Family Travel Forum - Maho Bay Campground and Harmony Studios

The idyllic beauty of the island of St. John, with sparkling blue waters, white-sand beaches, and winding mountain roads is for those able to afford the quintessential island paradise. Two-thirds of the island has been designated as national parkland making this island feel almost completely untouched by the voracious Virgin Island tourist industry.

In addition to its storybook beauty, St. John held the greatest surprise on my trip -- the uber-eco-friendly Maho Bay Camps. With all the talk of climate change and the desperate need for action, it was refreshing to learn that someone was actually doing something. The resort is the truest example of eco-tourism I’ve ever seen and they’ve been doing it since 1976! Yes, using the same towel twice is a good idea, but this idyllic, commune-like resort takes no shortcuts. They collect rainwater in cisterns and treat and use their own wastewater for irrigation. At Concordia Estates, their sister property, they heat their water with solar energy and both camps use solar electric generation. Whereas the average resort uses up to 300 gallons of water per guest per day, Maho uses 25.

The resort recycles 100% of aluminum cans, glass, and clear plastic and they have their own glass re-manufacturing facility. This means they take glass, melt it down, and reuse it to create beautiful glass works made by visiting artists and camp guests. They even shred their waste paper and reuse it as packing material for the glass crafts! Granted, this type of eco-friendly camp is not for everyone. Maho Bay is a camp, not a resort, so you are roughing it a bit, but your vacation footprint will be small.

Maho Bay Campgrounds' 114 eco-tent cabins, cooled by sea breezes flowing through well-placed screens, and shaded by trees, crisscross a steep hillside above the shore on stilts. My son said it looked like where the Ewoks live, and he was exactly right. They are connected to one another by a series of elevated wooden boardwalks through the trees. Sixteen-by-sixteen-foot, three-room cabins come with bed linens, towels, cooking and eating utensils, a small propane stove, and an ice cooler. Bathhouses are shared. Plan to enjoy at least one meal at the outdoor restaurant to take advantage of one of the most beautiful views in the islands. The beach at the bottom of the hill may be a tough hike back up for toddlers but its pristine swath of white sugar sand with its own well-equipped water sports center is a compelling draw. Open-air buses that circle the island stop at Maho, so it's easy to explore St John's other beaches, most of which are undeveloped National Park property.

Another part of the resort, Harmony Studios, is perched above the tent cabins and offers guests the use of Maho's facilities -- transportation, restaurant, grocery store, cultural events, and water sports -- but with extra comforts and amenities. Harmony's two-story guest buildings are much more upscale and feature full kitchens, dining areas, and spacious decks; all power is generated by sun and wind.

The sister property, Estate Concordia is similarly comprised of Concordia Eco-Tents and Concordia Studios. This development is just a 25-minute drive away. All four resorts have won armloads of awards for their low impact on the environment and brilliant use of recycled materials.

Maho Bay Campground and Harmony Resort,

St. John, U.S.V.I.

www.maho.org; 800/392-9004

$$ - $$$

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Extra Credit: Luxury camping with all equipment provided.
Comments: More than half of idyllic St. John is undisturbed and underdeveloped thanks to its Virgin Islands National Park status.