The lure of a beautiful beach can be hard to resist, no matter whether you are a water baby, a beach walker, or an old salty seaman. They are places for enjoying the best of nature, getting into water-sports, making a living, or just lying back and relaxing.
Planning a summer getaway? Or in the middle of winter and feeling nostalgic about seeing the sun? Here are 23 of the most beautiful beaches around the world.
1. Dreamland Beach, Bali
Bali in Indonesia is one of those destinations you have to go to, at least once, in your lifetime. It’s even better when you get to spend a bit of time on at least one of the beautiful beaches such as this one, Dreamland Beach on Bukit Peninsula on the south-west coast.
2. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands of Australia is a stunning seven kilometer (four-mile) stretch of white sands and turquoise waters. You can camp and barbecue while you’re there but to do so will have to travel by boat, Jetski, seaplane, or helicopter – there are no roads.
3. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
Seven Mile Beach in the Grand Cayman Islands is a gorgeous sandy coral beach. You can take that morning or evening stroll along the full length of the beach to make the most of the Carribean sun rising and setting.
4. Hidden Beach, Islas Marietas, Mexico
The Hidden Beach, or Playa del Amor, is on one of the Marieta Islands, an archipelago on the north-west coast of Mexico. You get to the island by boat, and access to this beach is by swimming or kayaking through a water tunnel linked to the Pacific ocean.
5. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
Shaped as it sounds, in a curve like a horseshoe, this Bermuda bay is a popular spot for sun lovers, swimmers, snorkelers, and keen photographers. There’s something for everyone, including an adjacent beach with safe swimming for kids.
6. Lucky Bay, Australia
Lucky Bay is on the southwestern coast of Australia. The sand is pure white, the water is clear, turquoise and tranquil. The area is known for whale watching, snorkeling, swimming – and yes, in this National Park, you may even see a kangaroo or two on the beach!
7. Pig Beach, Exumas, Bahamas
This island this beach is on, Big Major Cay, may not be habited by humans, but there is no shortage of pigs! Pig Beach, in the Exuma region of the Bahamas, is home to a family of friendly, albeit snorting, pigs that will swim in the tropical water alongside you.
8. La Chiva Beach, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Playa La Chiva on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico is a long stretch of sand on the Carribean Sea. Previously known as Blue Beach, the beach is inside a National Wildlife Refuge. There’s enough space to have your own patch of sand, and find shelter closeby in the trees.
9. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos Island, Greece
Navagio Beach is an exposed cove on the coast of Zakynthos in the Greek Islands. That is an actual shipwreck you can see on the sands in the middle of the beach, in the 1980s a Freightliner ran aground during a storm. Not surprisingly it is also known as Shipwreck each, but because the ship is said to have been carrying contraband, the beach is also known as Smugglers Cove!
10. Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Trunk Bay in the United States Virgin Island is a quarter of a mile long white sand beach with palm trees an safe swimming. A marked underwater snorkeling trail runs along much of the length of the beach to explore sea life and coral.
11. Waipio Valley Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
Waipi’o Valley Beach on the north-east coast of Hawaii’s Big Island is a curved black sand beach, in an area surrounded by waterfalls and huge cliff faces. It’s a little off the usual beaten track, but the views and water are popular with those who make the trip.
12. Maya Bay, Thailand
Maya Bay in Thailand is a tropical lagoon made famous by the movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the 90s. Situated in the Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, tourist access to the beach itself will be limited for a period in 2018 to allow for the coral reef to regenerate.
13. Treasure Beach, Jamaica
Treasure Beach is a six-mile stretch of sand, sea, and rocks on Jamaica’s south coast that encompasses four different bays. The nearby cafes and accommodation are said to give that experience of the true laidback Jamaican vibe.
14. Blue Lagoon, Nacula, Fiji
The Blue Lagoon is a resort area on Fiji’s Nacula Island. The island’s beaches and lagoons are all crystal clear water, white sands and idyllic locations for relaxing on holiday and enjoying a spot of snorkeling or diving while you’re there.
15. Palm Beach, Aruba
You can get the best of both worlds on the island of Aruba, in the Carribean. Carribean Island, Aruba. Palm Beach is an area with everything from luxurious hotels, to a casino, to holiday homes and a shopping mall. Nearby beaches are also enjoyed for kite flying and snorkeling activities.
16. Vaeroy, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Visit the island of Vaeroy in the Lofoten Islands in Norway between May to July and you can enjoy the beach in the midnight sun! A popular hiking and fishing spot, access to the island is by ferry or helicopter.
17. Kaputas Beach, Turkey
To get to the beach at Kaputas on Turkey’s southern coast, you’ll descend a walkway and flight of 170 steps down into the sandy ravine. The water gets deep very quickly, so boat trips can also bring you in close.
18. Cala Goloritze, Sardinia
The hour-long hike to Cala Goloritze on the east coast of the island of Sardinia is well worth the trek, or you can get there by boat. The beach is made of pebbles, the rocks white and yellow and the water warm.
19. Long Beach, Vancouver Island, Canada
Long Beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Canada’s British Columbia is a popular destination for camping and surfing. For beachcombers, driftwood washed in from the Pacific ocean lines the shores. For hikers, the adjoining national park has plenty of trails.
20. Cala Mitjana, Menorca, Spain
Cala Mitjana on Minorca in the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain is an open cove with clear blue waters. Travel across from the Barcelona on the mainland and then access is a short walk on foot from a nearby road, or you can cruise in on a small pleasure boat.
21. Radhanagar Beach, Andaman Archipelago, India
Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is focused on the development and promotion of ecotourism. Locally known just as Beach No. 7, you’ll find turtles, dolphins, fish and the occasional elephant en route.
22. Ageeba Beach, Egypt
Looking at this turquoise colored vista there is way more to Egypt than the great pyramids and sphynx. Ageeba Beach is in Marsa Matruh, a day’s drive away from Cairo. Ageeba means “miracle” in Arabic.
23. Diani Beach, Kenya
Kicking back and relaxing at Diani Beach in Kenya on the east coast of Africa is a great way to kick off or end any African adventure. It’s a long stretch of clean white soft sand, just south of Mombasa.
