World's Top Beaches

It's getting cold out there so I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my favorite beaches, enjoy!

Playa del Amor, best known by tourists as Lover's Beach is an absolutely beautiful semi hidden cove backed by spectacular rock formations. It is located on the Baja peninsula in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, take a boat a from the Cabo marina and be sure to arrange a return trip as boats are rare after 4pm. The beach itself is stunning, a photographer's dream with pristine turquoise waters crashing up on the sand. Be sure to pack what you will need: water, snacks and the like as there are few services offered and also your snorkel gear as a few feet to the left is Pelican Rock which you can choose to jump off of or snorkel around and enjoy all the different tropical fish.

 

Hot Water Beach is a world famous beach located along New Zealand's Pacific coast just south of Mercury Bay at the northeast tip of the Coromandel Peninsula. What makes this beach so great? Volcanoes on the eastern edge of New Zealand's North Island develop huge underground reservoirs of superheated water. Over time, this water will escape to the surface; cooling on the way, and opening two hot springs at the beach! Head there and dig your own spa in the sand! You'll need: a pail to scoop out your sand and a bucket to bring some cooler water from the ocean as the temperature from the hot springs can go up to 64ºC (147ºF), for those looking for a snack there's a cute shop selling ice cream, drinks and sandwiches in the parking lot. A word of caution Hot Water Beach's rip tides have claimed a few unaware visitors, get some lessons from the volunteer lifeguards on how to swim in rip tides before venturing into the ocean.
(Photo courtesy of Steve and Jen Copley)

 

Dance under the full moon at Sunrise Beach in Haad Rin on the southern tip of Ko Pha Ngan, in the gulf of Thailand. Discovered by backpackers in the 80s, the beach has become a popular place to be especially during full moon where approximately 25000 tourists flock there each month. Enjoy fresh oysters and crabs on the floating bar, a traditional Thai boat serving delicious food and drinks. Once your belly is full, head to the Drop-In or Cactus bar for drinks, pumping music, and live fire shows! For those seeking tranquility, the nearby Sunset Beach is where you will to want to be to avoid the thriving nightlife influx from Sunrise Beach.

 

The world's most photographed jetty can be found at Pigeon Point beach in Tobago. It is often considered Tobago's most beautiful beach and there is no arguing that fact. A long stretch of powdery white sand, warm opalescent water, and the fact that you feel like you're in a postcard make up the key reasons for me choosing this beach. The beach also boasts full tourist amenities; bathrooms, showers and beach-chair rentals, souvenir and water sports shop as well as bars and a restaurant so no need to pack up the rental everything you could possibly need is sold at the beach. There is a small fee however to access this little piece of paradise set at TT$18 (US$3) per person, children aged 6–12 are half-price and children under 6 are free. Don't let the entrance fee deter you, the beach is right out of a Caribbean fantasy.
(Photo courtesy of Kp93)

 

Take a load off in a rustic thatched bungalow on the secluded Sok San beach on the island of Koh Rong, Cambodia's second largest island. This beach caters to those seeking blissful tranquility, it is almost deserted, undeveloped, and truly a gift from mother nature. Explore the bay, swim and snorkel in the warm turquoise water, or go on a trek around the island where a tropical jungle filled with thousands of palm trees and the occasional waterfall will greet you with open arms. If you're digging the rustic scene you'll want to head here in the next year or two as rumors are circulating of a massive resort being built on the island.

 

Dive the rich corals surrounding Naama Beach in Na'ama Bay a coastal resort town in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Located near the Red Sea, it provides some of the most unbelievable underwater scenery and calm warm water making it an extremely popular destination for scuba divers from all over the world. The beach doesn't only cater to scuba divers there are a range of water sports available including windsurfing, kitesurfing, para-sailing, boating, canoeing, and of course just plain sun soaking. The Ras Mohammad National Park is nearby, the nightlife is is thriving and there is also plenty of shopping to be done at the local Bedouin handicraft stands.
(Photo courtesy of Marc Ryckaert)

 

Anse Source d'Argent is a famous beach on the island of La Digue, Seychelles. It is often voted the most beautiful and photographed beach in the world. Anse Source d'Argent is so stunning the combination of white sand, popping azure-blue water and dark granite boulders regularly overwhelms its visitors. There's not much to do on the beach except for snorkel, but its sheer beauty will assault your senses. Tourists spend hours just looking around at the scenery over-saturated with color and many have found it hard to relax here as it is almost impossible to put your camera down.
(Photo courtesy of Waltermera182)

 

Porto da Barra Beach is located in the city of Salvador, Brazil. The beach possesses the perfect qualities for swimming and sunbathing: the water is clear, calm, waveless, and warm. I chose this beach over others in Brazil, because it is the only beach in the country facing west giving way to magnificent sunsets over the water. I am not the only ones fascinated by this fact: at sunset many beachgoers will stand in ovation and applaud! End your day by sampling one of the many restaurants that line the beach.
(Photo courtesy of Luan)

 

Spend the night in a hammock gazing at the stars on the untamed Tayrona Beach, in Tayrona National Park on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Witness monster waves crashing into rocks the size of houses, watch the noisy howler monkeys or go surfing (the riptide is strong so experience goes a long way here). Another great activity is hiring a guide to take you to a native village in the nearby mountains, it is quite the cultural experience plus you get to trek through a virgin rainforest. By far the greatest thing about Tayrona Beach is that it is undeveloped, the national park status has kept developers at bay so you can just simply enjoy your natural surroundings.
(Photo courtesy of Ben Bowes)\

 

Playa Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica's most breathtakingly beautiful beach. The beach is a stunning half mile long, pristine white sand crescent dividing green vegetation to one side and a private, secluded cove to the other. It is found within the Manuel Antonio National Park, expect to see all kinds of monkeys, sloths, lizards, as well as a number of different animals. There is plenty to see and do so plan to stay at least for the day. Make sure to pack your flashlight for the walk or drive home, there are no streetlights in the area.

 

Dhermi Beach won my heart and I've nicknamed it the best off the beaten path beach in Europe. Located in Dhermi, Albania, the pebbled beach is spectacular; amazingly clear water, delicious restaurants to choose from, and great water sports. Grab a drink at the end of the day at the Havana Beach Bar, a real popular place with the local youth, and camp out at the beach when you're done. A little insider tip: rent a speed boat and visit the Gjipe Bay anchor and trek up the Gjipe Canyon and marvel at the waterfall of Petasma, it is quite the sight!

 

Gaze out at the most intensely azure colored waters on what they call the closest island to paradise: the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. Pamper your feet on the white powdery sand of Kuto Bay, the most sublime beach in the South Pacific. Watch the locals perform their traditional dances, eat the local fare sold by women right on the bay, its delicious. The photo ops are literally endless, Kuto Bay is downright beautiful. Snorkeling is a definite must do, the corals are bright and the tropical fishes even brighter, you might even spot a barracuda. Take the time to rent a canoe in the afternoon and try to make til sunset, the view is indescribable.

 

Go shell collecting on the beautiful Puka Beach in Boracay, an island in the Philippines. Unlike the famous White Beach, Puka Beach is much quieter and there are some days where you will find yourself almost completely alone. It is the perfect spot for a romantic picnic for two! The seafood at Tesebels, the little restaurant on the beach, is exquisite and fairly priced we recommend the crab or the calamari. Make sure to make arrangements (especially on a slow day) for your return trip back to the hotel as boat and bicycle renters tend to leave if there's no one around.
(Photo courtesy of Tomas Tam)

 

One of the pearls of Croatia is Hvar Island, where I find my next beach, a magnificent pebbled, clear watered gem: Hvar Beach. Located on the longest and sunniest island in Croatia, Hvar Beach has been deemed the "sunniest place in Europe". The island is known for its lavender which you will see over the rolling hills in the background. Don't forget to buy a bottle of lavender oil, the beautifully painted bottle makes a great souvenir. End your day at the beach with a local favorite rabbit and potato at the Golden Shell, indulge and try the home brewed fig brandy it's very strong but the locals say one a day will keep you healthy!
(Photo courtesy of Vhorvat)

 

In Cape Town, South Africa is the affluent suburb named Clifton. Clifton Beach is a magnet for the discerning traveler, white sand, designer bikinis and shimmering blue water. The beach is well stocked with amenities; good changing rooms and bathrooms, umbrella and chair rentals, vendors galore and backed by Cape Town's renown restaurants. If you love to surf, and do water sports Clifton Beach is well equipped. Try to stick around until sunset as the views are beyond spectacular!
(Photo courtesy of Tyhopho)

 

Pamper yourself in the luxurious seaside town of Biarritz, the Grande Plage their main beach is a world class surfing destination. Surf not your thing? Its a great place for just laying in the sun as well! Biarritz located on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south western France has been banking on the sea for centuries, renowned since 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). Indulge and treat yourself to a 3 course meal after a day of sunbathing at Aux Alizés a delicious restaurant specializing in Basque delicacies, with prices fixed at about 20 Euro.
(Photo courtesy of Pinpin)

 -Tracy Smith

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Best Diving Spots Around The World

The Yonaguni Monument is a massive underwater rock formation off the coast of Yonaguni, the southernmost of the Ryukyu Islands, in Japan. The sea off Yonaguni is a popular diving location during the winter months due to its large population of hammerhead sharks. There is an ongoing debate as to whether the site is completely natural, a natural site that has been modified, or a man-made artifact. The flat parallel faces, sharp edges, and mostly right angles of the formation have led many people, including some scholars, to the opinion that those features are man-made. 

(Photo courtesy of jpatokal)

 

Þingvellir is the largest natural lake of Iceland. The lake is part of the Þingvellir National Park. The volcanic origin of the islands in the lake is clearly visible. The cracks and faults around it, of which the famous Almannagjá canyon is the largest, is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, and is the only place on the earth where tourists can swim between two continents. Silfra fissure is also a popular SCUBA and snorkeling site due to the sheer translucence of the water. 

(Photo courtesy of Aurevilly)

 

The Hilma Hooker is a shipwreck in Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is a popular wreck diving site. The ship is on a sand flat between two coral reef systems in an area known to divers as Angel City. She is regarded as one of the leading wreck diving sites in the Caribbean ringed by coral reefs and even seahorses have been spotted there! 

(Photo courtesy of Clark Anderson/Aquaimages)

 

Monterrey Bay is a bay in the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California. The Monterey Canyon, one of the largest underwater canyons in the world, begins off the coast of Moss Landing, exactly in the center of Monterey Bay. The area is home to sea otters, harbor seals, and bottlenose dolphins; as well as being on the migratory path of Gray and Humpback Whales and a breeding site for elephant seals. Killer whales are also found along the coast, especially when Gray whales migrate. Sharks, squid, birds, and sea turtles also live in the bay making it a great diving spot!

 

The passenger ship SS Yongala sank off Cape Bowling Green, Queensland, Australia on 23 March 1911. All one hundred and twenty-two people on board perished in what is considered one of the most tragic incidents in Australian maritime history. It was only in 1958 that the wreck of the Yongala was discovered lying in waters south of Townsville, and it has since become renowned as an internationally regarded diving and tourist destination. More than 10,000 divers visit the wreck every year. Filled with marine life you may see manta rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, humpback whales, clouds of fish and spectacular coral!

 

The Rock Islands of Palau, are a small collection of limestone and coral uprises, ancient relics of coral reefs that violently surfaced to form Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon. The islands are for the most part uninhabited and are famous for their beaches, blue lagoons and the peculiar umbrella-like shapes of many of the islands themselves. The Rock Islands and the surrounding reefs make up Palau's popular tourist sites such as Blue Corner, Blue hole, German Chanel, Ngermeaus Island and the famed Jellyfish Lake, one of the many Marine lakes in the Rock Islands that provides home and safety for several kinds of stingless jellyfish found only in Palau.

 

The SS Thistlegorm was a British armed Merchant Navy ship built in 1940, which sunk on 6 October 1941 near Ras Muhammad (a national park in Egypt) in the Red Sea and is now a well known dive site. It was named one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world by The Times. The wreck attracts many divers for the amount of the cargo that can be seen and explored. The area is home to 1000 species of fish, 40 species of star fish, 25 species of sea urchins, a 100 species of mollusc and 150 species of crustaceans. Among others, sea turtles, such as the green turtle and the hawksbill turtle appear regularly as well. 

(Photo courtesy of Mikhail Rogov)

 

Praia do Tofo is a small town in southeastern Mozambique. The town lies on the Indian Ocean coast, on the Ponto do Barra peninsula. A major Mozambican tourist destination, Tofo is home to beach villas and diving retreats, with tourists drawn by a long beach front and nearby reefs which attract sealife. Along with Manta Rays and Sea Turtles, Tofo is one of the best destinations for divers to see Whale Sharks which are permanent residents in these waters. 

(Photo courtesy of Erik Cleves Kristensen)

 

The Surin Islands is an archipelago of five islands in the Andaman Sea belonging to Thailand. The Mu Ko Surin National Park covers the area of the islands and their surrounding waters. The park is home to one of the most famous dive sites in the world, Richelieu Rock. In addition the islands feature pristine reefs, making it home to some of the best snorkeling in Thailand. The area commonly sees whale sharks, manta rays, sharks and smaller critters like the ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp, frogfish, and seahorses.

 

Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. Many of Taveuni's best known attractions lie underwater. To the north of Taveuni lie in close proximity the islands of Qamea and Matagi with their surrounding reef systems. The Rainbow Reef and Vuna Reef are famous for diving and snorkeling, respectively. The Rainbow Reef, on the western side in the narrow Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, is known as one of the world's premier soft coral dive areas. The horseshoe-shaped Vuna Lagoon, near the southern end of the island, is much appreciated among divers for the opportunity to see larger and schooling fish species on the southern side of the reef, whereas the sheltered western parts provide pristine coral gardens. 

(Photo courtesy of Matt Wright)

 

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. Today divers from around the world come to explore its crystal clear waters filled with giant groupers, nurse sharks and several types of reef sharks such as the Caribbean reef shark and the Blacktip shark.

 

Isla Mujeres is one of the ten municipalities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs such as the one located in Garrafon Park, which is an area popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving. The Cancun underwater museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is located off the western coast of Isla Mujeres. Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for rehabilitation and breeding.

 

Snorkel in Lifou; a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. There are numerous places to go snorkeling on Lifou but Baie de Jenik is definitely one of the better places. The warm waters are filled with coral and schools of fish. A quick warning however when you enter the water, Picasso Triggerfish (shown here) live close to the shore in holes that they burrow into the sandy rock. These guys are very territorial and have been known to attack divers, their small size makes them more a pest than a danger but its best to stay away.

 

Cocos Island is an uninhabited island off the coast of Costa Rica. Its rich coral reef, volcanic tunnels, and caves are home to to more than 30 species of coral, 60 species of crustaceans, 600 species of molluscs and over 300 species of fish. Scuba divers get the pleasure of encountering large populations of yellowfin tuna, whales, giant mantas, sailfish, sharks, turtles, dolphins, sea lions and even the whale shark! 

(Photo courtesy of Barry Peters)

 

Coiba is the largest island in Central America, and is part of the Montijo District of Panama. Coiba separated from continental Panama about 12,000 to 18,000 years ago when sea levels rose. Plants and animals on the new island became isolated from mainland populations and over the millennia most animals have diverged in appearance and behavior from their mainland counterparts. The waters adjacent to the island are teeming with marine life. It is surrounded by one of the largest coral reefs on the Pacific Coast of the Americas. Its unique location protects it from the damaging winds and other effects of El Niño, allowing it to sustain the uninterrupted evolution of new marine species including whale and tiger sharks, sperm whales, sea turtles, angel rays and giant schools of fish.

(Photo courtesy of Seibert)

-Tracy Smith