Not all beaches are created equal -- as anyone who’s ever fought traffic, stalked people for parking, endlessly searched for a spot not occupied by tourists or trash, and then tolerated whichever aspiring DJ decided to set up camp 20 feet away, can attest.
Not all beaches are created equal -- as anyone who’s ever fought traffic, stalked people for parking, endlessly searched for a spot not occupied by tourists or trash, and then tolerated whichever aspiring DJ decided to set up camp 20 feet away, can attest.
But with the right scenery... and the right shoreline... and the right conditions, whatever hassles and headaches it took to get you to that idyllic stretch of sand cease to matter. Some beaches are near mystical in their powers to slow time, erase reality, and hook you into a force greater than yourself. Here are 20 of the world’s most beautiful beaches: Whether you’re into majestic cliffs and rock formations or smooth, wide nothingness, sugary white sand or pink or black or golden, they’re all perfect no matter how tough the journey.
1. Catedrais
As Catedrais beach translates as ‘Beach of the Cathedrals’. It is the turistic name of Praia de Augas Santas. The Spanish beach is located in the Ribadeo municipality, in the province of Lugo, on the Cantabric coast, and it lies about ten kilometres to the west from the town of Ribadeo. Its name is derived from the formations of its cliffs.
It has been declared a Natural Monument by the regional Ministry for the Environment of the Xunta de Galicia.
The place’s more characteristic features are its natural arches and caves, which can be seen only in low tide. During high tide, the beach appears quite small, but is still suitable to go for a swim.
High tide is an interesting time to visit the place and wander over the top of the cliffs, from West to East, heading to the Esteiro Beach. During low tide you can appreciate the size of its magnificent cliffs and the picturesque sea caves, which go from small cracks on the rock to big caves whose roofs collapse due to the erosion of the waves.
Also during low tide you can gain access to a sand deposit delimited by a rocky wall made from slate and schist of strange and complex forms: more than 30-meters-tall arches which remind to cathedral flying buttresses, dozen-meters-long caves, sand corridors between rocky blocks and many other curiosities.
When low tide is lower than usual, you can access the nearby beaches through the sand extension. However, it is advisable to be back before the water starts to cover the beach again, which happens very quickly, since the coast stretch is almost horizontal.
2. La Digue
La Digue is the third largest inhabited island of the Seychelles in terms of population, lying east of Praslin and west of Felicite Island. In terms of size it is the fourth largest granitic island of Seychelles after Mahé, Praslin and Silhouette Island. It has a population of 2,800 people, who mostly live in the west coast villages of La Passe and La Réunion. There is no airport on La Digue, so to get there from a foreign country, one has to fly to Victoria and continue by ferry, usually via Praslin. It has an area of 10.08 km2, which makes it relatively easy to travel around by bike or on foot.
La Digue was named after a ship in the fleet of French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, who visited the Seychelles in 1768.
The Seychelles in general have warm temperatures throughout the year. Thanks to their location near the equator, they get frequent and sometimes heavy rainfall. On La Digue, rainfall can be very heavy, but it usually lasts for one hour or less. The day temperature on La Digue normally stays between 24 °C (75 °F) and 32 °C (90 °F) and the nights do not get too much colder than that. There is most rainfall from October to March, with a monthly precipitation of 402.6 mm (15.85 in) in January. There is the least precipitation in July, with only 76.6 mm (3.02 in) of rain.
3. Aitutaki
Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The main village is Arutanga (Arutunga) on the west side.
Aitutaki is an «almost atoll». It has a maximum elevation of approximately 123 metres with the hill known as Maunga Pu close to its northernmost point. The land area of the atoll is 18.05 km2 (6.97 sq mi), of which the main island occupies 16.8 km2 (6.5 sq mi). The Ootu Peninsula, protruding east from the main island in a southerly direction along the eastern rim of the reef, takes up 1.75 km2 (0.68 sq mi) out of the main island. For the lagoon, area figures between 50 and 74 km2 (19 and 29 sq mi) are found. Satellite image measurement suggests that the larger figure also includes the reef flat, which is commonly not considered part of a lagoon.
The barrier reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands including Mangere, Akaiami, and Tekopua.
4. Pristine and quiet
Pristine and quiet, you won’t find any hotels here. Park and walk over a bridge to secluded white beach. There is an outdoor shower located at this beach. This is the only beach with barbecue grills. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Rd., turn left on Bowman’s Beach Rd. Up Island.
Restrooms, changing rooms and outdoor shower. Oversized (20 foot and over) vehicle parking – several Free handicap parking – 7 spaces. Picnic tables and Barbecue grills. Public telephone at restrooms. Nature and fitness trails. Canoe and kayak launching.
5. Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles (40 km) west of Dorchester and 25 miles (40 km) east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset–Devon border. It is nicknamed «The Pearl of Dorset.» The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast—known commercially as the Jurassic Coast—a World Heritage Site.
The harbour wall, known as «The Cobb», features in Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion, and in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, a novel by British writer John Fowles, as well as the 1981 film of the same name, which was partly filmed in Lyme Regis.
The town was home to Admiral Sir George Somers, its one-time mayor and parliamentarian. He founded the English colonial settlement of the Somers Isles, better known as Bermuda. Lyme Regis is twinned with St. George’s, Bermuda. In July 2015 Lyme Regis was also ‘tripled’ with Jamestown, Virginia to form the Historic Atlantic Triangle between Lyme, St George’s and Jamestown.
In the 2011 Census the town’s parish and the electoral ward had a population of 3,671.
6. Cannon
Cannon Beach is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,690 at the 2010 census.
The first recorded journey by an American to what is now Cannon Beach was made by William Clark, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in early 1805. The expedition was wintering at Fort Clatsop, roughly 20 miles (32 km) to the north near the mouth of the Columbia River. In December 1805, two members of the expedition returned to camp with blubber from a whale that had beached several miles south, near the mouth of Ecola Creek. Clark later explored the region himself. From a spot near the western cliffs of the headland he saw «…the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless Ocean…» That viewpoint, later dubbed «Clark’s Point of View,» can be accessed by a hiking trail from Indian Beach in Ecola State Park.
7. Reynisdrangar
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vik i Myrdal, southern Iceland which is framed by a black sand beach that was ranked in 1991 as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.
Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-masted ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke they became needles of rock.
Contemporary legends note the story of a husband who found his wife taken by the two trolls, frozen at night. The husband made the two trolls swear to never kill anyone ever again. His wife was the love of his life, whose free spirit he was unable to provide a home for; she found her fate out among the trolls, rocks, and sea at Reynisfjara.
8. Great Santa Cruz
Great Santa Cruz Island is a small inhabited island in Zamboanga City in the southern region of the Philippines that is famous for its pink coralline sand. The island, located 4 kilometres (2.49 mi) south of downtown at the Santa Cruz Bank in the Basilan Strait, boasts the only pink sand beach in the Philippines. The color of the sand comes from the pulverized red organ pipe coral from eons of surf erosion mixed with the white sand.
The island has lost is popularity since the 1970s and early 1980s when it was frequented by German and Italian tourists. The degradation in the peace and order situation in the area has swayed potential visitors decreasing its popularity.
The Great Santa Cruz Island together with Little Santa Cruz Island are protected areas in Region 9 of the Philippines. Jointly called the Great and Little Sta. Cruz Islands Protected Landscape & Seascape, it was declared as such on April 23, 2000 with the signing of Proclamation No. 271. The park has a total area of 1,877 hectares (4,640 acres).
9. Idyllic
This idyllic private island 15 acres in size, is one of the few islands off Belize that sit right atop the barrier reef. Our island resort is located on 3 1/2 acres on the southern end of the island where step off our beach and snorkel amongst coral and brightly colored fish.Relax and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding you:
— Catching the cool trade winds and with verandas positioned to see sunrise and sunset, our comfortable Belizean styled wooden cottages are named after resident bird species.
— Spacious rooms overlooking the reef crest in the main lodge are perfect for family and small groups.
— Meals come with generous portions of local dishes and are served on our outdoor deck with light snacks and fruit juices always available.
— Cold juices, hot drinks, local beer, wine and a full stocked bar are our bartender’s tools to fix your tropical delight!
— Hammocks and lounge chairs await on your porch, on the beach and scattered throughout the property — «Hammock testing is an activity!»
— Snorkel from the beach (try our guided night snorkel!), take an island hopping boat tour, scuba-dive, sunbathe, kayak, or do nothing at all.
10. Cas Abao
With its clear turquoise water, waving palm trees and white sandy beach, Cas Abao is a true paradise. Located at the northwest coast of Curaçao, Cas Abao Beach has been declared one of the most pristine beaches of Curaçao, ideal for families and water sports.
At the popular daiquiri bar you can get the coolest daiquiris. The restaurant is also open daily for lunch and snacks.
Don’t forget to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Cas Abao Beach! Go snorkeling or diving, step into a kayak, get on the banana boat or jump on the water trampoline and experience that Cas Abao Beach is a joy both in and out of the water!
Want to unwind completely? The beach masseur is ready to massage away your stress, while you relax, listening to the calming waves of the Caribbean Ocean…
In short: Cas Abao Beach has all the ingredients for a perfect enjoyable day at the beach!
11. Sete’s Corniche
Sete’s Corniche Beach stretches from the Corniche Promenade, near the canal des Quilles and the Stadium of Sète. This beautiful sandy beach is composed of two bays (each with about 200 metres of sand) and is protected by a large dam.
An access ramp is provided for people with reduced mobility. Free parking is located above the beach.
In the summer season, there are several restaurants on the beach and a playground for children.
On the right of this beach, there is an area reserved for water sports (windsurfing and kitesurfing). The zones are marked by a water line (visible in photographs — black and yellow).