, Grass, Mingo, Lovango, Ramgoat and Henley Cays and Jost Van Dyke, one of the British Virgin Islands. (The word “cay is pronounced “key” in the Virgin Islands.)

Reef at Honeymoon Bay

Snorkeling
The best snorkeling is over the excellent coral reef described in the Salomon Bay section, which lies off the rocky point on the west side of Honeymoon Beach.

The reef on the point on eastern end of the beach between Caneel Bay and Honeymoon Bays, is smaller than the western reef, but also also offers excellent snorkeling with the advantage of being easier to access.