Kiddel Bay Beach, St. John USVI
Sometimes you just want to get away from the mainstream tourist attractions that are overrun by overzealous visitors to the Caribbean. If you’re looking for something that’s not frequented by rowdy guests or busy bee shoppers, then perhaps you need to take at trip to Kiddel Bay. A location that’s decidedly “off the beaten track”, Kiddel Bay could provide you the privacy and secluded luxury of a St. John beach without scrambling to find a perfect spot in front of the sea.
Kiddel Bay is a different sort of beach, the kind of beach that most tourists won’t visit because it doesn’t share the same opulent visage as some of the main beaches in St. John. For instance, the beach isn’t enveloped in pristine white sand; but rather, the beach is covered in cobblestone and coral rubble. Something else that differentiates Kiddel Bay from, say Cruz Bay is that instead of comprehensive parking lots, your best location for parking your car is under a huge tamarind tree. The advantages, of course, are all inherent in the nature of the beach. It’s perfect for those looking for a wholly different experience to their Caribbean vacation.
On the one hand, there aren’t many facilities to speak of. On the other, this leaves the potential for creating your own Caribbean paradise infinite. The beach is made of cobblestone, but his allows the beach goers the perfect location for laying down a beach blanket and having a picnic next to the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Again, the parking isn’t abundant, but this cuts down on rowdy tourists and gives you the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of St. John beyond the shopping epicenter of Cruz Bay.
You’ll also notice that the water is relatively calm all year around. This provides you with ample opportunity to do a bit of snorkeling or swimming. And as the beach is usually unpopulated, you won’t have to worry about waiting for a turn to take a dip in whatever part of the beach you want. The snorkeling on Kiddel Bay is magnificent. There is a reef that extends out off the point. There are a series of depressions, grooves, and arches for your exploration once you take a dive underwater. There are tunnels that are full of colorful coral and sponges as far as the eye can see. If you swim a little further, you’ll notice schools of incredible fish swimming among the coral around the reef.
If you like to be a bit more adventurous, perhaps you’d like to try the rock scramble that’s available on Kiddel Bay. From this vantage point you can outlook beyond the bay and see the gorgeous skyline. There’s also a salt pond behind the beach that gives you more of an excuse to do a little free range exploration --especially because this salt pond is frequented by many walks of bird life. If you’re looking for something a little different for your Caribbean getaway, then you must take a trip to Kiddel Bay.