It’s hard to argue that going to Trunk Bay on your first day is a bad idea. Sure some consider it to be the most touristy beach, but once you visit it’s easy to see why its so popular. It is often rated as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean and it is certainly the most photographed. Make sure you stop for a great photo op at the overlook along the North Shore road.
We would recommend not going on days when there are lots of cruise ships visiting St. Thomas, because Trunk can get crowded. If you visit at off peak times like early in the morning or late in the afternoon, this top rated beach might only have a few people on it. Once you walk on the powder white sand and take a dip in the clear water, it might be hard to leave the beach, let alone St. John.
Trunk Bay is the only beach on St. John where you have to pay an admission fee. It’s worth it though because you get lifeguards, bathrooms, showers, a snack bar, snorkel rentals and an underwater snorkel trail. Even though there is better snorkeling elsewhere on St. John, Trunk Bay is a good place to start because of the underwater signage along the self guided trail. As we right this, Trunk Bay is open to visitors but is not yet charging admission because all of the facilities are not yet up and running.
