The seaside pride of St. Thomas, Magens Bay Beach is no stranger to global media attention. Over the years, this stunning gift from Mother Nature has been lauded as “… One of the Ten Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.”

Recently, with more than 53,000 votes cast by readers in 20 categories, The Caribbean Journal gave the 2021 Travelers Choice Award for “Best Beach in the Caribbean” to Magens Bay. Additionally,  St. Thomas was named Best Cruise Port by the prestigious publication.

Above: From the shoreline at Magens Bay Beach, Outer Brass islet —a designated wildlife sanctuary — appears to sit dead-center at the mouth of the bay. 

Above: A view of Magens Bay Beach, facing Petersburg, spotlights the inviting walkability of the nearly one-mile-long shoreline.

Happily, for guests of Flamboyan On The Bay Resort & Villas, Magens Bay Beach is just a half-mile away. In fact, the resort sits considerably closer to the multi-award-winning beach than any other hotel or resort on St. Thomas.

Early maps of the island refer to the breathtakingly beautiful site as Great Northside Bay. The current name, Magens Bay, stems from the land’s ownership by Denmark’s territorial Vice-Governor Jacob Jorgenson Magens (1682-1731) and his heirs. The deed changed hands in the 20th century and was eventually acquired by Wall Street financier Arthur S. Fairchild. 

Top of page: The distinctive turquoise rooftops of Flamboyan Resort can be seen from the water at award-winning Magens Bay Beach.

In 1946, Fairchild donated 56-acres of the beach and surrounding area to the Municipality of St. Thomas and St. John for use as a public park. In 2002, the far Western portion of the land was donated by Fairchild’s nephew’s widow, Christine Wheaton. Through the partnership with the Nature Conservancy and the Virgin Islands Government, this land became the Magens Bay Watershed, a 319-acre parcel of protected wildlife space offering a glimpse of the varied ecosystems living on the island. The Discovery Nature Trail opened in 2004.

Magens Bay features a friendly beach bar, an adjacent cafe, boutique, restrooms and showers, kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard rentals, as well as hiking trails. For those who appreciate the opportunity to walk, jog or stroll along an unobstructed shoreline, the beach is nearly one mile in length.

For additional information, visit magensbayauthority.org.