Magens Bay Beach

The Ultimate Guide to Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas

Welcome to Magens Bay Beach on the island of St. Thomas. Magens Bay is the most popular, most visited, most photographed, and most recognizable of all St. Thomas’s beaches. In this VInow article we’ll tell you everything you need to know, and more, about this famous sandy shore. We cover location, amenities, natural shade, activities, park admission, chair rentals. getting there and all the frequently asked questions. Read on for the full scoop on Magens Bay Beach.

About Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas

Location and Features

Bay Beach is located on the Northside of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. It is one of the longest beaches on the island at almost one mile. The shoreline at Magens Bay is completely sandy, and so is the seafloor. The water deepens gradually, and it is typically crystal clear and very calm. All of this makes Magens Bay ideal for swimming and for wading. The serene water conditions are also great for relaxing on a float, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.

Flora and Fauna

The tree line at Magens Bay Beach largely includes sea grapes trees, noni trees, seaside mahoe, and coconut palms. On the left side of the beach there are many mahogany trees and some tabebuia rosea trees. The trees at Magens Bay sustained heavy damage in 2017 due to hurricanes, including the loss of large mature trees. Young trees were planted during storm recovery efforts. The trees nearest to the shoreline haven’t yet filled in to provide the tree cover that previously existed. All that said there are still lots of trees at Magens Bay, and natural shade can be found under them.

The scenery at Magens Bay Beach includes the strikingly clear water with a diversity of blue hues, the white sandy shore, the verdant hills on both sides of the bay, seabirds including pelicans, turtles that pop their heads out of the water to get a breath of air, fine yachts moored in the bay, a few small fishing boats on the far right side, and in the distance there is a view of Outer Brass Island. This idyllic setting is what draws in visitors and residents to Magens Bay Beach.

Magens Bay Beach is a great place to visit all year round. It does have a different atmosphere depending on the time of day, day of the week, and the number of cruise ships in port.

Experiencing Magens Bay

A Typical Day at Magens Bay

Early morning walkers just after sunrise until around 8:30am. Island residents come to Magens to take brisk walks along the paved access road, to stroll along the shore, and for a morning swim. More residents and visitors arrive by midmorning. If there are cruise ships in port, the cruise tours start arriving around 9:30am.

By 11am, on cruise ship days, the beach area by the restaurant/bar is busy. In the mid to late afternoon the tour groups leave. A few visitors remain, and residents arrive around 5pm to take afternoon walks, swim and to watch the sunset.

Every weekday is pretty much the same. On weekends the pace changes as residents head to the beach to relax, picnic, play beach sports, and have parties.

Concerned about crowds at Magens Bay? 10 Tips for Avoiding Crowds on St. Thomas' Most Popular Beach

Amenities Galore

There are a variety of amenities at Magens Bay Beach. These include restrooms, a bar & cafe, gift shop, picnic tables, chair rentals, water-sports rentals, lifeguards, designated swim area with buoy markers, handicap access via designated handicap parking, accessible restrooms, AccessMat (rollout matting system to create accessible route on top of the sand) and WaterWheels (floating beach wheelchairs), public safety guards, parking, rental sheds for parties, and a hiking trail. Magens Bay is part of a public park, and these facilities are part of the park’s offerings.

Activities and Adventures

The most popular activity at Magens Bay for visitors is swimming. For residents the beach is a favorite for picnicking, exercise including walking & swimming, and parties. In the water, standup paddle boarding is popular. On the shore, beach goers play beach racket, frisbee, make sandcastles, and sometimes toss a football or play soccer. Occasionally on weekends a small group of residents bring a volleyball net or a beach tennis net and set up on the far left of the beach.

Hiking is popular at Magens Bay Beach as well. A nature trail is available on the left side of the bay. The trail leads through the Coconut Grove and the Magens Bay Watershed Preserve. It’s an out and back trail that covers approximately 1.5 miles roundtrip.

There’s lots more to know about Magens Bay like getting there, entrance fees and dining options. So, keep on reading. Here are some frequently asked questions about these and other topics related to Magens Bay Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions about Magens Bay Beach

How do I get to Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas?

You can take a taxi from your hotel or cruise ship to Magens Bay Beach. There is a taxi stand at Magens Bay operated by AAA Taxi Services, and it’s usually staffed until around 4.30pm. Taxis are readily available at Magens. If you are renting a car on St. Thomas, you can drive yourself to Magens Bay Beach. Public transportation exists in St. Thomas, however Magens Bay is not on the bus route. Read About Transportation in St. Thomas

How do I get to Magens Bay Beach from the cruise ship terminal on St. Thomas?

Cruise ships calling on St. Thomas generally offer excursions to Magens Bay Beach, and island tours with beach stops that include Magens Bay. Check your cruise ship’s offerings for such trips. You can also skip the cruise excursion and go to Magens Bay Beach on your own. Taxis are readily available outside the cruise ship terminal areas, and Magens Bay Beach has a taxi stand on site as well. Magens Bay is a popular destination for cruise ship tours, and the taxi stand area at the beach can be chaotic when there are multiple ships in port. The distance to Magens Bay Beach from the cruise ship port at Havensight is about 6 miles. From Crown Bay cruise port to Magens Bay is about 8 miles. Read About Taxi Service and Rates in St. Thomas

Is there parking at Magens Bay Beach?

There are designated parking areas at Magens Bay Beach and parking costs $2. There is free parking for military/veterans with identification.

Is there an admission fee to go to Magens Bay Beach? Do I have to make a reservation to visit Magens Bay Beach?

Yes, the entrance fee at Magens Bay Beach for visitors is $5.00 per person for age 12 and older. For residents with identification, it costs $2.00 for age 12 and older. Admission for all children under 12 years old, regardless of residence, is free. Parking is $2. Magens Bay Beach does not require reservations or advanced admission ticket purchases, you pay at the gate when you arrive, and a receipt/ticket is provided. For More Info Visit Magens Bay Park Rates

Are there restrooms and showers at Magens Bay Beach?

At Magens Bay Beach there are ordinary public park type restrooms, salt-water showers, and changing rooms. They are worn around the edges from use and the salty environment. They are generally in good working order and kept clean.

Are there chairs at Magens Bay Beach? How much does it cost to rent a chair at Magens Bay Beach?

At Magens Bay Beach you can rent chaise lounge chairs and umbrellas. The loungers are lined up in rows in front of the concession area, which is where the restaurant and bar are located. The chairs can’t be moved down the beach away from the concession area as they once were. A lounge chair with umbrella is $20 per person, per day. Rentals are available until 4:30pm. Also available for rent are lockers, masks, and snorkel sets. There are picnic tables at Magens Bay Beach, they are free to use. Another option if you are staying on St. Thomas and renting a car, is to bring your own beach chairs. Many villas and AirBnB’s provide folding beach chairs for guest use. There are four picnic pavilion sheds at Magens Bay. They are equipped with picnic tables, charcoal grills, and electrical outlets. The sheds are available for rent and are often used by residents to have parties on weekends.

Are there watersports rentals at Magens Bay Beach?

There is a watersports rental booth at Magens Bay Beach called the Yak Shack. Available there are single and double kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. They are open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Is there good snorkeling at Magens Bay Beach?

Magens Bay Beach is not known for its snorkeling. Most of the near shore area is a sandy bottom, lacking the coral and seagrass environments where marine life thrives. These marine environments do exist within the bay; however, they are far from the shore and largely outside the designated swim area. Snorkelers will have some luck seeing small fish along the rocks on the far-left side of the bay, and experienced snorkelers can seek out the corals on the far-right side on route to neighboring Little Magens Bay. It’s possible to spot turtles at Magens Bay, mostly on the right side. There are other beaches on St. Thomas that offer easier from shore snorkeling. Read Top 5 Beaches in St. Thomas for Snorkeling

What’s are the best water sports at Magens Bay?

Magens Bay Beach is excellent for stand-up paddling and kayaking. You can rent boards and kayaks at the Yak Shack on the right side of the bay. Paddle from the Magens Bay Beach shoreline straight along the Peterborg Peninsula toward Little Magens Bay, or further to Platform Bay. Or paddle across the beach, outside the swim buoys, parallel to the Magens Bay shoreline. The water is very clear, and you can spot turtles and sometimes stingrays while paddling and kayaking in the bay. Ask the rental booth staff about the wind conditions the day you are there; strong winds can make paddling back to the shore a challenge.

Is there a jet ski rental at Magens Bay Beach?

There are no jet ski rentals at Magens Bay Beach. Jet skis are prohibited at Magens Bay.

Is there a restaurant and bar at Magens Bay Beach?

There is a restaurant at Magens Bay Beach called the Magens Bay Café. It serves breakfast from 9:30am to 11:30am with typical breakfast fare. The lunch menu includes pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and various chicken dishes. A full bar is available at Magens Bay Beach next to the restaurant.

Are there lifeguards at Magens Bay Beach?

Lifeguards are on duty every day at Magens Bay Beach.

What is Magens Bay Beach known for?

Magens Bay is known for being a very popular beach, a top attraction for cruise ship tours visiting St. Thomas, a beach that is great for long swims, for wading, walks along the shoreline, a nice beach for young children, a destination wedding location, a good spot for standup paddle boarding, a spot to bird watch for pelicans and seabirds, for its hiking trail, a local spot for weekend picnics and parties, and for exercising (walking and swimming). Magens Bay Beach is also known for having a heart shaped shoreline and a horseshoe shaped bay.

Nearby Attractions to Magens Bay Beach

De Coconut Mon often sets up just outside the Magens Bay Beach entrance, opposite the ticket booth. He sells whole coconuts and opens them for you to drink the water and eat the coconut meat. One of the popular stops for residents heading to/from Magens Bay is getting ice cream or a milk shake (with or without alcohol) at Udder Delights Ice Cream Parlor. It’s about .6 miles from Magens Bay, a 12–15-minute walk or a 2-minute drive.

Are there hotels on Magens Bay Beach?

There are no hotels at Magens Bay Beach. There is a bare site camping area at Magens, advanced reservations are required through the Magens Bay Authority. The closest hotel is the Flamboyan on the Bay Resort & Villas (formerly Magens Point Resort). Flamboyan on the Bay is about a mile from Magens Bay Beach. There are many villas and Airbnb’s near Magens Bay, particularly in Estate Peterborg and Estate Lovenlund. Read About Where to Stay on St. Thomas

Are there ever big waves at Magens Bay Beach?

Large waves at Magens Bay are infrequent but they do occur in the months around January-March. The big swells are caused by North Atlantic winter storms; the waves travel southward toward the Caribbean. Local surfers and body surfers descend on Magens Bay when these rare waves occur. Read About Surfing in the Virgin Islands

Is Magens Bay Beach part of a park?

Magens Bay Beach is a park. On December 27, 1946, Arthur S. Fairchild donated the major portion of Magens Bay Beach and 58 acres of land in perpetuity to the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John. His generous donation of this significant natural resource came with his expressed desire that Magens Bay be maintained as a public park with the natural beauty and benefits preserved for the enjoyment of the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands without discrimination of any kind by reason of race, color, or creed. A commemorative historical marker, in honor of Arthur S. Fairchild, is located on Magens Bay Beach near the entrance gate. The Magens Bay Watershed Preserve is managed by the Magens Bay Authority.

Park rules at Magens Bay Beach

Park rules prohibit parking or driving on the beach (parking is available in designated areas), smoking, glass bottles/containers, spear guns, spear fishing/line fishing, metal detectors, generators, soliciting, pets (only service dogs allowed), jet skis, nudity (swimsuits are required), littering, and weapons. Use of drones is prohibited at Magens Bay Beach without pre-approval in writing by the park's management. Removing marine specimens, including shells, is prohibited by Virgin Islands Law. Additional rules apply to vessels that wish to enter and anchor or moor within Magens Bay. Read More on Magens Bay Park Rules

What is the meaning of the name Magens Bay?

The name Magens Bay is related to the Magens family and their heirs. They lived, worked, and owned land on the island in the late 1700s and 1800s, including property near the bay that today carries their name. The official name was "Bucksbay eller Store Nordside Bay" as listed on an early Danish map of St. Thomas from 1845-46 by H. B. Hornbeck, J. Chr. Petersen and Heimburger. The English translation is “Bucksbay or Great North Side Bay”. Neither name is in use today. Magens Bay is the popular name. Misspellings include Megan’s Bay and Meaghan’s Bay.

Is Magens Bay Beach the most beautiful beach?

Magens Bay Beach is indeed beautiful. And lots of people think so. It’s an absolute favorite for residents, and many visitors think it’s awesome too. Whether it’s the most beautiful, is relative! You will have to go to Magens Bay Beach and decide for yourself.