What makes a great beach all depends on the traveler. Some prefer wide stretches of sand with ample activities and throngs of people to watch, while others desire deserted shorelines with calm waters. U.S. News took this and other factors – such as unique scenery, beach quality and overall accessibility – into consideration to determine the best beaches in the world. Want to put in your 2 cents? Cast your vote below to help determine next year’s ranking.
Why Go To Fiji
With its turquoise waters, glittering sands and luxe resorts, Fiji is similar to many other tropical getaways. Likewise, the set of 333 islands caters to lovebirds of all kinds. Plus, adventure-seekers, like surfers and divers, appreciate the archipelago’s quality waves and coral reefs. But Fiji differs from other island destinations in its otherworldliness. Since it’s more than 1,300 miles from New Zealand’s North Island in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji affords you the delectable feeling of seclusion. You’ll be as far from reality as possible when you’re sipping Fiji Bitter beer and watching the sun dip below the horizon. Fijian customs will make you feel a million miles away too: Ever tasted the dizzying kava drink? Or watched men defy fire and walk across scalding stones without burning their feet? If not, it’s about time you did.
Why Go To Turks & Caicos
The Turks & Caicos Islands have the perfect antidote for your hectic lifestyle: blindingly white sand fringed by shimmering azure water, colorful coral reefs, crispy conch fritters and an easygoing vibe – despite its knack for attracting the rich and famous to its shores. Turks & Caicos holds tight to its reputation as an exclusive and secluded getaway, and regular vacationers to these skinny strips of alabaster sand will tell you that they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Of the roughly 100 islands and cays, only nine are inhabited, with three receiving the bulk of tourist interest. There’s glamorous Providenciales, or “Provo,” which shelters a bevy of luxurious hotels. Laid-back Grand Turk – once the landing point for John Glenn’s Friendship 7 space capsule – is a cruise ship hub, and the archipelago’s historic and cultural nucleus, best seen in the Turks & Caicos National Museum or along the shores of Cockburn Town. Turks & Caicos is home to one of the largest reef systems in the world, and tiny, flat Salt Cay is one of the best places to explore it thanks to its exceptional wall dives.
Why Go To Bahamas
The roughly 700 islands that make up the Bahamas lure millions of visitors to this paradise’s white sandy shores, duty-free shops, fishing and scuba diving excursions and luxurious accommodations each year. Families that flock here tend to indulge in the diversions of Atlantis, Paradise Island and other mega resorts, but this diverse island chain also offers a range of activities away from the hotel zone. Nature enthusiasts can explore pristine protected areas like the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve (on Eleuthera) and Lucayan National Park (on Grand Bahama Island) or take it easy at one of the country’s many beaches or private islands. Meanwhile, history buffs can explore the ruins and artifacts from the colonial era and indigenous peoples like the Lucayan Indians. Plus, with cruise deals available year-round, it’s no wonder why the Bahamas is such a popular vacation destination.
Why Go To Bora Bora
The small island of Bora Bora (just about 6 miles long and a little more than 2 miles wide) overflows with beauty. A dormant volcano rises up at its center and fans out into lush jungle before spilling into an aquamarine lagoon. In fact, author James Michener, who wrote “Tales of the South Pacific,” called Bora Bora “the most beautiful island in the world.” The 18th-century British explorer James Cook even coined it as the “Pearl of the Pacific.” The very definition of a tropical getaway, blissful Bora Bora abounds with luxurious resorts, sunny skies, warm waters and friendly locals.
And as you might’ve already guessed, the main industry on this petite island in French Polynesia and its swarm of tiny motu (islands) is tourism. To that end, you can snorkel, explore Vaitape (Bora Bora’s main port), hike Mount Otemanu and more. But there’s a catch: Bora Bora is expensive – very expensive. In short, visit Bora Bora for natural beauty, visit for utter relaxation and visit if you have the money.
Why Go To Maldives
You’ve seen photos of the Maldives before: picture-perfect private villas suspended over striking blue waters, alabaster white sand beaches and spectacular sunsets dipping into the horizon. The scenic beauty of the Maldives is something to behold, something you can’t quite understand until you’re there in person.
The island nation of the Maldives is popular with honeymooners looking for seclusion and adventurers looking to explore the depths of the sea on a scuba diving or snorkeling excursion. If you don’t fall into either category, consider that the Maldives’ appeal has broadened in recent years. Today, honeymooners and divers are joined by a more diverse mix of families, groups of friends, and even solo travelers seeking wellness retreats or “budget” vacations in guesthouses rather than resorts. Travelers seeking the ultimate in relaxation can unwind at one of the many superb resort spas and all visitors should certainly spend an afternoon exploring an inhabited island village to get a snapshot of typical island life. The resorts in this region are also spectacular, ranging from underwater hotels to overwater bungalows to incredibly beautiful resorts. However, getting to and staying in this tropical paradise requires patience (there are no direct flights from the United States) and plentiful cash. Located in the Indian Ocean, roughly 600 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is about as isolated as you can get – and that’s just one of its many allures.
Mauritius
This scenic African island, which sits east of Madagascar, offers a multitude of beaches worth prioritizing. The island’s west coast is where you’ll find some of the best strips of shoreline, including Flic en Flac and Le Morne beaches, which feature beautiful white sand and superb vantage points for sunsets. Those who appreciate beaches near amenities will prefer north coast shores like La Cuvette, which is just removed enough from the tourist hub of Grand Baie, while those seeking a more exclusive beach experience can shell out for one of the east coast’s luxury beach resorts.
Whitsunday Islands
Located off the northeastern coast of Australia, the Whitsunday Islands feel like an entirely different world. The archipelago sits adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and offers an incredibly unique, albeit fragile, ecosystem. Some of the best beaches on this collection of 74 islands include Whitehaven Beach and Chalkies Beach, characterized by their snow-white silica sand, but there are plenty of stunning spots to choose from. When you’re not sunbathing on pearl-white sand or snorkeling through turquoise water, unwind at one of the bungalows or luxury ecoresorts situated on Hamilton Island or Long Island.
Why Go To Maui
Maui is not nearly as large as the Big Island, nor is it as small as Lanai, as bustling as Oahu or as quiet as Kauai. For many Hawaii vacationers, Maui is just right – offering a taste of just about everything the Aloha State has to offer, from impressive wildlife to intriguing history and culture. While on a visit here, you can shimmy alongside professional hula dancers, golf along coastal fairways, sail down a zip line, snorkel alongside five different types of sea turtles or simply lounge along some of Hawaii’s most notable beaches.
One of the archipelago’s most popular tourism spots, Maui can be found sandwiched between the Big Island and the much tinier Molokai (which you can explore by signing up for one of the best Maui tours). Maui is divided into five distinct regions: Many travelers base themselves along the coasts of South Maui (home to the famous Wailea Beach) or West Maui, where the sands of Kaanapali Beach and the music from the Old Lahaina Luau are located. But the rest of the island should not be missed. Travel along the Road to Hana to experience East Maui’s scenic coastline, explore Haleakala – the world’s largest dormant volcano – in the Upcountry and discover the former tribal battlegrounds of Central Maui’s Iao Valley State Park. And for a bird’s-eye view of it all, reserve a spot on one of Maui’s best helicopter tours.
Why Go To Tahiti
Miles of shoreline, dozens of resorts, French cuisine to die for – Tahiti has all the makings of a honeymoon destination. But beach bums often pass over Tahiti’s sands in favor of Bora Bora’s ivory shores. Despite its idyllic reputation and accessibility, Tahiti is often more of a stopover point en route to romantic getaways on smaller islands. However, that doesn’t mean Tahiti should be ignored.
Leafy forests sit beside sandy shores, while French crêpes are served alongside Tahitian poisson cru (raw fish). If there ever was a place that embodies the beautiful duality of the French Polynesian archipelago, it’s Tahiti. Here, the quirky, often chaotic atmosphere of the island’s capital, Papeete, rubs elbows with uncorrupted natural beauty.
In fact, Tahiti – the largest of French Polynesia’s 118 islands – is often referred to as two separate islands despite them being joined by a tiny land bridge. Tahiti Nui is the larger, northwestern section where Papeete can be found. Tahiti Iti (the smaller, southeastern half) is less accessible, although many visitors make the trek here for the seclusion. Just note that spending a week on either part of Tahiti will cost you quite a chunk of change. Regardless, travelers agree that the warm waters, lush jungles and luxurious resorts are worth the splurge.
Why Go To Phuket
Pure white sands, aquamarine waters and limestone cliffs await travelers who visit Thailand’s southwestern island of Phuket. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea and about an hour by plane from Bangkok, this island is a little piece of paradise, which comes with a relatively low price tag for everything from its accommodations to spa treatments and boat tours. But along with its tropical appeal, Phuket beckons to travelers wanting to experience its flavorful cuisine (think: lemongrass, lime leaves, chillies) and its rich culture, heavily influenced by its reigning religion: Buddhism.
And although the island’s beaches and tourism operators have bounced back from the 2004 tsunami, which hammered its western coast and tragically claimed thousands of lives, it remembers the past with memorials and a better warning system, should the area once again come under threat.
