Hart Bay Beach, St. John USVI
Sometimes the best Caribbean experience is one spent on the beach just listening to the wafting breeze roll in from the sea. Not everyone is into the overwrought tourist attractions of Cruz Bay, with its incredibly shopping and busy streets. If you’re interested in just setting up camp and having a good time watching the waves roll in, you must visit Hart Bay and enjoy the day to your heart’s content.
Hart Bay is sand and coral rubble covered beach that provides great opportunities for families or individuals to enjoy the scenery of the St. John coast. You’ll get the chance to see some of the vegetation that is inherent in many of the beaches of St. John --including sea grape, beach maho, and mangrove trees all along the shoreline. Where the water is shallow, there are bunches of sea grass and algae growing in the sandy patches. Though the beach itself is perfectly serene, the waters can get a little choppy. There’s a nice cool breeze that rolls in from the sea.
What’s the most intriguing aspect of Hart Bay is that it’s perfect for those who want to have a nice quiet picnic with the family or with a loved one. The beach is usually unpopulated and there aren’t many people who frequent the beach at all during the week --despite the ease with which one can get to Hart Bay. The view from the beach is absolutely spectacular, as are the sounds and scents. It’s a typical island paradise for those who like the serenity of a secluded beach.
There are two trails that lead to the beach from Chocolate Hole --one goes to the northern end of the beach while the other veers to the southern end. Both sides have a fairly simple trail to navigate, adding to the incredible wonder of the beach. You’ll be able to sight many of the natural spectacles of a typical beach --a dry forest visage with a salt pond on its edge. If you’re the type to get an early start, you’ll be able to do a little early morning bird watching, take a walk through the mangrove trees, and find your way to the beach for an afternoon of carefree leisure.
Though the water is clear, it is normally a bit rough to wade through. Throughout the year the waters get restless and crash upon the rocks that surround the shore. However, on rare occasions the water is relatively calm. This provides the perfect snorkeling atmosphere for intermediate to advanced snorkelers. The water that is closest to the beach is shallow and a great many sea urchins make it and the grass that’s nearest the beach their home. North of a collection of rocks there are areas where colorful sea sponge and coral protect the schools of fish that inhabit the area. For the most part, however, the waters stay turbulent --due to the easterly trades. Just enjoy the beach and the beauty of the water from the shore.