71% of the Earth's area is water, so beach lovers can indulge in any whim - from crescent beaches with pearly sand to bays in the azure waters of which fish of all colors of the rainbow splash. National Geographic magazine selected the best beaches in the world... In total, 21 beaches were included in the official rating, which will make even seasoned travelers hold their breath with delight. All beaches are divided into several categories to make it easier for you to choose the most suitable option for your vacation.
Wonderful natural beaches
21. Playa del Armor, Islas Marietas, Mexico
An almost imperceptible passage from the sea gives access to a secret beach. From above it is closed from prying eyes by a giant stone hemisphere with a hole through which the sun penetrates inside. The beach is located in a national park and no more than six people can visit it at a time.
20. Beach Cathedral, Ribadeo, Spain
The beach near Ribadeo is surrounded by impressive rock formations, most reminiscent of the columns of a Gothic cathedral. The beach is a favorite place for tourists to walk, but remember that at high tide it is completely covered with water.
19. Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
Bizarre rocks cut by water, turquoise waters, snow-white sand and palm trees - this beach looks like it has come off an advertising postcard. It's no wonder that Anse Source d'Argent is often ranked first in the ranking of the most photographed beaches on the planet.
Quiet beaches are refuge
18. Tapuaetai, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
When you look at this beach, Daniel Defoe's "Robinson" pops up in your imagination. The island was simply created for the wrecked sailors - it was not without reason that the shooting of the 13th season of the American show Survivor took place, according to the franchise of which The Last Hero was filmed. "One trace", which is how the name of the island is translated from the Maori, can be walked around in 15 minutes, but there is no need to rush.
17. Sunset Beach, North Carolina, USA
The Sunset Beach got its name for a reason - every evening the setting sun paints the sky and water with fantastic colors. And there has been a mailbox for about fifty years, where on the notebooks inside, many visitors exchanged joys, desires and everything that touched their souls.
16. Lazy Beach, Rongsanlenm, Cambodia
Reed-covered bungalows, crystal-clear waters and silky sand - it is so pleasant to wander slowly through the palm groves, doze in hammocks, and let the whole world wait. If your soul asks for something more active, you can hop on a wooden boat in Kampong Saom and go on a two-hour tour of the Gulf of Thailand.
The best beaches for shell lovers
15. Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
A sea creature hunter's dream! There are a lot of them - and large twisted shells, and flat small, and skeletons of sea urchins, and pieces of limestone with imprints of antiquities - all this in abundance is carried to the beach of Sanibel Island by the currents of the Gulf of Mexico.
14. Shell Beach, Shark Bay, Australia
On the 14th line of the top 21 best beaches on Earth, there is a place entirely covered with tiny snow-white shells. In some places, the depth of the shell layer reaches 9-10 meters! The beach is ranked by UNESCO as one of the world's natural sites.
13. Lyme Regis, Dorset, England
A favorite place of pilgrimage for novice paleontologists or just tourists who came to look at ammonites and other sea creatures that lived more than 180 million years ago and turned into stone.
Relaxing beaches with a four-legged friend
12. Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA
In Oregon's coastal area, which stretches over 400 miles, most beaches allow owners to bring dogs along. It is unlikely that the pet will appreciate the beauty of the solitary Heistack mountain overlooking the sea, but he will definitely like the dog show, which is held here every October.
11. Carmel City Beach, California, USA
It is difficult to say who gets more pleasure on the beach - animals frolicking on the border of the sand and the sea, which can be let off the leash, or their owners.
10. Beach near Noordwijk, Netherlands
Just behind the tulip fields of South Holland, between Amsterdam and The Hague, the coastal town of Noordwijk has set up a special beach where owners can relax and swim with their four-legged friends. There are many dog-friendly restaurants and hotels nearby.
The most colorful beaches in the world
9. Papakolea, Hawaii
Papacolea Beach owes its color to tiny olivine crystals that are washed out by the sea from the nearby Puu Mahana tuff cone, which is more than 49 thousand years old. Getting here is not easy - you have to walk two miles. But isn't it worth the effort to admire one of the world's few green sand beaches?
8. Reynisfjara, Iceland
This beach looks amazing on sunny days. It is composed of inky black basalt sand and shines dazzlingly in the sun. However, swimming here is not easy - the waves are so strong that they can knock a person down.
7. Pink Beach, Grande Santa Cruz Island, Philippines
There are many stunning beaches in the Philippines, but this one stands out from all for its color - the sand on it is mixed with many small fragments of scarlet coral. Those wishing to admire nature should remember that the number of tourists who can visit the attraction per day is limited. The beach is among 10 most beautiful pink beaches in the world.
Diving enthusiasts
6. Pelican Beach, Belize
On Pelican Beach, in just a few minutes you can get to the coral reef and study its colorful inhabitants in detail - after all, the bottom is no more than six meters.
5. Blue Bay, Mauritius
In the waters of Blue Bay is the National Marine Park. It covers an area of over 3.5 square kilometers.
4. Cas Abao, Curacao
The lagoon of Cas Abao beach is surrounded on three sides by reefs. And between them representatives of marine flora and fauna are found in abundance - corals, tropical fish, sponges, sea turtles and many, many others.
Best beaches for walking along the waterfront
3. Sleeping Bear, Michigan
The hiking trail along the coast of crystal-clear Lake Michigan offers views of some of the most beautiful landscapes in America. And just a short distance from the beach are the Manitou Islands, a popular tourist destination for Americans.
2. Pisinas beach, Sardinia
A picturesque and constantly changing place, the main formative element of which is the mistral - a strong and cold north wind, under the influence of which sand is collected in the dunes. Their height can reach 60 meters. The monotony of the sandy surface is diluted with wild olive trees, juniper bushes and a variety of rare flowers. It is good to indulge in philosophical reflections, observing the constantly changing world around, the world of sand, clouds and waves.
1. Plage de la Corniche, La Test de Buche, France
The number one beach chart is the best beach in the world for paragliding lovers. It is located on a spacious (500 meters wide and 2.5 km long) and steep coastal slope (108 meters high) covered with sand. It is bordered by pine groves, where it is so pleasant to walk, admire the views of the sea and breathe in the clean forest air.