The Beaches of the Virgin Islands

The British and U.S. Virgin Islands may differ in many things, but they also share a great deal. For example, travelers will find beautiful white beaches and aquamarine waters on all of the islands.

The Virgin Islands are known for their incredible beaches, in fact, in 2011 St. John's Trunk Bay was voted as one of the "Top 10 Beaches We Love" by The Weather Channel. Whether you choose the quieter British islands or the more bustling U.S. islands, you'll find snorkeling and scuba diving off their shores. However, one thing that will change from beach to beach is the popularity.

As with many other things, the U.S. Virgins practically hold the monopoly on busy tourist spots. While some beachgoers appreciate plenty of activity, others are not so enamored of the crowds and prefer to escape to somewhere a little more secluded. While there are some quieter beaches in the U.S. Virgins, they're often far more difficult to reach than the crowded stops.

Meanwhile, the British Virgins are more sparsely populated and are free of heavy tourist traffic. Visitors seeking a quiet vacation without seeing a soul on the beach would likely find this an easier task on the British islands. However, those who want the action of the crowds will not find many options here.

Remember that every beach and every island have their own specialties. For example, beaches on the northern coast of Tortola in the British Virgins are home to waves favored by surfers. St. John in the U.S. Virgins is home to a national park with well-preserved beaches and incredible reefs.

Another positive point about the beaches in the Virgin Islands is that all but one are free. Only Magens Bay Beach on St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) charges a fee for entry. Still, not all free beaches are easy to reach. Getting to some may require a boat ride or a walk through a hotel, but these can easily be worth the extra effort.

Making a beach choice is easy if you know what you're looking for. However, those who simply want a powdery stretch of sand to enjoy will have far more options than those looking for something specific. Even so, you can rest assured that you'll find something to suit your vacation when you visit these islands.

As with many other aspects of a vacation in the Virgins, the island you stay on and the beaches you visit will depend greatly on the vacation style you seek. To learn more about beaches in both chains, check out the list of links below. They'll take you to detailed pages about each of the beaches, where you can learn more about what you'll find at each one.