10 Vacation Destinations with Amazing Beaches

A beach is a beach is a beach? Not at all! Follow us on a trip of 10 amazing beaches spread all around the world.

10. Red Beach of Santorini, Greece

photo: kevinpoh

Red Beach Santorini, Greece Near the Southern edge of an archipelago that was destroyed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, is a series of beaches boasting multi-colored sands, and the cerulean waters of the Aegean sea. Yet one beach stands out among the rest; the stunningly beautiful and unusual Red Beach of Santorini, Greece. From a distance, the red sand beneath the sea floor can make the water itself appear to be red, and surrounding the red sand beach are cliffs, looming above in the same rust-hued shades, the result of millions of years of Volcanic eruptions and lava deposits. A truly unusual place, it’s little wonder how the myth of Atlantis could have been born from its shores.

9. Chandipur Beach, India

photo: Subhasisa

Chandipur-on-sea, also known as Chandipur Beach, is a sleepy little beach town on the Bay of Bengal, that is home to one of the most relaxing beaches in the world. In fact, the beaches are so laid back, that they take a little break from their own jobs at low tide each day. A unique geographical positioning makes it possible for the sea to recede up to 4 kilometers. This makes for an extraordinary opportunity to see what truly lies beneath. Chandipur is best suited for relaxing on the beach all day, and forgetting about the hustle and bustle.

8. Deadman’s Beach, Virgin Islands

photo: Joe Shlabotnik

Deadman’s Beach is one of the best known and most loved beaches in the world. Surrounded by lush green hills, a haven for snorkeling and diving, and with options for both those who want to kick back, and those who want to live it up, there’s a little something for everyone. Not quite as well known as it’s bustling brother, Tortola, Deadman’s Beach is just a short dinghy ride away.

7. Cirali Beach, Turkey

photo: nsummer

Cirali Beach, Turkey, was once the home of Olympos; where the mythological god Poseidon brought upon a massive storm to wreck Odysseus’s boat. Once believed to be the playground of giant gods and goddesses worshiped in the culture of the ancient Hellenistic period, today another kind of giant has taken their place. Cirali is the nesting place of Caretta, also known as Logger Head sea turtles. Growing as large as 300 pounds and with a lifespan of nearly 70 years, it easy to see why these ancient and venerable creatures have chosen such a beautiful and untarnished stretch of beach. Cirali is a small and quiet town, and full of natural wonders- from forests to orchards, and breathtaking bays, the flora bloom with every season. Cirali is also home to the Yanartas; better know as the Chimaera, a natural phenomenon from which burning methane gas deep below the rocks fuels an eternal flame. Historically, sailors used it as a sort of guiding light along the Mediterranean, as they moved along the shores.

6. Beaches of Tulum Mexico

photo: mdanys

Just shy of a 100 miles outside the bustling, overcrowded resort beaches of Cancun, lies an earthy little region of Mexico called Tulum. A mecca for the counter-culture community in the 1960′s, little has changed in Tulum over the years. The white sand beaches, breathtaking views, and Mayan ruins have existed for hundreds of years in solitude, and today still remain an out-of-the-way, best kept secret. The city is surrounded by a wall built by the Mayans to keep out invaders; the place itself sits atop a bluff and looks out over the ocean to the east, where spectacular sunrises have entranced its visitors for centuries. Clothing optional, development has moved slowly in Tulum, leaving it unmarred by the usual trappings of resort life, and man’s modern day conveniences have been even slower to arrive. Run on solar power, Tulum is a perfect little clothing-optional place to sunbathe and even more fascinating place to explore.

5. Rainbow Beach, Australia

photo: Madeleine_H

In South-east Queensland, not far from Gympie, a visual masterpiece has slowly taken over the sand dunes, leaving them a myriad of colors, and thus giving Rainbow Beach its much deserved name. The coloring is the result of mineral content in the sand itself, a combination of black sand from volcanic eruptions, and eroded and carried sediment from farther away. The aboriginal Kabi people believe that during the dream time, Yiningie, a rainbow spirit, lost a battle against an evil tribesman, and when his body fell down the cliffs, they absorbed his colors. Rainbow Beach isn’t just pretty to look at though. A perfect place for birdwatchers to observe terns, sandpipers, and other shorebirds, and for admiring the many native flora species that grow in the dunes. Rainbow Island makes an excellent get away for those person seeking a little adventure; kayaking, skydiving, surfing, and diving opportunities abound.

4. Icy Straight Point, Alaska

photo: Ruth L

For most of us, the word beach evokes balmy, warm breezes, hammocks, and coconut palms, but in Alaska, Icy Straight Point is ready to change your perceptions about beach life. Rocky beaches and far cooler temperatures do not take away from this majestic place. It is home to one of the longest zip-lines in the world, beautiful icy glaciers and a variety of wildlife. Take a boat ride and watch for Humpback Wales, buy some one of a kind art from Aboriginal Artists, and snap some photographs of one of the world’s most fierce and beautiful beaches.

3. Matira Beach, Tahiti

photo: Jean-Sébastien Roy

Just a tiny slip of an island, Bora Bora is known as the romantic island, and it isn’t hard to see why. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti is a secluded, white sandy beach, cocooned into breathtaking lagoons, and crystal-clear turquoise waters known for their pearls, this little island in French Polynesia is truly a paradise There are countless sites to see, historical monuments and memorabilia from World War II, and even shark feeding tours for the truly brave. Also known for their mouthwatering cuisine, there is no shortage of tiny beach carts selling home grown, world class ethnic specialties unlike anything you’ve ever known.

2. Pink Sand Beach, The Bahamas

photo: Mike's Birds

The Bahamas have long been a source of endless beaches, but one beach in particular stands out; considered by Forbes and Conde Naste to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The Pink Sand beach of Harbour Island, in the Bahama’s, is a three and a half mile long stretch of white sand that has intermingled with tiny particles of coral, giving it a pink sheen that requires no rose-colored glasses for you to view it. The turquoise water is so translucent, you can see all the way down to the bottom, making it a favorite spot for snorkeling. Its gentle waves make for excellent skimboarding conditions, and this is one place where you won’t have to fight the crowds.

1. Papakōlea Beach, Hawaii

photo: SteveD.

Like the Bahama’s, Hawaii is also known for magnificent beaches and breathtaking vistas. Home to a bevvy of active volcano’s, Papakōlea Beach hugs Puʻu Mahana, a 50,000 year old cinder cone. Papakōlea is also referred to as Mahana, or Green Sand Beach. It get its name for olivine crystals, which, after a 10,000 year old eruption, settled into the beach, mixing with the sane. Unlike most volcanic rock, these crystals are heavy, and when the water washes away those lighter materials, it leaves the green crystals, turning the beach an emerald hue. Only one other place in the world has green beaches; the Galapagos Islands. Not unlike the Galapagos, Papakōlea Beach is isolated and not easy to get to. No organized tours exist at this time for Papakōlea Beach, but if you are looking for a true break from civilization, you can get there with a three hour drive from most of the island’s resorts, and then a 7 mile hike, round trip, to the actual beach itself.