Bucket lists and beaches: A match made in Heaven! And if you are looking for a taste of paradise, then you really should consider one of the seaside idylls that are on this list. From the pink sands of the Bahamas to the award-winning Whitehaven Beach, there is something here for everyone.
Pink Sands Beach, the Bahamas
Often voted as one of the best beaches in the Bahamian Archipelago, this indelibly pretty looking idyll is one of only a few pink-sanded beaches in the world. With 3.5 miles of sand to walk upon, and crystal clear waters to paddle, swim, and snorkel in, you are not going to get bored in this tropical getaway. It’s often very quiet here too, so if you’re looking for somewhere to relax under the warm rays of the sun, you won’t be bothered by hordes of tourists as you’re bathing in the soft, pink sand.
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Located in the heart of one of Earth’s seven natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef, this has often been named the #1 beach in Australia. And it’s little wonder why! It has been voted as the world’s top eco-friendly beach, has seven kilometres of luminescent white sand, and, of course, has magnificent waters teeming with wonderfully-colored ocean wildlife. Explore the area on land, sea, or air with one of the Whitehaven Beach tours, and explore the full expanse of this magnificent world-famous paradise.
Maya Bay, Thailand
If you’re looking for somewhere quiet to relax…erm…this isn’t the place for you! Made famous by Danny Boyle’s The Beach (with Leonardo DiCaprio), this tropical paradise has become popular with tourists. Still, if you can ignore the other people getting in your way, you will be treated to the wonderful white-sanded beaches, fabulous emerald blue waters, vast limestone cliffs, and forest trails. Please note, however, that because of the environmental damage caused by the millions of tourists visiting each year, the beach (at the time of writing) is currently closed. A cleanup operation is currently in place to restore the beach to its natural order, so if you are planning to visit in the future, be aware that there will be restrictions in place to preserve the area’s natural beauty.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Hawaii
No guessing what color the sand is! This incredible beach is one of the few places in the world where you can stretch your toes across a black-sanded shoreline. The sand is made up of tiny pitch-black fragments of lava from the volcanoes at the nearby National Park, but don’t worry, you won’t burn your feet, although you will need to take care on particularly hot days because of the sun’s reflective rays. Still, there are plenty of palm-shaded areas to cool your body and your toes, so sit with a coconut, enjoy the unique Hawaiian views, and gaze in awe at the green sea turtles that can often be found napping on the sands, and at the whales, most commonly seen between January to April each year. Be aware, however, that the waters aren’t particularly safe to swim in because of the strong currents, although you can snorkel in the nearby coves where the waters are calmer.
Over to you
We think the beaches here are well worth a visit (when you’re permitted to in one case), but what about you? Should you be a beach lover, where would you recommend a visit? Let us know, and give us further wonderful beaches to add to our bucket lists.
