Kayak and Snorkel with Sea Turtles in Cruz Bay

Paddle to an uncrowded beach and snorkel where the turtles feed

A 3-hour kayak and snorkel trip in Virgin Islands National Park starts with on-beach instruction in Cruz Bay, then paddles 40–45 minutes along the north shore to Scott Beach, where you snorkel with sea turtles and stingrays in a shallow seagrass bed just yards from shore. A licensed guide leads the paddle and provides snorkeling equipment. The beach itself is inaccessible by road, so it stays uncrowded.

The experience

The guide meets you on the beach in Cruz Bay and walks through kayak basics and safety before you push off. The paddle out follows the north shore past Solomon and Honeymoon Beaches, taking about 40 to 45 minutes to reach Scott Beach. That timing matters: it's long enough to feel like a real journey but short enough that you're not paddling all day. The beach sits at the end of a route most visitors never take because there's no road to it.

Once you arrive, the snorkeling happens in a seagrass bed just a few yards offshore. Sea turtles graze there constantly (they're feeding, not posing), and stingrays move through the same water. The visibility is clear and the water mostly calm. You'll spend roughly an hour in and around the water, with time to rest on the sand and hear about the endangered green turtles that nest on this beach. In summer and fall, you may see their nests in the sand itself. After snorkeling, you paddle back to Cruz Bay.

The guide provides snorkeling equipment and handles the route. You bring moderate fitness and the willingness to paddle. The whole day is built around what happens at Scott Beach, not around a schedule of stops.

What’s included

• Licensed guide who leads the paddle and provides instruction.
• snorkeling equipment including mask and fins.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 22 Feb 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Arawak Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable paddling a kayak and snorkeling in open water. The physical demand comes from time in the ocean, not hiking or climbing.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the paddle from Cruz Bay to Scott Beach?

The paddle takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes each way, following the north shore past Solomon and Honeymoon Beaches. You'll paddle back to Cruz Bay after snorkeling, so the full trip is 3 hours.

Will I actually see sea turtles while snorkeling?

Sea turtles feed in the seagrass bed just yards offshore at Scott Beach, and they are plentiful there. The water is clear and mostly calm, which makes spotting them straightforward. In summer and fall, you may also see turtle nests in the sand on the beach itself.

What snorkeling equipment is provided?

The guide provides snorkeling equipment as part of the tour, so you don't need to bring your own or rent it separately.

Is Scott Beach crowded?

Scott Beach is inaccessible by road, which means the tour often has the beach to itself or shares it with very few other visitors. That isolation is part of what makes it a destination worth paddling to.

What if I've never kayaked before?

The guide teaches kayak basics and safety on the beach in Cruz Bay before you set out, so no prior experience is required. You do need at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the paddle and the snorkeling.