The Best Beaches in the World

There's nothing quite like a day at the beach. Bury your toes in warm white sand, soak up the sun and cool off in clear blue salty water. Some beaches are coveted for their isolation and natural beauty, others for their lively crowds, bars and restaurants, amenities and an array of activities.So whether you like surfing, snorkeling, sunning, swimming, or sipping Mai Tais, from Mexico to Greece, Bali to Bournemouth, the perfect beach is out there, somewhere. Here are the best beaches in the world.

Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Islands Jost Van Dyke is one of the main islands in the British Virgin Islands, which are part of a volcanic archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is known for its yacht anchorages, like the sheltered bay at Great Harbour. Casual bars and restaurants dot the sandy beaches here and at nearby White Bay. Bubbly Pool, a naturally foaming sea pool, is in the island’s northeast.	Fiji, Country in Oceania Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands. It's famed for rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain most of the population. Viti Levu is home to the capital, Suva, a port city with British colonial architecture. The Fiji Museum, in the Victorian-era Thurston Gardens, has ethnographic exhibits.	Sibenik, Croatia Šibenik is a city on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. It’s known as a gateway to the Kornati Islands. The 15th-century stone Cathedral of St. James is decorated with 71 sculpted faces. Nearby, the Šibenik City Museum, in the 14th-century Prince’s Palace, has exhibits ranging from prehistory to the present. The white stone St. Michael’s Fortress has an open-air theater, with views of Šibenik Bay and neighboring islands.
Zlatni Rat Beach, Croatia The Zlatni Rat, often referred to as the Golden Cape or Golden Horn is a spit of land located about 2 kilometres (1 mile) west from the harbour town of Bol on the southern coast of the Croatian island of Brač, in the region of Dalmatia.	St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia Set on a lagoon, this luxe tropical beachfront resort is 3 km by boat from Mount Otemanu volcano, and 2 km from the Bora Bora WWII Guns historic site.	Antigua, Caribbean Sea Antigua is one of the 2 major islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Ringed with coral reefs, the island is known for its many sandy beaches. Set along English Harbour, restored Nelson’s Dockyard, which Admiral Horatio Nelson made his base in the 1780s, includes a marina and the Dockyard Museum. Trails lead up to Shirley Heights, a former military lookout with panoramic views.
Corfu Island,Greece Corfu, an island off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea, is defined by rugged mountains and a resort-studded shoreline. Its cultural heritage reflects years spent under Venetian, French and British rule before it was united with Greece in 1864. Corfu Town, flanked by 2 imposing Venetian fortresses, features winding medieval lanes, a French-style arcade and the grand Palace of St. Michael and St. George.	Aitutaki, Cook Islands Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands, which are in the South Pacific. It consists of a main island, a turquoise lagoon and a surrounding barrier reef. The lagoon’s waters teem with marine life, including rays, bonefish and turtles. Near the main town of Arutanga, trails lead to the top of Maunga Pu hill. Boats run to small uninhabited islands called motu, including tiny Tapuaetai, known for its white sand beaches.	Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico This upscale beachfront resort, occupying grass-roof buildings connected by stone paths, is 9 km from Cabo Wabo nightclub and 10 km from both the Arch of Cabo San Lucas and Lovers Beach.
Cozumel,Island in Mexico Cozumel, a mostly undeveloped Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea, is a popular cruise ship port of call famed for its scuba diving. At Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, there's diving spots around a section of the Mesoamerican Reef and the Museo Subacuático de Arte’s submerged sculptures. Chankanaab is an eco park surrounding a lagoon with underwater caverns, home to dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.	Couples Swept Away, Negril, Jamaica , Couples Negril is located on 18 acres on the island's west ... Negril. Discover things to do in Negril, Jamaica. Learn More. “Excellent!!!Set on a tranquil, white sand beach along the Caribbean coast, this all-inclusive, couples-only resort is 7 km from the caves at Xtabi and 10 km from Negril Lighthouse.ouples.com/resorts/swept-away	Grand Cayman Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. George Town, its capital, is home to the Cayman Islands National Museum, dedicated to Caymanian heritage. The city is also a major cruise-ship port and site of the ruins of colonial-era Fort George. Beaches and vibrant coral reefs are the island’s hallmarks.
Harbour Island,Bahamas Harbour Island lies just northwest of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. It's known for the long pink sand beaches stretching along its eastern shore. The west coast also has beaches and several marinas. Outlying coral reefs like the Devil's Backbone are home to marine life such as stingrays and turtles. The main hub, Dunmore Town, features pastel houses like the 1797 Loyalist Cottage.	Hawaii,USA Hawaii, a U.S. state, is an isolated volcanic archipelago in the Central Pacific. Its islands are renowned for their rugged landscapes of cliffs, waterfalls, tropical foliage and beaches with gold, red, black and even green sands. Of the 6 main islands, Oahu has Hawaii’s biggest city and capital, Honolulu, home to crescent Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbor's WWII memorials.	La Digue, Indian Ocean La Digue is an island in the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean off East Africa. It’s known for its beaches, like Anse Source d’Argent, dotted with granite boulders, on the west coast. To the south, isolated Anse Bonnet Carré Beach, with calm, shallow water, is accessible only on foot, as is Anse Cocos Beach, in a protected bay on the east coast. La Digue’s diverse wildlife can be seen in the Veuve Nature Reserve.
Praslin island,Indian Ocean Despite being the second biggest island in the Seychelles it has fraction of the population, inhabited by a mere 6,500 people. It is sleepy, laid back and far less developed than neighbouring Mahe, yet still large enough to explore when you tire of your nearest beach. The beaches on Praslin stand out, with famous names like Anse Lazio and Anse Geogette frequently making top ten lists of best beaches and most beautiful destinations worldwide.	Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, Raiatea, French Polynesia This coral sand island is a five-minute-boat ride away from Taha’a island, famous for its lush vanilla plantations and its black pearl farms. Idyllic, intimate and wonderfully preserved, the thatched huts on stilts of this retreat are in the heart of a natural setting of fascinating beauty, where an enchanting vanilla fragrance and the scents of lush tropical vegetation fill the air. The lagoon has crystal-clear waters and splendid colours and there is an exceptional coral garden.	Maui, Hawaii Maui is an island in the Central Pacific, part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Sprawling Haleakala National Park encompasses the island’s highest peak, volcanic Haleakala, as well as the pools and waterfalls of Ohe’o Gulch, accessed via scenic, winding Hana Highway. The island's 30 miles of beaches include golden-crescent Kapalua, sheltered from strong currents by lava-rock promontories.
Whitsunday Islands, Australia The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, a massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life. Most of the islands are uninhabited. They're characterized by dense rainforest, hiking trails and white sand beaches. The town of Airlie Beach on the mainland is the region's central hub.	Waiheke Island,New Zealand Waiheke is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and beaches, all just a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. ... The white sandy beaches at Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi slope gently down into the Hauraki Gulf and are perfect for swimming, kayaking.	The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, a luxurious 44-acre property with stunning views of Mt. Otemanu. Its 89 overwater and beachfront bungalows are the largest in French Polynesia, and are richly appointed with modern island decor and thoughtful amenities. Four on-site restaurants, including a Jean-Georges outpost, two beautiful pools, a large beachfront and a protected lagoonarium, and a Clarins sponsored spa are a mere sampling of the incredible amenities here.
The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam With an idyllic location on Vietnam’s culturally rich central coast, The Nam Hai offers a portal to three extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage sites and a breezy respite on the country’s most celebrated beach. You’ll have a chance to reconnect with your loved ones – whether you take to the East Sea by kayak, explore the glory of imperial Hue or simply savour quiet moments in your own tranquil villa.	The Mulia, Bali, Indonesia Revel in premium amenities and unrivalled hospitality with luxury accommodations at the consistently award-winning Bali beach resort. Dine at the venue of your choice with our selection of 9 restaurants and bars, each promising a distinct dining experience overlooking the beach and ocean beyond. Lounge on an array of day beds by the resort's 4 pools, while guests of The Mulia and Mulia Villas enjoy exclusive access to 2 pools.	Tahiti, French Polynesia Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula). With black-sand beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and 2 extinct volcanoes, it's a popular vacation destination. Explored by Captain James Cook in the 18th century, it was also often painted by French artist Paul Gauguin.
Tenerife,Spain’s Canary Islands Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off West Africa. It's dominated by Mt. Teide, a dormant volcano that is Spain's tallest peak. Tenerife may be best known for its Carnaval de Santa Cruz, a huge pre-Lent festival with parades, music, dancing and colorful costumes. The island has many beaches (with sands from yellow to black) and resort areas, including Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas.	Santorini Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.	Rarotonga,Cook Islands Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands, a nation of 15 islands in the central South Pacific. Volcanic peaks, ridges and rainforest dominate its interior. A 32km, round-the-island road links the beaches, coastal lagoon and reefs that make scuba diving and snorkeling popular. The Cross-Island Track is a rugged hiking trail that passes 650m Te Rua Manga peak, or "The Needle."
Paklinski Islands,Croatia The Pakleni or sometimes referred as Paklinski islands are located off the southwest coast of the island of Hvar, Croatia, opposite the entrance to the Hvar harbour. Usual local name is Škoji, which means Islands.	North Island,Seychelles,Indian Ocean Located amongst the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, North Island is a fertile paradise – the perfect setting for our Noah’s Ark conservation and island rehabilitation programme. The natural beauty of North Island will touch and inspire you at the deepest level.Islands have been referred to as the “laboratories of evolution” and North Island biodiversity is living proof of this.	Mykonos,Greece Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. It's popularly known for its summer party atmosphere. Beaches such as Paradise and Super Paradise have bars that blare thumping music. Massive dance clubs attract world-renowned DJs and typically stay open well past dawn. Iconic landmarks include a row of 16th-century windmills, which sit on a hill above Mykonos town.