Seaside slumbers await at Cinnamon Bay Campground in St. John.
It was on my first dark staying atCinnamon Bay CampgroundinSt . Johnthat I begin to enquire if I ’d made a misunderstanding . Perhaps my error was simply the threepainkiller cocktailsI’d down , now spurring me to ruminate the two - mo manner of walking from my collapsible shelter to the bathroom . Or mayhap the mistake had been think that I — very much not a camping bus — should stay at Cinnamon Bay Campground in the first place . This possibility seemed especially likely as I ruminated on the concept of leaving my collapsible shelter to take the air through the darkness , of which I happened to be very afraid .
A few minute later , however , the Sunday uprise , and my fear of setting foot alfresco subside . fresh comfortable , I took in my surroundings : My own sizable collapsible shelter set amongst lucullan verdure and atop a wooden platform , beside a precious outdoor seating area and grillroom . The secluded surface area of Cinnamon Bay Beach beyond a dense wall of tree and bush , its crashing wave a judicious shade of turquoise . I thought about the wildlife I ’d already see here — tiny lizards , hermit crabs , and even a few cervid — adequate theatrical role exciting and alarming for a non - camper , but very much the marker of a special lieu . Maybe , I thought , it was deserving finding out how granola this city girl could get .
You would n’t necessarily know from looking that Cinnamon Bay Campground was recently totally rebuilt in the wake of2017 ’s devastating hurricane time of year . Its tents had to be repaired and re - scramble , its cottage rebuilt in concrete to resist tempest farting . The campground eventually reopen in November 2022 , a blessing for nature lovers willing to sleep in unaired proximity to the island ’s considerable flora and fauna . More than 60 % of St. John is located inVirgin Islands National Park , and Cinnamon Bay falls right within car park limits , make it both beautiful in its own rightfulness and a great jumping off item for adventures .
Photo by Steve Simonsen, courtesy of Cinnamon Bay Campground
After the Storms, This Caribbean Beach Paradise Is Still a Stunner
The accommodations have been beautifully remake , and visitors can opt their preferred way of rough it , from actual cottages to cover political program that call for you to bring your own collapsible shelter . While not every option is purely plain bones , the campground ’s managing director Adrian Davis points out that “ if [ operate without ] air conditioning or a private in - room bathroom is a tidy sum breaker , we might not be a good convulsion for one another . ”
sheath in point : I quell in aglamping - style eco - collapsible shelter , which came with a queen - size bed , multi - speed roof fan , and necessities like towels . There were electric receptacle near the layer for charge my gadget , and a three - shelf wooden cubby supply some introductory storage . Zip - down window panels on the sides of the tent kept air circularise and daytime streaming in . A comfortable stay , perhaps , but not a sybaritic one .
Given its emplacement inside Virgin Islands National Park , Cinnamon Bay Campground have conservation seriously — and bear with me , but this goes back to the bathroom situation . “ Our concessionaires ’ declaration has many rules and guidelines , like all National Park Service concessionaires have , ” explain Davis . “ Some of them let in that we provide public tub house because it is stated that guests consume more water in individual bathrooms versus public bathrooms ; this aids in urine conservation , which is a major concern on St. John . ” Showers are also cold , but the chilly water feel great in the island ’s humid , 80 - plus - level heat .
This National Park Is Basically Joshua Tree Meets the Ocean
Heaven’s entrance fee? $3.
Besides the tents , bathrooms , and beach , there ’s a single eating place on holding that serve up breakfast and dinner party daily at clear - air table . The fate are tasty and massive , and offer serious island - style flare . One night , I ordered deep-fried snapper for dinner party , and was surprised to learn it come with a bevy of sides — Timothy Miles Bindon Rice , mac ‘ n cheeseflower , white potato salad , and veggie — all ready to be doused with the table ’s obligatory feeding bottle of malt whiskey bonnet hot sauce .
If you ’d rather venture off - property for meal , however , that ’s completely doable . Though Cinnamon Bay feel a world out from somewhat much everything , it ’s only a 20 - minute hack ride from townsfolk . NeighboringSt . Thomasis bed more for its nightlife , but local favorites likeMongoose Junctionoffer a fun image of shop and eateries , and pestiferous martinis atLa Tapa Plageare a must .
But if you ’re staying at Cinnamon Bay , the genuine attractor is the nature , and it absolutely delivers . I love a inadequate , thread rise on theNature Loop trailacross the road from the resort . The partially wheelchair - approachable route winds through the overgrown ruins of a former sugar plantation , with signs throughout to cultivate you about spirit on the plantation and indicate out aboriginal industrial plant like the tyre decoration .
My eco-tent was set atop a wooden platform.|Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
For ocean - centric activities , snorkeling with ocean turtlesis an chance most node will require to take advantage of . There ’s also the choice to go up aboard the44 - foot yachtknown as theSailing Asantefor a sunset sail around the bay . I found the two - 60 minutes sailing excursion to be a great direction to get by the area ’s mosquitos , which rise no match for the sea breeze as we determine the Caribbean sky turn orange , then black , from the comfort of the vessel .
If you ’re not ready to say adieu to the natural Earth when you turn in for the night , the beauty of Cinnamon Bay is that you genuinely do n’t have to . By my last night I was unzipping my tent ’s window panel like a camping pro and fall asleep to the whistling outcry of coquí toad frog in the hem in brush . There ’s really nothing like it .
The campground’s location is a boon for nature lovers willing to sleep in close proximity to the island’s considerable flora and fauna.|Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
If you’re staying at Cinnamon Bay, nature is the real attraction.|Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
For ocean-centric activities, you can opt to take a sunset sail aboard Sailing Asante.|Sailing Asante
