We stayed at Secret Harbour Beach Resort.  After hours of searching for the perfect place to stay in St. Thomas, we chose this spot based solely on online research.  Little did we know, it would turn out to be far more magical than we ever imagined.  The resort is located right in front of the protected cove overlooking soft white sand beach and calm crystal clear water.  We stayed in Beachfront Studio on ground floor where we could walk out to beach!  Restaurant and bar are conveniently on-site.  You could also cook your own meals in your condo-style accommodation with full kitchen.  Grocery store, Moe's Fresh Market Redhook, is only a mile away, or there is also an option for grocery provisioning service through resort website or Moe's Fresh Market (They have more locations in St. Thomas).  

Cove​ & Dreamy Beach

Beachside Restaurant & Beachfront Studio

If you are planning for a chillax beach vacation, this location on quiet east end will be perfect!  All beaches in St. Thomas are public, but the resort stayed quiet the entire week of our stay.  If you are venturing out to other popular beaches, you may be able to avoid crowds on days when less or no cruise ships are scheduled.  Here is St. Thomas Cruise Ship Schedule.

Sunset at the Cove

    We intended to spend our St. Thomas vacation mainly for relaxing on beach and snorkeling.  At this resort, we were able to go for a professional guided snorkeling with Aqua Action Dive Center that is located on-site and snorkeling at our leisure at the majestic natural aquarium right in front of the resort.

Snorkeling in Cove & with Aqua Action Dive Center

Seeing ​Lighthouse at Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge from Aqua Action Boat & off to Snorkeling

1. Guided Snorkeling
Aqua Action Dive Center, conveniently located on-site at Secret Harbour Beach Resort, offers all services you would need; scuba diving, snorkeling, free diving, fishing, gear/Kayak/SUP rentals, and retail shop.  We were lucky to go for their guided-snorkeling trip, and had the best snorkeling time.  On board on their boat, they took us to Turtle Cove and Ship Wreck at waters around Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge, about 2-mile south of St. Thomas.  ​​This trip brought me face to face with more fish and sea turtles than I’d ever seen throughout my snorkeling adventures!

Turtles at Turtle Cove.​  They eat seagrass and algae on the ocean floor and come up to surface for air.

Snorkeling at Ship Wreck site.

2. Snorkeling in the Cove
The protected cove at Secret Harbour is a "marine preserve & wildlife sanctuary" according to the sign on site.  We saw so much marine life in the water.  Walk in from the beach and start snorkeling!  Wow, true snorkeling paradise.

    We made a day trip to St. John.  We hopped on a ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas on east end to Cruz Bay, St. John.  About 20-minute ride. Here is the ferry schedule and price information.  Then we rented a car in St. John and headed out for a leisurely drive to scenic North Shore Road (Route 20) to hit some beaches on north side of St. John.  Keep LEFT!

Rent-a-Jeep and to National Park

Maho Bay Overlook from Route 20

After driving for a while passing other popular bays & beaches, we parked our car for a hiking on Leinster Bay Trail .  It is a 0.8 mile long easy walk along the shore.  Towards the end of the trail, ​We reached Waterlemon Bay where Waterlemon Cay came beautifully into our view.  From my research, snorkeling is top-notch around Waterlemon Cay, so we came!  We put on snorkeling gear and went into the water.  Stunning natural aquarium.  Abundant coral, tropical fish, turtles, even spotted eagle ray!  Current was strong on the day, so we didn't go to the outer side of the cay.

Leinster Bay Trail

Snorkeling towards & around Waterlemon Cay

Marine Life at Waterlemon Cay

After Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay adventure, we hopped back on a car and drove farther east to see the view of Coral Bay.

Roadside Snapshot & Coral Bay

Ferry Back to Red Hook, St. Thomas

      Whenever I travel somewhere new, I like to eat local food.  In St. Thomas, we sought out authentic Caribbean cuisine.  We went for two local eateries.  De’ Coal Pot and Cuzzin's Charlotte Amalie (now permanently closed).  De’ Coal Pot was near Red Hook when we went, they closed after Covid, and now they are open in Cruz Bay, St. John near ferry terminal.

Fish Creole at De' Coal Pot

Shrimp Creole at Cuzzin's

Lastly, we also had wonderful meals at Secret Harbour Beach Resort's on-site restaurant.

Fine Dining to Casual Beachfro​nt Bites