sandy point national wildlife refuge

We went hoping to see some awesome sea life and relax. Rain cut our trip short but it was a nice beach.

Wonderful Sandy beach sharp drop of from the top of beach to water can be difficult to get out of the water but with practice you get used to it. very pretty and far enough from the pier not to bother you. Closed during turtle nesting season as this is a big nesting area.Warm water sandy bottom take a cooler food and trash bag to make sure you take out what you brought in

Loved the beach! Very clear and warm water, would deffinetly come back. One of the nicer beaches here, and if you're in luck you may see sea turtles.

Watch the movie and visit the beach - both take some figuring out - It is way worth it! Careful, the surf can be rough.

I've been coming to saint croix for some time now..all the beaches are amazing! But Sandy Point in my opinion is amazing! We were on island for 3 weeks this time..we went every weekend and every cruiseship day it was open! The ranger was always kicking us out because we would linger in the beautiful water!! It was never crowded. I've never felt unsafe there. the water is amazingly clear and the sand is like soft sugar. There is no reef so there isn't good snorkeling. But we hang out and dive down for sand dollars! This side of the island does get hit with wind here and there. .with no coverage you will probably have to leave. But most times the water is calm and clear!

This is an absolutely stunning beach. From what I have seen of the beaches of St Croix, they are usually fairly narrow, a bit short, and studded with coral. Sandy Point beach on the other hand is spectacular. It is wide and long and, surprisingly enough, usually pretty empty. You should know though that there is nothing here. No bathrooms, no beach bars, no restaurants. Nothing. Also, it is only open on weekends when cruise ships are visiting and only certain times of the year (turtles nest there the rest of time).One last piece of information, though its in St Croix and not Zihuatanejo, Mexico, this is where they filmed the last scene from Shawshank Redemption.

This is a gorgeous beach! It's a must see! One of my most favorite beaches on St Croix! Not good for snorkeling, but it is sandy for swimming and relaxing!

Our actual experience at Sandy Point was nice, very nice. But it included hearing some disturbing stories of violent crimes, especially before the Federal Govt took over in 1984. Yes, that is a long time ago, but the main safety feature seems to be the limited hours of access (weekends and cruise ship days), which ensures safety in numbers. And the area closes well before dark. We did not see any patrolling authority figures during our only visit. The first we heard of the safety concerns was from a 29-year resident on the beach... it was his very first visit to Sandy Point. He explained that he had avoided Sandy Point for so long, that it just became a habit.The day we went, we drove past a small parking lot and ended up in a large one on the NW side of the peninsula. But the beach there was windswept, and the transition into the water was a steep slope with heavy wave action and strong undertow. Most, or all, of the people were staying out of the water. We left immediately, and drove back to the first parking lot, on the SW side, protected from the wind. There, the beach and water were excellent for swimming (but featureless for snorkelers). We had a good time at that beach.

beach was ok, nothing special, big waves and water visibility was not good at all. not that many people the day we went, so u have feeling like you are on your own beach.

Sandy Point is one of the best beach in the Caribbean, in fact it is rated #1 in St. Croix and #5 in the Caribbean. It has fine, white, golden sand and sparkling clear, calm water with sand bottom. Be aware that the water is high at shore. The down side is that they open it only on Saturdays/Sundays and cruise ship days. When I asked why I was told because it is a turtle sanctuary. Turtle do not know the difference between weekends and weekdays, so they should open it also one day mid week because people who come to St. Croix for a week often do not know and end up having to miss seeing it. It is completely closed from May to November when turtle nest. There are no facilities. They do not even provide a portable. To get there, after you pass the gate you need to drive off road for a while but it is easy.

Beautiful white sand beach that goes on and on. No shade, so bring a beach umbrella if possible. Very serene, relaxing experience. There's a steep drop off once you enter the water, so be alert for that.

the #1 rated Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge beaches, is a two-mile crescent of sand on the southwestern tip of the island. The refuge is a hatching ground for leatherback turtles, open limited times (10-4 on Saturdays and Sundays), & not at all during the breeding season. Each side of the beach is different because of the orientation to the water and the winds. The southern side had big waves and a flat beach, the eastern side had a drop of about 10 feet down to the water, but calm waves. This is where Shawshank Redemption was filmed. There are no facilities or shaded areas here, so we could not stay long.

My favorite beach on the island. Unfortunately since it is a national park it's only open during the weekends from 10 to 4, so do plan accordingly. Also for the same reasons, it's not an organized beach so if you're going to stay long bring snacks, water, and something for shade, but nothing that you stick in the sand as it is not allowed because it's a turtle nesting area.

This beach Is where the ending of Shawshank Redemption was filmed because the real Zihuatanejo is a sewer. It is the kind of beach you imagine in your mind: white sand beach with blue ocean water! Gorgeous! It is a National wildlife refuge so it is only open Sat and Sun, and never when the sea turtles are hatching unless you have a guide.

We were lucky that a cruise ship was in town on a Saturday, so it was open. As mentioned, there is NO shade or facilities, so bring your own everything. Lots of beautiful sand. If the Leatherback turtles are nesting, I would definitely volunteer to help with the protecting the nests and young. Would be amazing experience as these creatures can be HUGE.