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A beach getaway is always a crowd-pleaser. Picture the sun kissing your skin, the invigorating ocean breeze, the soft sand beneath your feet, the sparkling waves, icebergs, and even natural hot springs that make the perfect vacation.
You might not have expected to see some of the things mentioned earlier, but not every beach is the same. Some have very unique characteristics. Here are ten of the most remarkable beaches on Earth that you should consider for your next holiday.
10. Hidden Beach
Algar de Benagil, located on Portugal's Algarve coast, is one of its most remarkable features. While walking along the cliffs above, visitors may hear the sound of waves crashing below, yet the source of the noise remains a mystery. As they approach, they will notice a fence encircling a vast opening. Only by peering down into the hole will they discover the hidden beach below.
Algar de Benagil is a natural grotto carved into the cliffs by the relentless action of the tides. Within the cave’s archway, a small beach has emerged. The opening in the ceiling allows sunlight to filter in, illuminating the secluded sandy beach below. Accessing the grotto is only possible via the sea, requiring a journey through the waves and between the rocks that guard its entrance.
9. Black Sand and Ice Chunks
Iceland, a volcanic island located in the North Atlantic, is home to beaches shaped by its volcanic rock. Many beaches have black sand, but Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon stands out. Here, the dark sands are punctuated by large chunks of pristine, clear glacial ice.
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is connected to the sea by Iceland’s shortest river, just 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) long. While the beach looks ancient, it only formed in the mid-1930s as the Breioamerkurjokull glacier retreated. The brilliant ice chunks on the shore come from this glacier, which continues to shrink each year, causing the lagoon to expand. The black sands are remnants of volcanic rock, ground down under the glacier’s enormous weight.
8. Hot Water Beach
Why do you bring a bucket and spade to the beach? The typical answer is to build sandcastles. However, in a particular part of New Zealand, the answer is quite different. On the Coromandel Peninsula, people use the tools to create their own personal hot water spa.
Hot Water Beach boasts one of the most literal names of any geographical location. When the tide recedes, water can be seen bubbling up from beneath the sand, and it’s hot. This phenomenon occurs because an underground river is heated by geothermal energy close to the surface.
As soon as the tide goes out, people rush to the shore, often with spades that can be rented at a local café, and start digging their own pools. As the cold seawater withdraws, the holes fill with the warm water that gives the beach its unique name. Visitors relax in these natural hot pools until the tide returns, washing the pools away and leaving the beach ready for the next group of spa seekers with their spades.
7. Bioluminescent Beaches
Bioluminescent beaches can appear almost anywhere. Some species of plankton and algae are capable of producing their own light, known as bioluminescence. Since it takes energy to create this glow, they only emit light under specific conditions. When these conditions align, they can illuminate the entire beach.
Certain beaches experience bioluminescence regularly and at predictable times, offering an opportunity to witness this fascinating natural phenomenon. During the day, Puerto Rico's Mosquito Bay may look like a dull brown. But at night, swimmers and kayakers witness the blue glow of dinoflagellates shimmering in the water. Their movements trigger these organisms to glow. In the Maldives, during autumn when the Moon is low, small crustaceans emit a blue light to attract mates, leaving a trail of tiny glowing dots on the sand.
Some types of algae and plankton glow when under pressure. Walking on a beach blanketed with them can leave a trail of glowing footprints behind.
6. An Inland Beach
Most beaches are located beside the sea, but Gulpiyuri beach in Spain defies this norm by being inland. It's only 100 meters (330 ft) from the sea, yet it’s separated by towering rocks and cliffs. As the tide rises in the distant sea, the sand of this hidden beach becomes submerged with water too. How can such a small body of water be affected by the tide?
The answer lies in a network of caves and channels that have carved through the rocks, connecting Gulpiyuri to the sea. This small beach formed during the last Ice Age, and its name translates to 'Circle of Water.' Often referred to as the world's smallest beach, it is certainly a surprising find in the middle of a lush green field. At high tide, swimming is possible at Gulpiyuri, but for a full beach experience, it's best to visit at low tide when you can wade through the knee-high sea.
5. The Disappearing Sea
When the tide recedes, beaches become perfect spots for a walk, jog, or even a game of sand sports. However, it's still pleasant to hear the distant sound of the sea, reminding you of your location. In Chandipur, India, the sea completely vanishes twice a day during low tide.
The unique flat seabed, which extends all the way to the shore, causes the sea to retreat by as much as 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) during low tide. This vast stretch of sand becomes a playground for both locals and tourists, who can walk, bike, or even drive out towards the now distant ocean. The exposed seabed teems with red crabs and other sea creatures, which are left stranded and observed by curious onlookers. The vanishing ocean phenomenon has turned into a tourist attraction, but be sure to check the tide schedule—otherwise, you could find yourself 5 kilometers away from the shore, stranded at sea.
4. Shell Beach
Finding seashells on the beach is a classic way to keep kids entertained, but at Shell Beach in Australia, you might want to assign them a different task. A 70-kilometer (43-mile) stretch of this coast is blanketed with a thick layer of cockle shells, some areas reaching depths of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
Over the years, an enormous number of cockle shells have accumulated here. While the tide will eventually break them down into finer sand particles, for now, the shells remain in their original form. In the past, locals harvested the shells for building materials, but today the beach is a World Heritage Site, attracting tourists instead of construction workers. The water in this region is also hypersaline, allowing visitors to float with ease.
3. Dragon Egg Beach
New Zealand's stunning natural scenery has made it a prime location for fantasy movie sets, offering landscapes that are unlike any found elsewhere. Dragon Egg Beach might sound like it belongs in Game of Thrones, but it's a real place and a popular tourist attraction.
Koekohe Beach is home to a remarkable array of large, round boulders scattered across the sand. These Moeraki boulders, formed 60 million years ago from mud, clay, and calcite, were created underground and haven't been smoothed by the ocean’s waves. Only recently have they been exposed and rolled down from the cliffs above. The boulders have irregular cracks, and when they split open, they resemble eggs hatching.
According to local Maori legend, the Moeraki boulders were formed when the Maori first arrived at their new home. One of their canoes sank, and as it went down, baskets and gourds were tossed overboard. The canoe’s hull became the reef that surrounds the beach, while the discarded items turned into the Moeraki boulders.
2. Parrotfish Poop
What could be more romantic than strolling along a sparkling, white sandy beach with your partner? Perhaps you sit down, letting the sand slip through your fingers, marveling at its beauty. Yet, few would guess that the dazzling sand around them is actually the product of fish poop.
Parrotfish, which live in coral reefs, feed by nibbling on coral. They target the algae living on the reef but can’t digest the calcium carbonate they break off with their hard beaks. Their throat teeth crush this calcium carbonate, which then passes through their digestive system as fine particles, much like sand. One parrotfish can produce up to 360 kilograms (800 lbs) of sand each year. When you multiply this by thousands of fish over thousands of years, it adds up to the pristine white beaches we love to walk on.
1. Glass Beach
The last thing most people want to find on a beach is broken glass, but some places have become famous for it. Fort Bragg, California, is home to a beach covered in glistening sea-polished glass pebbles. For years, the local communities disposed of unwanted items, including cars, by the shore. While organic matter decayed and metals rusted or were carried away, broken glass accumulated and was smoothed by the waves into smooth, colorful lumps. The beach is now legally protected, and visitors are not allowed to take any of the iconic glass.
There are other beaches around the world where sea glass is abundant due to human waste. Ussuri Bay in Siberia, for example, was once home to glassmaking factories that disposed of their errors into the sea. Today, the beach is a vibrant mix of stones and sea glass.
