Trunk Bay Beach

Trunk Bay, on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, isn't just another pretty beach. Many call it the Caribbean’s most beautiful, and its underwater snorkeling trail truly sets it apart. Imagine swimming a 225-meter path, guided by interpretive plaques detailing brain coral and parrotfish. It’s an aquatic gallery.

This beach sits inside Virgin Islands National Park, a preserve covering two-thirds of St. John. That protection keeps things pristine. The sand is soft, white, and cool underfoot. The water? A vibrant, almost impossible turquoise. Above, tropical forests cascade down the hillsides.

Offshore, Trunk Cay acts as a natural barrier, keeping the bay waters placid. Laurance Rockefeller donated this land in 1956. His foresight guaranteed this stretch of Caribbean would remain untouched. Keep an eye out for green sea turtles; they frequent the bay. From the shore, views stretch out toward the British Virgin Islands, a truly expansive vista.