Honeymoon Beach

Honeymoon is the most accessible good beach on St John for anyone without a car: the Lind Point trail leaves from behind the national park visitor centre in Cruz Bay and climbs gently through dry forest for about twenty minutes before dropping to the sand, with a viewpoint over the harbour on the way. The bay is west-facing and sheltered, so the water is usually flat, and there is reef at the eastern end. It sits on land that was part of the Caneel Bay resort, which was destroyed in 2017 and has been closed since, a dispute over the lease and the land that has dragged on for years.

What you actually see

• The Lind Point trail - twenty minutes through dry forest from Cruz Bay.
• The overlook - Cruz Bay harbour and the passage to St Thomas.
• The sheltered water - calm and west-facing, good for swimming.
• The reef - snorkelling at the eastern end of the bay.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Mornings are quiet; day boats and concession customers arrive later. The walk is hot and exposed in places, so start early or carry water.

Honest expectations

The Caneel Bay resort behind the beach has been derelict since the 2017 hurricanes amid an unresolved lease dispute, and the surroundings show it. Concessions on the sand come and go depending on the legal situation, so facilities are unpredictable. The trail is uphill on the way back. There is no lifeguard.

Nearby

Cruz Bay is twenty minutes' walk; Trunk Bay is further along the north shore.