Maho Bay Beach
Maho Bay Beach
4.5
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Top ways to experience Maho Bay Beach
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
19 within 3 miles
Attractions
44 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,805 reviews
Excellent
2,244
Very good
440
Average
93
Poor
20
Terrible
8
Ken D
Elizabethtown, KY130 contributions
Jun 2022
My wife and I had first gone to Maho Crossroads in December of 2021. We got back and started sharing our photos with 2 couples who are our best friends, and immediately booked a group trip for a week on St. John. Maho was the 1st beach we went to on the very first day on Island and it did not disappoint. Swimming with GIANT sea turtles, rays, and on this trip we also got to see giant red starfish in the crystal clear waters. We went back a total of 3 times this past week. The food truck (Mahi Sandwich!!!!) was amazing, as was the Paddle in Tiki Bar!
Written June 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joanne
Cancun, Mexico58 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Maho Bay Beach never disappoints. We visited twice on our vacation last week. Sunday was busy with tourists, locals and boaters yet still outstanding. Wednesday was quieter with tourists and not as many boats moored.
Snorkeling both days was amazing. Sea turtles, sting rays, a barracuda, colored fish…. Even heard one say she saw an octopus along the right side at the point. The turtles appeared to put on a show for us. There were 2-5 at any given time about 100 yards out from the middle of the beach. They seemed to breach every ten minutes. Just fun to watch.
We purchase a couple of items from local artist, Banjo Man, who sets up shop near the tiki bar. He likes to work with calabash shells and wood.
There’s a small group of retail operators renting snorkel gear, clothing, SUPs, kayaks and bar/food. They open at 10am. Equipment back by 4pm.
As with all beaches, to avoid getting bitten by mosquitos, sand flies, noseums (to name a few), leave before 3pm. I normally get eaten alive but this year, we departed all beaches by 3pm and returned home pretty much unscathed.
Enjoy!!!!
Snorkeling both days was amazing. Sea turtles, sting rays, a barracuda, colored fish…. Even heard one say she saw an octopus along the right side at the point. The turtles appeared to put on a show for us. There were 2-5 at any given time about 100 yards out from the middle of the beach. They seemed to breach every ten minutes. Just fun to watch.
We purchase a couple of items from local artist, Banjo Man, who sets up shop near the tiki bar. He likes to work with calabash shells and wood.
There’s a small group of retail operators renting snorkel gear, clothing, SUPs, kayaks and bar/food. They open at 10am. Equipment back by 4pm.
As with all beaches, to avoid getting bitten by mosquitos, sand flies, noseums (to name a few), leave before 3pm. I normally get eaten alive but this year, we departed all beaches by 3pm and returned home pretty much unscathed.
Enjoy!!!!
Written October 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CarolinaNurse323
Kernersville, NC6,134 contributions
Jun 2022
Maho Bay Beach is a beautiful beach with clear, calm waters but you have to arrive early to get some of their limited parking.
We got there around 8:30 and parked right at the bathroom facilities and got our pick of the shady spots close by.
There were a lot of boats and yachts anchored in the bay or coming & going all day.
If you love snorkeling, you will enjoy spotting the turtles and other various sea life.
Across the street you will find a food truck, a Tiki bar, clothing vendors and water rental vendors.
We are glad we came on Tuesday to Maho because it was Taco Tuesday at the food truck and we ordered their grilled chicken tacos that come 3 for $21.
We sat at one of the tables close to the Tiki bar and enjoyed our tacos along with a great tasting Painkiller!!
There are a lot of picnic tables, lounge chairs with umbrellas and corn hole equipment scattered around the area too.
We got there around 8:30 and parked right at the bathroom facilities and got our pick of the shady spots close by.
There were a lot of boats and yachts anchored in the bay or coming & going all day.
If you love snorkeling, you will enjoy spotting the turtles and other various sea life.
Across the street you will find a food truck, a Tiki bar, clothing vendors and water rental vendors.
We are glad we came on Tuesday to Maho because it was Taco Tuesday at the food truck and we ordered their grilled chicken tacos that come 3 for $21.
We sat at one of the tables close to the Tiki bar and enjoyed our tacos along with a great tasting Painkiller!!
There are a lot of picnic tables, lounge chairs with umbrellas and corn hole equipment scattered around the area too.
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jim T
Marietta, GA23 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Great beach to visit for some relaxing and grabbing a few pain killers at the road side bar. Does get very crowed which is unfortunate. A lot of the local taxi trucks that typically care 8-12 folks stop there which increases the crowd. Worth a 1/2 day.
Written November 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bulldog1242
Delran, NJ26 contributions
Jul 2021
Popular beach to visit on St. John so go early for parking and a prime beach spot. You must visit this beach if you want to see turtles. The water was beautiful and clear. To see turtles you need to go to the far right and snorkel out a short ways. I saw one in almost standing water. Just need to go where the seaweed starts because they are there to eat. Such gentle calm creatures just cruising around. Saw small ones and a very large one when my husband paddled me out on the paddleboard. We rented the paddleboard for the whole day for $50. There are a few food trucks and couple little outdoor shops where we searched for and bought a skip ball to play with in the water. We packed our snacks, but spent $10 for just a hotdog and small bag of chips to hold the kids over. Would definitely visit this beach again if not just to make sure to see the turtles again.
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B8004KTjenny
Houston, TX26 contributions
Jan 2023
Incredible beach - we were able to see turtles and rays, just snorkeling and free diving. Amenities were available, but everything closes fairly early in January. The taxi ride from Cruz Bay is like a roller coaster in a deep forest, just breathtaking (cash only!) Don't miss it!
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AliBug
Charlotte, NC1,452 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
This is an absolutely gorgeous beach with a ton of amenities. There’s a restroom, bar, vendors, chair rentals, picnic areas, photo ops galore, and a restaurant when the generator works. When we visited we got there around 10 and they were working diligently to get it going. By 3pm it still wasn’t going and we went to seek food. But, bad days happen. Don’t be like us, take a back up snack bag. Well, we had one, but we ate them. About the beach and bay….they are both incredibly gorgeous. The water is clear and the mountains making the bay are lush and green as if it just rained on them all the time. It is a smaller beach and got crowded. We had one couple sit on the beach directly in front of us, another right beside us (hold hands distance) and another on the other side very close. It gets crowded. It seems that there’s a pretty good amount of parking but we had to park our Jeep touching a tree and almost touching another car. It’s tight. You may even see adorable deer peaking through the woods.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Katy C
Fort Smith, AR332 contributions
May 2021 • Family
There are several spots for parking in a lot and along the road behind the beach, but go early if you want to get a shady spot to sit. We went around 10 am and were still able to get a spot, and the lovely morning view there will live with me forever! There are spots along the beach the have really rocky entrances and some that are nice and sandy so be mindful of where you decide to set up camp! We were able to rent life vests for our smaller kids across the street. Kayaks were also available and there’s some food/drinks available as well. Kids snorkeled tons and were able to touch for quite a ways out.
Written May 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MommaBear318
Honesdale, PA79 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
We got here around 10:30am, and parking was tough. There are limited spots and a lot of people were trying to squeeze in wherever they could. Beach is beautiful, water was perfect and views were amazing. Because parking was so limited it also limited people on the beach there which was great. Lots of people snorkeling and using the see through paddle boards to see turtles and fish. This beach also has some food trucks and rentals!
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karina K
20 contributions
Jul 2021
This was our favorite beach! I've been to Trunk bay and other St. John beaches but I will always prefer Maho Bay. Maho is free, not as crowded as Trunk Bay, and I feel like the snorkeling is much better and seeing sea turtles is much greater. There's much more parking (you still have to get there early to get a parking spot) and Maho Crossroads has drinks, food, and souvenirs. The beach is family friendly as the water is shallow for a bit. We saw sea turtles and stingrays every day we visited. We felt like this was a very safe beach.
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
How long does it take to get to Maho Beach from Cruz Bay by Taxi and by rental car?
Lori
7 contributions
15 min
Jen h.
1 contribution
Hi! We haven't been to St. Johns before- we were thinking of trying to go in late August- any recommendations on where to stay? We have 3 kids. Looks like we want to be close to this beach!
NewOrleansNola
Marrero, LA15 contributions
Jeep rental is as important as a place to stay. We used Aqua Blu to rent our Jeep. It was new, very clean and perfect for handling the rocky roads and dark, narrow streets. There are no street signs and not many street lights at night. Quite an adventure! We rented the Villa Monticello which was in a gated community overlooking Cruz Bay. It was absolutely perfect. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Karen F
Denver, CO5 contributions
We are heading to St Thomas on early January and wanted to go to St John for the day. Does any one have any suggestions on places to explore and eat.
Nancy H
Belleville, KS78 contributions
Any place in Cruz Bay is good depending on what style of food you want. Please take the ferry from Red Hook and do not drive over via the car ferry. They are not plenty and they are needed to bring cargo over and trash out. There are open air taxis that take you to Maho. There is nothing but beach at Maho. Our favorite in Cruz Bay is Longboards
Is this beach free entry?
danacummings
Chandler, OK32 contributions
Yes! Enjoy swimming with the turtles! One of my favorite beaches.
dkeller57
Mount Airy, MD1 contribution
How far away is Maho beach from the cruise terminal?
SaltyDog54
Wilton, CT62 contributions
Most cruises are docked in St Thomas - you would take a ferry to St John and a taxi ride (great views of island on way) to Maho. Be sure to find out from your cruise director how much time you have as well as the ferry and taxi schedule. Ferry to and from Charlotte Amalie (where ships dock) have their own schedule different from ferry from Red Hook.
Kristie P
West Jordan, UT38 contributions
Were you staying on St. John or did you come from St. Thomas? We are wanting to take the Red Hook Ferry and wondered if it is open. We haven't tried Maho before, but would like too. How was the water, murky, turtles?
LisaB
Georgia156 contributions
We stayed on st john and used red hook ferry. Maho beach was the most beautiful beach we have ever seen before hurricane. The palm trees are gone and i heard there is no shade now. We did see sea turtles there and at francis bay which is the next beach from maho. We liked how calm water is at both beaches
Kristie P
West Jordan, UT38 contributions
Do you know if the Red Hook Ferry from St. Thomas to St John's is running yet? We will be cruising to St. Thomas in 3 weeks and always like to head to St. john's?
juliewillgreg
KY77 contributions
Yes they are running. The US Virgin Islands National Park is back open.
Ashley E
Baltimore, MD3 contributions
Hi. We are arriving in St. John from St. Thomas via Ferry. Understand Maho Beach is the best beach for snorkeling. Are there facilities for food or restrooms nearby? Is there an area to rent snorkel equipment? How far is this from the Ferry drop off and are taxis easily accessible?
Any suggestions of must do in St. John while there for 4-5 hours?
Broad Sky
New York City, NY32 contributions
Yes, there is a public bathroom at the south end of the beach. This is a food stand for some beverages and snacks. You may bring your own Picnic there. Suggest to bring your own snorkeling gear. As I recall only Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay have full facility and services. This Maho Bay is a less trafficked beach and a lot quieter to enjoy. It's a 25 mins drive from the ferry. Return tax will be hard to catch. The dollar bus is dirt cheap but the schedule can be way off. I'd suggest you rent a jeep and explore the island on your own. 4-5 hours are pretty tight to visit it though. Have fun.
JillS259
Madison, WI45 contributions
Good morning, Where did you rent the paddle boards from?
Thank you.
TRUNKBAYMAN
Chicago, IL49 contributions
Low-key water sports
Maho Bay Beach (Cruz Bay) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Maho Bay Beach
- We recommend booking Maho Bay Beach tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 23 Maho Bay Beach tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Maho Bay Beach:
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today! (From $150.00)
- 50' Luxury Yacht. Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience (From $1,495.00)
- Private NEW Luxury Power Catamaran. Enjoy St. Thomas & St. John Aboard MV Hydra (From $1,395.00)
- USVI Private Boat Charters - New, Fast Powerboats for Half and Full Day (From $695.00)
- Private New Powerboat Including Elysian Beach Resort. Full & Half Day USVI (From $695.00)
- Hotels near Maho Bay Beach:
- (0.35 mi) Maho Bay Beach Villa
- (3.00 mi) House of Open Arms
- (1.17 mi) Drake's View: Voted Best View in the Caribbean
- (3.74 mi) Garden by the Sea B&B
- (3.33 mi) Estate Lindholm
- Restaurants near Maho Bay Beach:
- (0.24 mi) Paddle-In Tiki Bar
- (3.47 mi) Our Market Smoothies
- (1.09 mi) Colombo's Smoothies
- (2.34 mi) Ekaete Pink Corner
- (3.42 mi) North Shore Deli