Secret Sands-Secret Harbor

[island284]

Does anyone know if these two places are one in the same?

[blue_water]

“Secret Sands” is a ship excursion to Smith Bay Park (Lindqvist Beach), while Secret Harbor is one of the other East End beaches and home to the Secret Harbour Resort.

You can go to any of the beaches on your own via taxi ($9 - $11/pp each way).

 

Smith Bay Park is managed by the Magens Bay Authority and Lindqvist is arguable the most gorgeous beach on the island. Until 2006 it was relatively unknown except to those few who ventured there. There is a $2/pp admittance fee if you go on your own, with the Secret Sands excursion the admittance fee is included, along with lounges and drinks if I remember, no other facilities there except public restrooms.

 

Secret Harbor is a popular beach destination for day visitors, like Coki and Sapphire Beach. AA Divers rents lounges and umbrellas…
 

 

 

[blue_water]

An older post with descriptions of the popular beaches. Some info needs to be updated since the hurricanes of 2018  it a good comparison -

 

For the first-timer - and even a return visitor - there are indeed a ton of opinions about the various beaches, and we too are certainly biased in our rankings. But each beach has a unique or distinctive vibe or setting that can help one choose based on their situation that day. Some are located near a port while some take much more effort to get to but reward that effort.

 

The East End beaches of St Thomas are preferred by many who are looking for the nicest beach on STT. These include Coki, Smith's Bay, Sapphire, Secret Harbor, and Cowpet Bay (Coki and Smith's Bay are actually on the north side but are on the east end of the island). But others are also very nice and may work best if you have limited time or just want a nice beach to relax at that is closer to port and may be less crowded. And of course the beaches of St John are also gorgeous and should be experienced when possible. Trunk Bay, like Magens Bay, is highly-touted and so a bit touristy most days, but Cinnamon Bay and others less frequented are also beautiful.

 

For St Thomas -

 

Coki Point is a gorgeous beach set in a very small bay with good snorkeling off the beach. You'll find one of the nicest beaches you've seen here, but it will have a lively vibe as it gets very crowded. Several vendors renting stuff and selling food and drink. Taxis are readily available. We love Coki and find it a very intimate and romantic beach when ships are not in port.

 

Smith's Bay Park and Lindqvist Beach is a beautiful, maintained beach (both Smith's Bay Park and Magens Bay are maintained by the Magens Bay Authority and charge a small entry fee) but is much quieter and offers very few amenities. Here you would find natural beauty and relative quiet that you might have expected to see decades ago and not today. Grab your towel and a lunch and drinks from Gourmet Gallery and enjoy the beauty while it's still here. Rather cruise ship “Secrets Sands” excursions go here…

 

Sapphire Beach is a gorgeous beach in a larger bay with abundant natural shade, nice island views and great snorkeling off the beach. There is a reef area, a sandy swimming area, and a sea grass area where turtles and rays may be spotted. Home to 3 condo properties with food and drink options, chair rentals and public restrooms. Gorgeous beach!

 

Secret Harbor is a small bay that is home to one condo property, the water is dead calm at SH and there is no shade available to most day visitors. Good snorkeling and a restaurant on site and nice beach though.

 

Cowpet Bay is very close to Secret Harbor and is home to the Elysian Resort (condo resort) with a small beach and snorkeling. Primarily suited to guests of the condo but still a public beach. 

 

Magens is on the north side and is a deep bay with a a nice, calm beach that's maintained (small entry fee) and is touted as one of the top 10 beaches in the Carib by Frommer's, cruise ships, etc. It has that rating for a reason, and it sees many people and so is touristy. No snorkeling here, and for some folks Magens doesn't have the charm or character some of the other beaches do. But it is a beautiful beach that is great for toddlers and kids because it is so dead calm, and it offers restrooms, small restaurant, a gift shop and available taxis.

 

Lindbergh Bay (aka Emerald Beach) is closest to Crown Bay and is a popular beach for folks docking there. A nice enough beach with rentals and food and drinks available at the Best Western Emerald Beach Plus Resort. You can also rent a room for the day to take advantage of a shower and changing room. Nice option if Magens and the East End beaches are too much effort.

 

Honeymoon Beach on Water Island is another popular destination for folks docked at Crown Bay because the ferry to Water Island is very close. This beach has become very popular however and gets crowded during the day.

 

Morningstar Beach is currently closed…

 

Hopefully not confusing the choices even more! And here's a map showing the beach locations for those not familiar with the island, just click on the map for a larger view -

http://www.virginislandsthisweek.com..._road_map.html

[island284]

Thank you. We were hoping to snorkel at one of them. Any advice?

We hear the seaweed is terrible in the islands now. True?

Edited September 19, 2021 by island284

[blue_water]

The sargasso has been mild to heavy throughout the Caribbean this season, really no way of telling. Magens is a bit more protected, as is Secret Harbor. Of the two, for snorkeling Secret Harbor. Other good options include Sapphire and Coki…Your taxi driver can give you a good idea of the situation that day.

[island284]

Thank you so much. 

[blue_water]

Sure…Our choice would be Sapphire, many prefer that for snorkeling, we just like it because it’s so nice…

[diane.in.ny]

Strongly considering Sapphire for our upcoming stop at St. Thomas

 

Can someone confirm that chairs AND umbrellas are available for rent?

 

TIA

[blue_water]

As I mentioned in the Emerald Beach thread to get feedback you should post this in the current Sapphire Beach thread or start a new thread.

No umbrellas last we were there…

[mitsugirly]

On 9/19/2021 at 10:47 AM, blue_water said:

 

Cowpet Bay is very close to Secret Harbor and is home to the Elysian Resort (condo resort) with a small beach and snorkeling. Primarily suited to guests of the condo but still a public beach. 

 

 

 

Now since it's a resort but yet open to the public, where are guest allowed to park? Do they resort beach chairs? Or is there shade to sit under? Do you know how the snorkeling is?

[blue_water]

To clarify, this is a condo property so parking is provided for guests at the Wyndham and other properties and not for day visitors. And there are no rental amenities for day visitors unless something changed recently. You shouldn’t have a problem finding a parking spot, however, and you can lay your towels on the beach away from the condo units. Sangria’s beach bistro may be open now and may provide restrooms…

The yacht club is right there so take care, I’m sure Kim can give you snorkeling info, and there is also a blog from a past guest there that you can google who considered Cowpet one of her best snorkeling experiences…

Edited March 30, 2022 by blue_water

[blue_water]

And from the title of this thread, “Secret Sands” is a cruise line excursion name for their excursions to Lindqvist Beach (Smith Bay Park)…Not to be confused with the Secret Harbour Resort, or Secret Harbor Beach in Nazareth Bay…