The Most Exotic, Beautiful, and Unusual Beaches in the World
When you hear the word beach, your imagination immediately conjures images of white sand, sunshine, waves, beer, fruit cocktails, and other summer attributes. But beaches can be much more diverse than you might think.
Most of these beaches differ from each other in the color of the sand and the coastal landscape. Sand is usually formed from everything that the waves bring ashore, whether it be stones, shells, corals, or even glass, while the shore is shaped by water and wind.
The Beach with the Softest and Most Delicate Sand, Siesta Key, USA
This place is consistently recognized as one of the best beaches in America, and Siesta Key has earned this recognition not for its crystal-clear waters, but for its incredibly soft white sand, which resembles powder or flour due to its fine grain. Most beaches boast quartz sand, and the sand in the Siesta Key area is also made up of 99% of this crushed mineral, but the local quartz has undergone a long journey to become the softest powder it is today. Scientists believe that this sand specifically formed over millions of years and made its way to the Florida coast from the Appalachian Mountains via rivers and the Gulf of Mexico, completing its journey on Siesta Key beach.
The end result is a snow-white powder that hardly heats up under the sun, allowing you to walk barefoot without burning your feet even in the hottest weather, not to mention the pleasant sensations of touching this sand.
Yellow Beach, Ramla Bay, Gozo, Malta
Ramla Bay beach is quite wide and covered with golden-reddish sand. It would be popular simply because it is sandy, which is a rarity for rocky Malta. The color of the sand makes it unique for Malta.
Locals call this beach Ramla el-Hamra, which translates to "beach with red sand."
The unique color of the sand is due to the mixing of colors from ancient volcanic ash with the golden limestone that makes up the Maltese cliffs. As is known, the color of sand depends on the type of rock from which it is formed. Usually, the golden color of sand is due to the predominance of silicon dioxide in the form of quartz (SiO2) mixed with iron. The more iron in the sand, the yellower it becomes.
Shell Beach, Caribbean
Shell Beach is located on the eastern part of the Peron Peninsula. The coastline of the bay is covered not with sand, but with countless small shells. Because the water here is too salty, only small mollusks can thrive, and it is their remains that cover the beach for more than 100 kilometers in length. Walking along the shore, one is sometimes afraid to spoil this beauty by carelessly stepping on the shells. This picturesque place is especially loved by children, who become so engrossed in collecting shells that they sometimes forget to swim.
Unique Glass Beach in California, USA
It is amazing how nature can turn a dreadful place into one of the most unusual beaches on the planet. Once, Glass Beach in California was a dump, but now it is a popular tourist destination. Since its closure, the wind and waves have transformed mountains of broken bottles into colorful glass pebbles that resemble precious stones of various cuts. The shimmering and sparkling shoreline near Fort Bragg will surely change your perception of beaches.
Hidden Beach on the Marieta Islands in Mexico
Hidden Beach on the Marieta Islands is another magical place that was not only crafted by Mother Nature to hide from people. In the early 1900s, there was a Mexican military base here, and the beach was formed as a result of a bomb explosion during military exercises. Therefore, for a long time, few people knew about it. The island itself is located in Banderas Bay, recognized at the end of the 20th century as one of the most beautiful places on the planet, so Hidden Beach is not the only reason to visit this area. The beach is a huge natural pool surrounded by rocky formations that protect its visitors from the scorching sun. You can access this secluded spot, also called the Beach of Love, by swimming through a short tunnel.
Vaadhoo Atoll, Maldives
Visitors to Vaadhoo Atoll can witness a true wonder of nature. Here, under the cover of night, the boundary between the sea and sky blurs. When the sun sets, not only does the sky sprinkle with a million bright stars, but the sea ignites with countless tiny blue lights. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence and occurs as a result of a reaction of phytoplankton that inhabit these waters to oxygen. Thanks to these microorganisms, the entire beach and coastal waters are illuminated with a soft and romantic glow. This cosmic beauty creates an unforgettable impression.
Pfeiffer Beach, California
If you still can't decide on your color preferences, you can confidently head to California instead of the Hawaiian Islands. The local Pfeiffer Beach combines almost all the colors of the rainbow, which is why tourists have nicknamed it the Rainbow Beach. The surface of the coastline looks like one continuous painting by an abstract artist with many whimsical lines and patterns. The picturesque nature of the beach is due to garnet found in the hills near the coast and manganese-containing rocks. Mixing with seawater, particles of garnet color the sand in the most extraordinary shades and create unique patterns on the beach surface.
The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
It is easy to trace how legends are born around this masterpiece of nature. A volcanic eruption formed thousands of basalt columns here, precisely hexagonal in shape, grouped together like organ pipes. It is almost impossible to believe that they were not created by human hands. The local myth tells of the famous warrior Finn McCool, who decided to fight the monstrous one-eyed Scottish giant, Goliath, who lived across the sea. To deal with his enemy without getting his feet wet, Finn drove a series of columns into the bed of the Irish Sea and thus built a bridge (geologists support the myth — similar stone formations exist on the Scottish side of the sea).
Papakōlea, Hawaii
Not all Hawaiian beaches are covered with sugar-white sand. Some volcanic islands have black, Martian red, and green beaches! Papakōlea beach is not exactly emerald green, but it is colored in various shades of green due to olivine mineral crystals that settled on the beach after a volcanic explosion that occurred about 10,000 years ago. These crystals are heavier than the rest of the volcanic rock. The more light particles the water washes away, the greener the beach becomes. Eventually, the olivine will also run out, and the beach will turn gray. But that won't happen anytime soon (from a human perspective).
Papakōlea is located in the Ka'u district. You will have to walk and descend down the cinder cone of the volcano. And it is green too!
Red Beach Kaihalulu, Hawaii
This beach is located on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It is relatively narrow, which, considering its remoteness, makes it an ideal spot for nudists who love to sunbathe on the red sand. This unusual color of the sand is due to the high amount of iron oxide, which we commonly refer to as rust. In the Pacific Ocean waves, this volcanic sand takes on a very rich brick hue.
Catedral Beach in Ribadeo, Spain
This stunning beach in Spain has been transformed by water and wind into a man-made cathedral with numerous arches, mazes, and recesses. Catedral Beach is the tourist name for Praia de Augas Santas, which translates to "Beach of Holy Waters." It is located 10 kilometers from the town of Ribadeo. The attraction got its name because of the whimsical shapes of the rocks in the form of arches along the coast. The site has been declared a National Nature Monument.
Pink Beach, Bahamas
Located on Harbor Island, it is part of the Bahamas. The entire beach seems to be painted pink. The length of the pink shore is several kilometers. Walking along the beach, you can find various shells that seem to have been chosen to match by a skilled designer.
This natural wonder is easily explained; in the coastal waters of the island live organisms called foraminifera, whose shells have been washed ashore in large quantities for a long time. Under the influence of water, the shells turn into fine grains, and since they are pink, the beach has turned pink. There are no crowds of people or annoying vendors here, making it perfect for romantic walks and intimate confessions.
Punaluu Beach, Hawaii
Punaluu Beach, located south of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, is known for its warm and completely black sand. Again, volcanic eruptions are to blame. Basalt from volcanic lava has flowed into the Pacific Ocean for centuries during eruptions. The water boiled, and along with the steam, lava particles were sprayed, turning into sand. Over time, the beach has become this black shore. Another attraction of this beach is the turtles that, after migration, love to bask on the black sand. Locals protect the turtles and provide each with a sign: "Turtle resting after a long journey. Please do not disturb!"
Jurassic Beach, England
Jurassic Beach is located in the English county of West Dorset, near the village of Lyme Regis.
Of course, there are no dinosaurs here, but the coastal cliffs contain many ancient predatory ammonite mollusks, which had highly developed shells. Jewelers use ammonites to make jewelry, but here they are considered trash that needs to be cleaned from the beach. Numerous tourists do a great job of being cleaners, collecting these fossilized mollusks as souvenirs.
White Sand of Hyams Beach, Australia
Hyams Beach is home to the whitest sand in the world. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Amazingly, the sand here stands out for its color even in the dim light of the moon, it is so white. On a sunny day, it simply shines, so when planning a trip here, be sure to bring sunglasses and sunscreen. The sand on Hyams Beach is not just snow-white, but also very fine — it feels more like flour or powdered sugar than sandy material. Some tourists compare it to starch for its characteristic squeak.
Rainbow Beach, Australia
This beach is not characterized by any one unusual color, like red or green. Rainbow Beach shimmers with a huge variety of colors! The beach is located on Fraser Island (the largest sand island in the world) off the eastern coast of Australia and meets elegant cliffs from which you can best see the rainbow stripes. The sand here is colored in hues of nougat, pinks, honey, and cream. An Aboriginal legend says that once the spirit of the rainbow, Yiningie, fought against the forces of evil to protect a young girl and perished, falling from the sheer cliffs, coloring them in rainbow colors. Scoop up a handful of sand, and you will see a rainbow!
Hot Water Beach, New Zealand
Hot Water Beach is located on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. Here you will have a unique opportunity to dig your own personal mini-pool in the sand right on the Pacific Ocean shore. Beneath the sand on the beach are numerous hot springs with thermal water. Therefore, visitors to this wonderful place can not only relax but also improve their health with various water procedures. Contrast baths are especially popular here, as the ocean water is quite cool compared to the thermal springs.
Dark Red Beach on Rabida Island, Galapagos Islands
The small Rabida Island is part of the Galapagos Islands and is located south of San Salvador Island. The area of the island is 5 km² and it is considered the geological center of the archipelago. It is famous for its sandy red beaches.
The island is situated at an altitude of 367 meters above sea level. Its other name is Jervis, but Ecuadorians refer to it as Rabida Island. A distinctive feature is the red sandy beaches, which are very popular with tourists. The unusual color is due to the combination of volcanic soil with iron oxides, which are present in large quantities.
Beach with Caves in the Algarve, Portugal
In southern Portugal, near the city of Algarve, 45 km from Faro Airport, there is a small but cozy sandy beach, Benagil (Praia de Benagil), surrounded by cliffs. When viewed from the ocean, the Algarve de Benagil cave (Grutas de Benagil) is noticeable on the right. Locals consider the beach and the cave to be different entities. You can walk to the beach along the shore, while the cave can only be accessed from the sea. This is where the wonders begin. Hidden in the rock is a small beach with access to the crashing waves.