About
Isaac’s Beach is one of the most pristine, amazing beaches on the entire island of St. Croix. This is the kind of beach to come to when you want to commune with nature, maybe get away from noise and people a little bit, and just revel in the fact that you get to spend time in this magnificent little corner of the world. I’m the kind of person who likes to just lie down, close my eyes and listen to the sound of the waves, the birds and any other sounds of nature that may happen. If you’re like this too, then make sure you visit Isaac’s Beach.
Getting There & Parking
As you may know, St. Croix is renowned for the way it takes care of its natural resources. And Isaac's Beach is in a nature preserve, so there’s no parking right next to the beach. I believe they do this to cut down on emissions or oil that may somehow get into the water, to protect nesting turtles from the noise of engines, and just to kind of cut down on traffic. I only even know about Isaac's Beach because of a friend who lives on St. Croix who told me about it. It’s not like they don’t want people to go to Isaac’s Beach, but at the same time, they don’t want it to be a three-ring circus spot, either.
Isaac’s Beach is a little hard to get to. It’s not wheelchair or stroller accessible, because you have to park in the parking lot and then walk about half a mile on a narrow little dirt path that winds around and up and down before you get to the beach. It took me about 12 minutes to walk the entire way. And by the way, it was blistering hot out. Walking through the dusty brown brush on the dry trail didn’t help matters. I was glad I’d brought my Camelback backpack. I know it was “only” half a mile, but it felt longer. Another thing I want to mention is that I seemed to be the only one on the trail. I kind of wished I had a companion, because I felt a little isolated as a solo female.
Eventually, you’ll see a wooden platform with a teeny sign that says Isaac Bay Protected Waters. You go down the stairs and that leads to the beach. There are quite a few stairs, too. Again, not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Activities
Once I arrived at the beach, I felt like I had been transported into another world. There’s a high hill (where I’d just been) that separates the beach from the rest of the landmass. It felt like such a special, hidden oasis, far from the rest of the world. I’m a big movie buff and for some reason I instantly thought of that old movie, The Blue Lagoon, with Brooke Shields. It felt like that. (The Blue Lagoon wasn’t filmed here, though—I checked!)
You won’t find any scuba shops, ice cream stands or bars on Isaac’s Beach. This is just nature, untouched by humans. I just walked the beach and took in the breathtaking views, with the big blue sky overhead, the white clouds shapeshifting and the waves hitting the shore. Since I was alone, I didn’t go swimming, but I saw some other people swimming and snorkeling not too far out. I did walk in the water and it felt warm and smooth on my bare feet and ankles. It felt good, especially since it was such a hot day. I was glad I’d worn sheer long sleeves over my tank top, but I wished I had thought to bring my sun hat. The sand was smooth, except for up the beach a bit where the beach ends and gets more rocky.
The color of the water was kind of a green turquoise with a little brown mixed in. I think the brown was patches of seaweed, but the water near the shore was still crystal clear. Farther out, the water was dark blue.
I spoke to the snorkelers a little bit and they said they could see everything underwater, it was so clear. They said there is a coral reef, with tons of fish to watch. One of them actually offered to let me use their goggles, but I didn’t take them up on it. That’s pretty typical for Crucians, though. The people who live on St. Croix are incredibly friendly.
Important Info & Rules
This preserve is a haven for endangered sea turtles and other wildlife. It’s 300 acres in total, plus there’s a gorgeous coral reef not far offshore with an estimated 400 species of fish. I’m telling you all this so you will comprehend the importance of not visiting at night when the turtles nest, not digging holes in the sand, not using a walking stick (you might harm buried eggs), and not using chemical-laden sunscreen. Playing music is not permitted, nor are bonfires, drinking alcohol and, of course, littering.