CINNAMON BAY CAMPGROUND

Box 720, Cruz Bay
St. John
St. John
(340) 776-6330

http://www.cinnamonbay.com

Type: Camping

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Caneel’s neighbor in the National Park is Cinnamon Bay, opened in 1964 as the Caribbean’s most complete campground and operated by Rockresorts. It is now operated by the National Park Service. If memories of long ago Scouting sleepovers spring to mind – forget it. Cinnamon Bay is roughing it in luxury. Located on a wide stretch of sugary white sand, there’s a commissary, restaurant, bath house with showers (albeit cold ones) and complete watersports center. You even have a choice of accommodations – an erected tent, cottage or a bare site – all just a few steps from the beach. Cinnamon Bay is a great place for families. The 56 tents and 40 cottages come well equipped with charcoal grills, propane stoves, utensils for cooking and eating and ice chests for refrigeration. Even the linen is changed weekly. Each section has a communal lavatory and bath house with showers and fresh running water. Whichever accommodation you choose, invest heavily in bug spray. The cottages (15 x 15), with electricity and outdoor terraces for eating, have two concrete and two screened walls, four twin beds. Two cots can be added. Tents (10 x 14), built on a slab floor, have picnic tables nearby which are lit by gas lanterns and moonlight. Often, dinner becomes a communal effort with neighbors collaborating on the meal. Bare sites have grills and picnic tables, but nothing else is provided save the community facilities. Bring your own tent, bedding, utensils and equipment. No rentals here. A snack bar offers breakfast and lunch every day and the T’ree Lizards restaurant is a perfect evening setting to enjoy island specialties and barbecues. While the commissary is good for extras and fill-ins, you’d do better stocking up on provisions in Cruz Bay. Try the Starfish Market in The Marketplace Mall, on Southshore Road. It’s open 7:30 am-9 pm every day. The Marina Market is another good choice. It too is on Southshore Road. The on-site Water Sports Center rents sailboats, snorkel gear and underwater cameras at a small fee. They’ll arrange scuba trips for certified divers and lessons for novices. There are guided hikes, snorkel trips and evening lectures. Camping is limited to 14 days (December-May 15th) and to 21 days (May 16th-November 30) in a one-year period. The campgrounds are closed in September. Guests from ll over the US gather here and many fast fiendships have started at a communal shower.