Cane Bay Beach is the beach you’ve been looking for your entire life. It offers that quintessential beach vista that appears in postcards; the one that has always been just out of your reach. Except that this beach is very accessible and very real. All you need to do is get yourself to St. Croix, U.S.V.I., and the next thing you know, you’re walking inside of a postcard.

Cane Bay Beach is situated on the north side of St. Croix, towards the West, but still well within the region of Christiansted, along the shores of Cane Bay. It’s a popular beach with locals and tourists alike. Yet, like most of the beaches on St. Croix, it seldom feels crowded. Weekends are busiest and weekdays are quietest.  Behind the beach are rows of palm trees swaying in the breeze. Cane Bay Beach is in Cane Bay, which is hugged by tree covered hills in the distance. Being here is like being in nature’s embrace.

The turquoise, clear water at Cane Bay Beach is unlike water anywhere else in the world. This makes it ideal for snorkeling, wading and swimming. The waters are calm and the depths are manageable.  Note that there are no lifeguards on duty at Cane Bay Beach, so adult supervision is necessary for youngsters. The sand at Cane Bay Beach is soft, not rocky. You’ll be quite comfortable barefoot, although some visitors opt for water shoes as the water bottom can be a bit pebbly. The water is warm, but not too warm. The best way to describe it is refreshing. You won’t need to spend half an hour dipping your toes in and “getting used to it”.

There are no restrictions on Cane Bay Beach, so it’s fine to bring your own beach chairs, water gear, drinks (even alcoholic ones), and even the family dog. Note that nude sunbathing in public is not permissible anywhere on St. Croix, including Cane Bay Beach. While there are a few trash receptacles in the general area, you should bring some bags in which to store your trash to bring out when you leave. This beach is very pristine and clean because visitors are good about picking up after themselves and their furry companions.

Getting There & Parking

The beach area at Cane Bay Beach is long, but not too wide. This makes it super easy to drive to and set up on the beach for the day. There’s a road that runs parallel along the beach. Follow that road and you can’t miss Cane Bay Beach.

From Frederiksted: The fastest route is to go south on Prince Street out of Frederkikted and take a left onto Centerline Road. Follow that to River Road, where you will take another left. River Road will lead you straight to Cane Bay Road. Turn right and drive just under 2 km to reach Cane Bay Beach. It’s almost directly across from the intersection of Valley View Road.

From Christiansted: Cane Bay Beach is about a half hour’s drive from the center of Christiansted. Just hop on Northside Road from King Street downtown. Follow that along until you reach a fork, at which point you want to bear right onto Salt River Road. Just keep going and Cane Bay Beach will come up on your right, a little bit past Ama at Cane Bay Restaurant.

Parking: There’s ample street parking along Cane Bay Beach. You just have to walk a few paces with your gear through the palm trees to reach the welcoming sandy shoreline. There’s also a small parking lot near the dive shop, which is also on the beach side.

Gear: If you forget your beach gear or just don’t have any because you’re on holiday, there are chair rentals in a hut on the beach that you can’t miss. The price is super reasonable.

Activities

Scuba! Cane Bay Beach is awesome for snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving. There’s a dive shop right on the beach that sells or rents any gear you might need. They also offer scuba lessons, dive tours and even night dives. Cane Bay Beach is considered one of the prime dive spots in the entire Caribbean, so if you’ve ever wanted to try scuba, this is the time to do it.

Horseback riding at Cane Bay Beach is one of those experiences that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Again, it’s like a dream come true. Offered by Equus Rides at Cane Bay, you can ride in pairs with your loved one, or in a guided group. If you’ve never gone horseback riding and you’re a little nervous, that’s okay. The guide will lead you on a little mediation and calm breathing exercise beforehand. It’s all very calm and relaxing. Plus, the horses are well-trained and not at all jittery around newcomers. You’ll feel like an equestrian before you know it!

What's Nearby

For food, choose from several nearby eateries that you can reach on foot, bicycle or car.There's Ama at Cane Bay, serving gourmet seafood like lobster and octopus, as well as meat and vegetarian dishes. For more casual fare, walk west to The Landing Beach Bar, which serves faves like fried calamari, burgers and tacos.