Sapphire Beach

Sapphire sits on the eastern end of St Thomas looking straight across Pillsbury Sound to St John, with the ferries and sailboats crossing in front of it all day. There is reef along the northern end of the bay within easy swimming distance, and the sand is pale and reasonably wide. A resort behind it has been through several closures and rebuilds, most recently after the 2017 hurricanes, so the facilities on the beach come and go, but the beach itself is public as all Virgin Islands beaches are. It is a short drive from Red Hook, where the St John ferry leaves.

What you actually see

• The view to St John - across Pillsbury Sound with the ferries crossing.
• The reef - at the northern end, within swimming distance.
• The sand - pale and wider than most St Thomas beaches.
• Red Hook - the ferry port and its restaurants, minutes away.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Mornings are calmest for snorkelling. Winter ground swell can make this end of the island rough. Weekends bring local families.

Honest expectations

The resort behind the beach has been closed and under redevelopment for years since the 2017 hurricanes, so facilities are unreliable and the backdrop is a building site at times. Public access is legally guaranteed but the route is not well signed. There is no lifeguard and the reef end has sea urchins.

Nearby

Red Hook and the St John ferry are five minutes; Coki Point is ten minutes north.