Things to do nearLittle Lameshur Bay

Little Lameshur Bay sits within Virgin Islands National Park, a designation that has kept its shoreline and surrounding hillsides largely free of development. The bay gained a footnote in scientific history as the site of the Tektite habitat project in 1969 and 1970, when NASA-funded researchers lived underwater here to study the effects of isolation and conduct marine science, making this quiet cove one of the more unusual chapters in American exploration.

Underwater, the bay delivers some of the most accessible snorkeling on the island. Coral formations spread across the shallows, and sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, and schools of reef fish move through the water with little concern for swimmers. The calm, protected shape of the cove keeps conditions gentle on most days.

On land, the nearby Tektite Trailhead opens a network of paths that wind along the coastline and into the dry forest above, offering views across the bay and toward the British Virgin Islands on clear days. The atmosphere throughout is unhurried and natural, with birdsong carrying across the hillsides. Little Lameshur Bay is worth every extra mile it takes to reach it.