Cinnamon, Maho and Francis Bays in Cruz Bay — Live Webcam

Windswept Point Overlook: Panorama of Three Bays

On the north coast of St. John island, between Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay, lies the Windswept Point overlook — a spot offering one of the most stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. The Windswept Point webcam is installed on the headland between Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay and shows in real time three bays at once: Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay and Francis Bay, as well as Peter Bay Beach. The camera was installed by local artist Kimberly Boulon and provides a view of the north coast of St. John island.

From this vantage point, a classic Caribbean landscape unfolds before the eye: turquoise water, green hills stretching to the horizon, and an endless sky reflected in the calm surface of the bays. This place attracts not only tourists but also artists, photographers, and nature lovers seeking to capture the pristine beauty of the Virgin Islands.

Virgin Islands National Park: Protected Nature of St. John

Everything within the camera's field of view lies within the territory of the Virgin Islands National Park — one of the key nature reserves of the Caribbean basin. Virgin Islands National Park preserves about 60% of St. John island's territory and more than 5,500 acres of adjacent waters. Although the park's boundaries formally encompass 75% of the island, private parcels within those boundaries reduce the park's land to 60% of the total area, while many waters and coral reefs remain under the park's protection.

Thanks to its protected status, the nature within the camera's view retains its natural appearance. There are no high-rise hotels, restaurant-lined promenades, or noisy boardwalks — only tropical vegetation, crystal-clear water, and wild shores. This is why the real-time webcam shows the Caribbean Sea as it was centuries ago.

Three Bays from Above: Cinnamon, Maho and Francis

Each of the three bays visible on the broadcast has its own character. Cinnamon Bay is the longest and most popular among tourists. Its shallow, clean water and the proximity of Cinnamon Cay island (about 100 yards from shore) make it one of the best snorkeling spots on St. John. Around this small island, you can swim with a mask, observing tropical fish and coral formations.

Maho Bay is distinguished by calm, shallow waters with a sandy seabed covered in sea grasses. This spot attracts sea turtles and stingrays, which can often be spotted if you look carefully. Francis Bay is a more secluded bay, popular among sailors who use mooring buoys for anchoring. Maho Bay is known for its calm, shallow waters and sandy seabed with sea grasses, making it a good spot for observing sea turtles and stingrays.

Marine Life and Snorkeling in the Bays

The waters of the three bays are literally teeming with life. Coral reefs stretching along the coast serve as home to hundreds of species of tropical fish, sea stars, sea urchins, and crustaceans. Cinnamon Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots on St. John thanks to its shallow, clean water and the proximity of Cinnamon Cay island about 100 yards from shore, around which you can swim with a mask.

Within the camera's field of view, you can sometimes spot schools of fish gliding across the water's surface or charter boats carefully maneuvering between mooring buoys. Sea turtles — green and loggerhead — regularly appear in the waters of Maho Bay, especially in the early morning hours when the water is calmest and most transparent.

Sailing and Boat Tours in the Caribbean Sea

Cinnamon, Maho and Francis Bays are favorite spots for sailors and boating enthusiasts. Day charter vessels, yachts, and boats using mooring buoys in Francis and Maho Bays pass through the camera's field of view. The National Park has installed special mooring balls to protect the seabed from anchor damage — and these buoys are clearly visible on the broadcast.

Day charter vessels bring tourists from St. Thomas and other islands of the archipelago. The white sails and glossy hulls of yachts create a picturesque contrast with the emerald water and green hills. Watching the movement of vessels in real time is a special pleasure for those viewing this online camera.

Sugar Factory Ruins and Historic Trails

Nature is not the only thing that makes this area of St. John interesting. In the Cinnamon Bay area, ruins of a sugar factory that operated about 300 years ago have been preserved. The Cinnamon Bay area features the Cinnamon Bay Nature Trail and the ruins of a sugar factory that operated about 300 years ago. These stone walls and remnants of equipment are silent witnesses to the plantation era, when St. John was one of the centers of sugar production in the Caribbean basin.

The Cinnamon Bay Nature Trail is a hiking route that passes through tropical forest past the ruins and leads to the shore. The trail is open to visitors and allows you to combine a historical excursion with a swim at one of the island's best beaches. Near the Windswept Point overlook are Trunk Bay (one of the most beautiful beaches in the world), Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, and Francis Bay.

Islands in the Distance: St. Thomas and the Archipelago

In the background of the broadcast, beyond the three bays, the outlines of other islands in the archipelago are visible. The Virgin Islands archipelago is visible in the Windswept Point area, and in the distance, St. Thomas island and Pillsbury Sound can be seen. St. Thomas is the second-largest island of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a major cruise port and commercial center of the region.

Pillsbury Sound — the strait between St. John and St. Thomas — is visible as a band of darker water on the horizon. It is through this strait that ferries run, connecting the two islands. On clear days, not only St. Thomas but also the smaller islands of the archipelago scattered across the Caribbean Sea can be seen from the overlook.

Climate and Best Time for Viewing

St. John lies in a tropical climate zone with two distinct seasons. The dry season lasts from December to April — this time is considered the best for visiting the islands. The sky is most often clear, the water is transparent, and visibility is at its maximum. The wet season (May–November) brings more frequent rains and increased cloudiness, but even during this period, there are days with flawless visibility.

Hurricanes are possible from June to November, with the peak season falling in August–October. During storm periods, the webcam takes on special interest — you can watch Caribbean Sea waves crashing against the shores of the bays and the sky painted in dramatic gray and purple tones. Air temperature on St. John stays in the 25–32°C range year-round, and the water warms to 26–29°C.

What's Visible on Camera

The online camera at the Windswept Point overlook broadcasts a panorama of three St. John bays in real time. In the foreground — spiky agave leaves and sprawling palms framing the view. In the middle ground — the calm waters of Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, and Francis Bay reflecting the cloudy sky. In the background — green hilly shores covered in dense tropical vegetation and the outlines of islands on the horizon.

Within the camera's field of view are the natural areas of the Virgin Islands National Park, including turquoise waters, green hills, and mooring buoys used by yachts and boats. Day charter vessels pass through the bays, leaving white wakes behind them. On clear days, St. Thomas island and Pillsbury Sound are visible in the distance. This real-time webcam is a window into one of the most beautiful corners of the Caribbean Sea, available to anyone who wants to see the untouched tropical nature of the U.S. Virgin Islands.