The East End

The east end of St. John [1] is remote and beautiful. Where other parts of the island are lush and tropical, the east end is arid and windswept. There are no glorious white sand beaches here, but the landscape of low hills, protected bays, and crystal clear water is still spectacular.

Hurricane Hole

This deep bay is so well-protected that it is the traditional safe port for boats during a hurricane. Ringed by mangroves and contained on three sides by land, Hurricane Hole offers natural protection from wind and storm surge during a storm.

East End Road skirts Hurricane Hole, passing smaller bays that form part of the Hole, including Borck Creek, Princess Bay, and Water Creek.

Haulover Bay

A rocky beach facing Tortola [2], Haulover Bay is so named because mariners hauled their boats over land here rather than sail the long circle around the far eastern tip of St. John [1].

Today, Haulover is best known as an off-the-beaten-track destination for snorkeling. Look for star coral boulders and fish along the rocky shoreline, but be careful, especially in rough weather. The Coral Bay [3] side is invariably calm and offers scattered corals, rocks, and moderate numbers of fish.

Hansen Bay

The beach at Hansen Bay is a mixture of sand and rocks, and the snorkeling offshore can be good. This bay is home to Vie’s Campground and Snack Bar; it makes a good pit stop for your tour of the east end.