If you’re thinking, “Didn’t I just read about St. John?”, you’d be absolutely right! We recently explored this incredible island and, as shared in our previous post, St. John truly captured our hearts. So much so, that my husband and I are seriously considering purchasing property here, prompting several return visits to find the perfect island spot. During our last trip, we briefly touched upon the Coral Bay side of St. John, but this time, we dedicated an entire week to fully immerse ourselves in its unique charm and decide which side of the island resonates most with us. Spoiler alert: both sides are undeniably amazing! This post is dedicated to our delightful week spent in Coral Bay, St. John, in the US Virgin Islands.
Before diving in, a friendly reminder: if you choose to experience the beauty of St. John, please remember to treat this special place with the utmost respect. A remarkable 70% of the island is designated as National Park land, making it exceptionally precious. Furthermore, respecting local etiquette is highly appreciated. Initiating conversations with a warm “good morning,” “good day,” or “good evening,” will be warmly received by the locals. And remember, island time is a real and wonderful thing to embrace!
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Getting to Coral Bay, St. John: Your Transportation Guide
Understanding transportation is key to planning your St. John getaway, especially when venturing to Coral Bay. It’s important to note that St. John itself does not have an airport. Your journey begins by flying into St. Thomas (airport code STT). From there, you’ll need to take a ferry to reach St. John.
For our previous trip, we opted for a private taxi from the airport to Red Hook. Red Hook is a convenient departure point for one of the public ferries to St. John. The taxi ride from the airport to Red Hook typically takes around 40 minutes, sometimes less depending on traffic. The Red Hook Ferry offers frequent departures, making the 20-minute ferry ride to St. John quick and easy. Despite sounding a bit complex initially, the entire process was surprisingly smooth and efficient. We purchased our ferry tickets online in advance here, which streamlined our travel day. While there are other ferry options, including a car ferry, we chose to rent our car directly on St. John for convenience.
For this most recent trip to Coral Bay, we explored a different transportation method and booked Dolphin Water Taxi through Antares, our villa booking agency. Dolphin Water Taxi specializes in private transportation to St. John. As our arrival was scheduled for a later evening, we wanted the most direct and quickest route to the island, avoiding any wait times associated with the public ferry schedule. Dolphin Water Taxi provided seamless service, transporting us from the St. Thomas airport to a private dock by taxi, and then whisking us away to St. John via private boat. While it was a more premium expense, the convenience and speed were well worth it for our travel needs.
One crucial detail to remember when planning your stay in Coral Bay is its location relative to the ferry dock. Coral Bay is situated approximately 30 minutes by car from the ferry dock in Cruz Bay (travel time can vary slightly depending on the specific location of your accommodation within Coral Bay). Therefore, if you’re staying on the Coral Bay side of St. John, be prepared for a scenic drive after arriving at the ferry dock. Trust us, the slightly longer journey is absolutely worth it to reach the tranquil beauty of Coral Bay!
Renting a car is highly recommended, almost essential, for exploring St. John, and especially for navigating the hilly terrain of Coral Bay. Opting for a vehicle with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) or 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) is advisable due to the steep and winding roads. Car rentals are in high demand on St. John, so it’s crucial to book your rental car as soon as you finalize your trip dates to secure your vehicle. Jeep rentals are particularly popular and readily available on the island. For maximum convenience, look for a rental company that offers pick-up service directly at the ferry dock in Cruz Bay, or choose one that is within easy walking distance from the ferry. Many rental agencies are conveniently located near the ferry terminal. If you are traveling with young children and require car seats, we recommend either bringing your own or renting them from Island Baby. Island Baby offers a fantastic service, delivering car seats directly to your car rental company and picking them up at the end of your trip, saving you valuable travel time and hassle. They also offer rentals for other baby and toddler necessities.
Lastly, a helpful reminder for US citizens: you do not need a passport to visit St. John or any of the US Virgin Islands! However, having passports can expedite your airport experience upon your return to the mainland US. Regarding COVID-19 travel protocols, we were required to submit a negative PCR COVID test taken within 5 days of arrival through the USVI Travel Portal and show proof of submission upon arrival. No test was required for our return journey at that time. However, travel guidelines are subject to change, so it is imperative to check the USVI Travel Portal for the most up-to-date requirements before your trip!
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Why Choose Coral Bay, St. John? Embracing the Quiet Side
St. John is geographically divided into two primary areas: Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. Cruz Bay, being the location of the main ferry dock, is naturally the busier hub of the island. While still possessing a charming, small-island feel compared to larger Caribbean destinations, Cruz Bay offers a greater concentration of shops, restaurants, and activity. We absolutely adored Cruz Bay during our previous visit, but this time, we were eager to discover the allure of Coral Bay.
Coral Bay is located approximately a 20-30 minute drive from Cruz Bay, depending on your specific destination within Coral Bay. This slight distance contributes significantly to Coral Bay’s distinct atmosphere. Coral Bay exudes a noticeably quieter and more laid-back vibe compared to Cruz Bay. While Coral Bay still offers a selection of charming shops and restaurants, they are fewer in number and more spread out, contributing to a sense of remoteness and tranquility, without sacrificing essential conveniences. It felt like a true escape, while still providing everything we needed for a comfortable and enjoyable vacation.
One of the unique appeals of the Coral Bay side of St. John is its abundant wildlife. During our stay, we were delighted to encounter wild donkeys, chickens, goats, and even peacocks roaming freely throughout the area. On one memorable occasion, a group of donkeys even wandered down to the beach right in front of our villa! In addition to the captivating wildlife, we found the beaches on the Coral Bay side, specifically the South Shore and East End beaches, to be significantly less crowded and more serene than the popular North Shore beaches closer to Cruz Bay. Staying in Coral Bay this time was truly a wonderful experience, and we wholeheartedly plan to return to this peaceful haven in the future.
Accommodation in Coral Bay: Finding Your Perfect Villa
For our Coral Bay escape, we once again enlisted the expertise of Antares Property and Hospitality to book our accommodation. They assisted us in finding the most exquisite villa, Coral Cove. Coral Cove is nestled in Johns Folly Bay, a truly secluded and tranquil area within Coral Bay. If being in the heart of the action is your priority, Coral Cove might feel a bit removed. However, for us, feeling wonderfully isolated and immersed in the island’s natural beauty was precisely what we desired. It was an exceptionally special location! Perched on a point, the villa benefited from constant, refreshing breezes and direct beach access. While the beach directly in front of the villa is not ideal for swimming due to the coral, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring its shoreline and discovering its unique treasures. The landscaping surrounding Coral Cove was simply breathtaking, creating a lush and tropical paradise. Our children were endlessly entertained discovering hermit crabs in the gardens, collecting seashells along the beach, and learning about the diverse plant life on the property. A charming fish pond on the grounds, where they could feed the fish each morning, was another highlight for them.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Coral Cove villa features a unique layout with separate pods housing the bedrooms. This is something to consider if you are traveling with young children and prefer to have them in close proximity. In our case, we had other adults traveling with us who shared rooms with our older children, so this arrangement worked perfectly. Each bedroom pod was comfortably appointed with air conditioning, a private full bathroom, and ample closet space. Coral Cove is ideally suited for large families or multiple families traveling together, offering everyone plenty of personal space and privacy. The villa also boasts a stunning pool, a relaxing hammock, and its own private beach area. Thoughtfully, the house was equipped with pool towels, coolers, beach chairs, and essentially everything we could possibly need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. We wholeheartedly recommend Coral Cove! And again, Antares was instrumental in booking this villa and other aspects of our trip – their service was truly exceptional, and we are already planning to book through them again later this year!
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Dining in Coral Bay and Beyond: Restaurants to Explore
As we mentioned in our previous St. John post, grocery shopping is essential if you are staying in a villa, especially in Coral Bay where dining options are more spread out. Several excellent companies offer provisioning services, allowing you to pre-order groceries that will be delivered and stocked at your villa prior to your arrival. For this trip, we used Landlubber Logistics and were extremely impressed with their service. We will definitely be using them again in the future. Beyond grocery shopping, Landlubber Logistics also offers the fantastic option of picking up pre-ordered arrival meals, ensuring a hot and delicious meal waiting for you when you arrive at your villa. We took full advantage of this service as we were arriving late in the day and knew everyone would be hungry and tired after traveling. Highly recommend Landlubber Logistics – they were fantastic!
During this trip, we explored some new restaurants in Coral Bay, as well as revisited some of our favorites from our previous St. John vacation.
SKINNY LEGS: This is a fantastic casual spot known for its delicious burgers! We stopped at Skinny Legs for lunch before heading out on our Salt Deck boat charter, as the dock for Salty Daze Charters is conveniently located right there. It’s an ideal lunch spot if you have an afternoon boat trip planned. This time, I opted for the grilled chicken salad, and it was absolutely delicious! Skinny Legs has a fun, relaxed, island vibe.
SALTY MONGOOSE: Coming from the pizza capital of the US, we take pizza very seriously in our household, and my kids gave the pizza at Salty Mongoose a resounding thumbs up! Another restaurant with a wonderfully chill atmosphere, Salty Mongoose is entirely outdoors and very casual. They offer great drinks, a selection of pizzas and salads, and overall, it’s just a fun and enjoyable place to spend an evening.
HIGH TIDE BAR & SEAFOOD GRILL: We loved High Tide during our last visit to St. John, so we made sure to return this time. It’s perfectly situated right on the beach in Cruz Bay, allowing you to enjoy your drinks while relaxing in beach chairs and watching the ferries come and go from the Cruz Bay dock. The food is excellent, it’s conveniently located near shopping, and the atmosphere is very laid-back and relaxed. We highly recommend High Tide!
MORGAN’S MANGO: My husband and I enjoyed a delightful date night at Morgan’s Mango with some new friends we made on the island! The food was truly phenomenal – we HIGHLY recommend making a reservation if you can, as it’s a popular spot. I even tried their ceviche (and I don’t typically eat seafood!) and was amazed at how incredible it was. It was made with red snapper and served with plantains drizzled with balsamic… absolutely divine! Morgan’s Mango is a dining experience that will not disappoint.
WINDMILL BAR: We were told that Windmill Bar was the place to go for sunset views, and it certainly lived up to the hype! Perched atop a high hill overlooking the water, the panoramic view is simply STUNNING. It does get quite crowded at sunset, but even with the crowds, it was a fantastic experience. We enjoyed burgers and drinks, and they even have a designated area for kids to run around and play on swings, making it family-friendly.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
HOMEMADE MEALS TO GO: This charming little spot is located right in Coral Bay and offers exactly what the name suggests… homemade meals to go! We stopped in after a beach day and grabbed some of their vegan ice cream, conch fritters, and chicken. If you are in Coral Bay, you MUST try their coffee ice cream with chocolate-covered espresso beans. OH MY WORD. I devoured an entire container because it was that incredibly delicious (and dairy-free!!!). Homemade Meals To Go is a perfect spot to quickly pick up a delicious homemade meal to enjoy back at your villa.
GREENGOS: We stumbled upon Greengos restaurant in Mongoose Junction one evening when we were struggling to find a place with seating for our larger group (poor planning on my part not to make reservations in advance!). However, it turned out to be a happy accident as we enjoyed some great Mexican food at Greengos! I had a delicious taco bowl, and my husband Pat ordered the biggest burrito I have ever seen, which he also declared was excellent! Greengos is an easy and reliable option for dinner, especially if you plan to do some shopping in Mongoose Junction afterwards. And for dessert, be sure to check out St. John Scoops or Irie Pops nearby!
You can find more restaurant recommendations and details about other dining experiences from our previous trip in my earlier St. John post right here!
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Exploring the Beaches of Coral Bay and St. John’s East End
During our previous St. John trip, we primarily explored the renowned North Shore beaches, which you can read all about here. This time, we focused our beach explorations on the South Shore and East End of St. John to discover the hidden gems these less-visited coastal areas have to offer!
SALT POND BAY BEACH: The Coral Cove villa we stayed in was remarkably close to Salt Pond Bay Beach, which was a huge perk! Reaching the beach involves a short hike, approximately 1/4 mile (and remember, the hike back up to the car is also part of the adventure!). However, the short trek is 100000% worth it! Salt Pond Bay Beach boasts incredibly calm and shallow waters, making it ideal for swimming, especially for children. The kids were also able to enjoy snorkeling right from the shoreline. Salt Pond Bay Beach is also located near the trailhead for the Ram Head Trail, a scenic hike we have yet to experience but is definitely on our list for our next visit! I especially loved the peacefulness of Salt Pond Bay Beach and the fact that it was relatively uncrowded. Highly recommend checking out this beautiful spot.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
LITTLE LAMESHUR BAY: Getting to Little Lameshur Bay is definitely an adventure in itself! We later learned that some car rental contracts actually advise against driving to Little Lameshur due to the rugged road conditions (something we admittedly overlooked in the fine print, oops!). The journey involves a significant stretch of off-roading, and a 4×4 vehicle is absolutely essential. However, your efforts are rewarded upon arrival at a truly remote and stunning beach with breathtaking views! Little Lameshur Bay offers ample shade, picnic grills if you want to cook out, and a short trail leading to the Sugar Mill Ruins. The Sugar Mill Ruins trail is an easy and well-maintained path, making it accessible for all ages and abilities. My children particularly enjoyed exploring the historic ruins! The beach itself is characterized by calm and shallow waters, perfect for kids, and also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
MAHO BEACH: We made a return trip to Maho Beach this time because our sons didn’t join us on our previous St. John adventure, and my oldest son was particularly disappointed about missing the chance to see sea turtles. Maho Beach is practically a guaranteed sea turtle sighting! I’m so glad we went back, as we had an incredible experience snorkeling with the most massive sea turtle I have ever encountered! (See the video below!). The video truly doesn’t even capture its immense size – its shell was easily over 3 feet wide. Such an unforgettable experience! Maho Beach also offers convenient amenities, including bathrooms and food vendors, as well as water sports rentals. The only downside to Maho Beach is that it can get very CROWDED, especially during peak season. Parking can be challenging to find, and there are often many people in the water. My recommendation is to arrive early in the morning and leave by midday to avoid the biggest crowds and secure a decent spot on the beach.
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
HANSEN BEACH: We had initially planned to visit a different beach on the day we discovered Hansen Beach, but a change of plans led us here instead, and I am SO thrilled that things worked out the way they did! What a true gem Hansen Beach is! It is located quite far out on the East End of St. John, but it is absolutely stunning. Hansen Beach operates entirely on donations (it is privately owned but generously opened to the public by its incredibly kind owner!). We made sure to leave a donation to support this wonderful spot. Parking was easy, and the owner also offered various water activities for rent. We are already planning to spend an entire day at Hansen Beach when we return to St. John in April!
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
Things to Do in and Around Coral Bay, St. John
We intentionally kept our planned activities to a minimum during this Coral Bay trip, which was perfectly fine with us! We enjoyed leisurely exploring the charming shops in Coral Bay and also spent some time browsing in Cruz Bay. While there are still numerous hiking trails on St. John that I am eager to explore, our primary focus this time was relaxation and soaking in the island atmosphere. That’s truly the beauty of St. John – it offers something for everyone and allows you to tailor your vacation to your preferences. Whether you seek adventure and activity or prefer to unwind and relax, St. John provides the perfect setting.
We did, however, take another unforgettable boat trip with Salt Deck by Salty Daze Charters because we loved our experience with them so much during our previous visit. I highly recommend Salty Daze Charters, especially for families with young children! The onboard waterslide is always a huge hit with kids (and adults!), and they offer half-day charters, which are ideal for families with shorter attention spans or younger children. Salty Daze Charters will also take you to the famous Lime Out, the floating taco bar, for a unique dining experience on the water! You can read more about our previous adventure with Salty Daze Charters in my earlier St. John blog post. If you decide to book a trip with Salty Daze Charters, be sure to ask for Captain Landry or Captain Justin and tell them the McBrides sent you! 🙂
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
And now for the question everyone is asking… which did we prefer, staying in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay? Well, I honestly can’t give a definitive answer! I think first-time visitors to St. John might find Cruz Bay more appealing initially due to its proximity to the ferry dock and the majority of restaurants and popular North Shore beaches. Coral Bay definitely offers a calmer and more secluded atmosphere. But if you pressed me to choose an absolute favorite, I truly couldn’t! I love the entire island of St. John so much that I am simply happy to be anywhere on its beautiful shores! We are planning to stay along the North Shore during our next trip and will also be returning to Coral Bay around Thanksgiving. Our dream is to eventually own property on this incredible island! 🙂
Connecticut life and style blogger Lauren McBride shares her experience in Coral Bay, St. John USVI including beaches and restaurants.
If you have any questions that I didn’t answer in this post, please feel free to leave a comment below! And if you end up booking a trip to St. John because of our posts, please let me know! I would love to hear all about your St. John adventures!!!
