Virgin Islands Place 3 Beaches in Global Top 25 as Trunk Bay Takes No. 1

Q: What hidden criteria did travel influencers use in 2026 to rank a highly restricted wildlife sanctuary among the world's best beaches?

Travel influencers did not use a separate hidden metric for Sandy Point; they relied on the same broader judging framework that favored remote, protected beaches. In 2026, the beach rankings cited in coverage were based on votes from more than 1,000 vetted travel professionals and influencers, who looked beyond postcard beauty. The criteria included wildlife, untouched nature, lack of crowds, calm water, ease of entering the water, uniqueness, the “soundtrack of nature,” and the odds of perfect conditions. Other reporting on the index also described related factors such as natural beauty, water quality, tranquility, and the overall beach experience. That helps explain why Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix, despite being highly restricted and seasonally closed to protect endangered sea turtle nesting, still ranked No. 7 worldwide. Its limited public access appears to have worked in its favor under the ranking’s preservation-minded logic: the beach is remote, undeveloped, unusually peaceful, rich in wildlife, and free from heavy tourism pressure. In other words, the “hidden” factor was not secrecy so much as a strong preference for beaches that feel protected and unspoiled. Sandy Point’s status as a wildlife sanctuary likely boosted its score on exactly those measures the influencers were rewarding in 2026.

3 articles · Updated · Virgin Islands Daily News · Jul 16

Three Virgin Islands beaches landed in the Global Beach Index 2026 top 25, with Trunk Bay on St. John ranked No. 1 worldwide.
Sandy Point on St. Croix placed No. 7 and Magens Bay on St. Thomas ranked No. 17, giving the territory three entries on the list.
Beach.com described Magens Bay as an “expert-approved natural beauty” in the annual ranking of top beaches around the world.
The showing tied the Virgin Islands with Greece for the most beaches represented in the index, underscoring the territory’s global tourism appeal.