15 OF THE MOST EXOTIC BEACHES IN THE WORLD

 1. Honopu Beach – Kauai, Hawaii

If you want to get to this beach, you’ve got to work for it. You can’t hike, boat or drive – swimming from an offshore boat is the only means of access.

photo: Jason Waltman

photo: Cory Yap

2. Anse Source d’Argent – La Digue, Seychelles

One of the most popular beaches on all the 115 islands of Seychelles, the Anse Source d’Argent’s white (sometimes pink) sand beach is offset by towering granite boulders, worn over time – making it a secluded paradise.

photo: indianocean.com

3. Giants Causeway Beach – Ireland

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, Giants Causeway Beach is surrounded by interlocking basalt columns that jut upwards out of the sea – making it one of the most exotic beaches in the world.

photo: placesunderthesun.com

photo: Michael Breitung

4. Benagil Sea Cave Beach – Algarve, Portugal

Journey along the southern coast in the Algarve region of Portugal, and you’ll see a collection of magical sea caves – the most iconic one, pictured below, is located just around the corner from a beach in the tiny town of Benagil. You can rent a boat to explore the caves and isolated beaches in the area.

photo: pinterest

photo: worldalldetails.com

5. Rialto Beach – Washington, USA

This spectacularly scenic beach off of the Olympic Coast in Washington state is one of the most accessible – but you can easily go and see no one around. Park your car when you get there, set up camp on the beach, or hike the surrounding region of the Olympic National Park.

photo: wta.org

6. Star Sand Beach (Hoshizuna-no-hama) – Iriomote Island, Japan

Iriomote Island is a small island in Okinawa, Japan only accessible by boat – but most people aren’t swimming in the water – they’re usually bent over examining the sand. This is because most beaches on Iriomote Island are filled with “hoshizuna” or star-shaped sand.

According to local legend, the star sand was made of the tiny offspring skeletons of the Southern Cross and the North Star, who were killed by a giant serpent right after being born in the ocean.  Science states, however, that these particles are the exoskeletons of millions of foraminifera, or marine protozoans, believed to be fossil evidence dating back 550 million years ago – some of the oldest fossils known to man.

The best time to find the best star-shaped sand particles is just after a typhoon – when the sand stars are stirred up beneath the ocean floor and washed up on the shore.

photo: wikipedia

photo: flickr

7. Pfeiffer Purple Sand Beach – California, USA

Located in Big Sur, California, you’ll find Pfeiffer Beach – waves crashing along a rugged coastline, an explore-worthy rock arch and jagged rock formations everywhere you look. You’ll also find beautiful patches of purple sand – which are actually manganese garnet particles washing down from the hillside.

photo: Tom Grubbe

8. Playa de las Catedrales (Beach of the Cathedrals) – Ribadeo, Spain

During low tide, you can walk underneath these extroardinary natural rock formations, resembling the soaring arches of a cathedral (hence the name – Beach of the Cathedrals). These arches are more than 30 meters tall and make this beach one of the most picturesque in the world.

photo: Andrei S.

photo: pinterest

9. Whitehaven Beach – Whitsunday Island, Australia

Whitehaven Beach is one of Australia’s most beautiful (and cleanest) beaches, located on Whitsunday Island, accessible only by boat. The sand is 90% pure silica, giving the beach its bright white color. Oh, and no flip flops necessary – the sand here doesn’t retain heat, so you can walk barefoot comfortably even on a scorching hot day.

photo: bing

photo: abeachaday.com

10. Papakolea Beach – Kaʻū, Hawaii

The Papakolea Beach is located about three miles east of Ka Lae on the island of Hawaii – surrounded by pasturelands and only accessible after a three-hour hike across rugged paths. Climb down a huge cinder cone and you’ll get to this secluded beach with green sand. The color comes from olivine – a silicate mineral containing iron and magnesium – a common mineral in Hawaiian lavas.

photo: taringa.net

photo: Donnie MacGowan

11. Reynisfjara Beach – Vik, Iceland

Situated near the town of Vik on the south coast of Iceland, Reynisfjara Beach seems to transport you to another world entirely – bright white waters, stunning basalt columns, black sand and pebbles – make this beach one of the most exotic in the world.

Legend says that the huge sea stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-masted ship to land unsuccessfully, and when daylight broke they became needles of rock. And no, you probably won’t be swimming here, but it is one most definitely worth visiting.

photo: stuckiniceland.com

photo: Stewart Kenny

12. Hidden Beach – Marieta Islands, Mexico

Located in the Marieta Islands, near Puerto Vallarta, the Hidden Beach is a serene, one-of-a-kind natural wonder hidden underneath a hole in the ground. The difficulty of getting to it adds to its wonder – besides being hoisted down from a helicopter, the only known way to access it is by swimming or scuba diving through a very small tunnel (50 feet long with only 6 feet of air space) on the tidal side of its cavernous walls.

photo: wildluxe.com

photo: anutritionisteats.com

13. Bioluminescent Beach – Vaadhoo, Maldives

Travel to Vaadhoo in the Maldives for beautiful beaches during the day, but at night – the water turns a bright blue, caused by bioluminescent phytoplankton. You’ll have the most luck seeing the blue glow from July to February, especially during a new moon since the darkness of the sky helps intensify the light.

photo: pinterest

photo: Will Ho

14. Bowling Ball Beach – California, USA

Named after the spherical sandstone concretions found at this beach, Bowling Ball Beach (part of Schooner Gulch State Beach) in the Mendocino County is one of the most unique beaches in California and the world. During low tides, long rows of perfectly rounded boulders are revealed – having been eroded over millions of years by the Pacific Ocean.

photo: Patrick Smith

15. Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach – Hana, Hawaii

Kaihalulu Beach in Hana, Hawaii is one of the few red sand beaches in the world. Contrasted against the blue water, black sea wall and green ironwood trees, the iron-rich sand is a brilliantly beautiful red color.  The beach is extremely isolated most likely due to the short but steep, narrow and slippery hike necessary to reach it. This may also be the reason why clothing is often considered optional.

photo: Alan F.

photo: B. Illingworth

Did you have any favorites? Or any beaches to add to this list? Leave a comment for us below!

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14 Breathtaking Scottish Walks To Add To Your Travel Bucket List

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1. The Fife Coastal Path

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This beautiful footpath is part of the larger North Sea Trail and runs from the Forth Estuary near Edinburgh to the Tay Estuary in the north, passing beautiful towns and villages like St Andrews and Crail on the way. You don’t have to walk the entire 115-mile stretch: There are plenty of short walks you can do, including this scenic 12-mile jaunt from Lower Largo to Pittenweem.

2. The Great Glen Way

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This iconic 115-mile walking route links Inverness with Fort William via the Great Glen: a sweeping, 62-mile-long valley that cuts through the Highlands and contains several lochs, including Loch Ness and Loch Linnhe. If you don’t have time to walk 115 miles, then you should try the 12-mile Gairlochy to Laggan section. It runs alongside Loch Lochy, so it’s a particularly scenic option.

3. The Moray Coast Trail

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This 50-mile hike along Moray’s rugged cliffs is ideal for wildlife fans, as the Moray Firth is home to the only pod of resident bottlenose dolphins in the UK, as well as innumerable seabirds and friendly seals. If you don’t want to walk the whole trail, the seven-mile Portknockie to Cullen section is a fantastic option as it passes the rock arch Bow Fiddle Rock (above).

4. The West Highland Way

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Jade Riley Photography / Via jaderileyphotography.co.uk

Jade Riley Photography / Via jaderileyphotography.co.uk

 

The West Highland Way is one of the most popular long-distance trails in Scotland, as it passes almost all of Scotland’s most iconic sights, including Loch Lomond, Buachaille Etive Mor, and Glen Coe. It takes a week to walk the 96-mile route, but there are plenty of places to stop along the way, including Clachaig Inn, where scenes featuring Hagrid’s Hut were filmed for the Harry Pottermovies.

5. Mull of Galloway Trail

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This volunteer-run coastal trail runs the length of the Mull of Galloway, which is the southernmost tip of Scotland and famous for its breathtaking views. The route is 35 miles long, so you could theoretically walk it all in one (epic) day, but if you want something a bit less challenging try the 11-mile Glenapp to Stranraer section, which runs around pretty Finnart Bay.

6. The Speyside Way

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If you like whisky then you should definitely hike the beautiful Speyside Way, as it runs through one of the most famous whisky-producing areas of the Highlands. It starts on the Moray Coast and follows the River Spey valley, passing several distilleries in the process, including Aberlour. If you want a shorter stroll, the final, 6-mile Boat of Garten to Aviemore section is a real treat.

7. The Three Lochs Way

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The “three lochs” in the name of this trail are Loch Lomond, The Gareloch, and Loch Long, which all form a scenic backdrop as you walk the 34-mile route. Along the way you’ll pass the Cobbler, one of the largest hills in the area. If you only have time for a short walk, try the Tarbet to Inveruglas section: You can get a ferry from Inveruglas back to Tarbet at the end of the day.

8. The West Island Way

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This 24-mile walk around the Isle of Bute is sometimes confused with the West Highland Way, but it’s a lot easier, flatter, and almost as scenic. The route runs around the entire island, and forms two handy circular sections that are ideal if you want a shorter hike. The 5-mile Kilchattan Bay circular is a particularly gorgeous way to spend an afternoon, especially on a sunny day.

9. The Rob Roy Way

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This seven-day hike is named after famous 17th-century outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor, and follows some of the paths that he was known to use. It runs from the picturesque village of Drymen to the equally pretty town of Pitlochry, past Loch Venachar, Loch Lubnaig, and Loch Tay. For a shorter walk, try the Ardtalnaig to Aberfeldy section: It passes the majestic Falls of Acharn.

10. The John Muir Way

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This 134-mile-long trail links the west and east coasts of Scotland. It starts in Helensburgh near Glasgow, and ends in Dunbar, East Lothian, the birthplace of renowned Scottish naturalist John Muir. There are lots of shorter walks you can try along the route, but the final 5-mile North Berwick to Dunbar section (pictured) is arguably the most scenic.

11. The Kintyre Way

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The unspoilt Kintyre Peninsula is best explored on foot, so it’s great that there’s a 100-mile trail running from Tarbert in the north to Machrihanish Bay in the south, passing beaches and hidden coves along the way. If you haven’t got a week to walk the full route, then the Clachan to Tayinloan stretch is a good option: It runs beside the sea and offers views of the Isle of Gigha.

12. The Arran Coastal Way

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Flickr: summonedbyfells / Creative Commons

 

Like the West Island Way, this route runs all the way around an island, making it ideal for people who want a circular walk. As Arran is a bit bigger than Bute this path runs for a more challenging 65 miles, passing beautiful sights like Lochranza Bay, where Queen Elizabeth II spent her honeymoon. Try the scenic Sannox to Lochranza stretch (9 miles) if you want to see it for yourself.

13. The Southern Upland Way

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The Southern Upland Way is an epic, 212-mile coast-to-coast trail, which links the pretty harbour town of Portpatrick in the southwest of Scotland to Cockburnspath in the Scottish Borders. For a particularly satisfying short walk, try St Mary’s Loch (pictured) to Traquair: You can end your day sampling the home-brewed Bear Ale at Traquair House, a listed building that was built in the 1770s.

14. The Cape Wrath Trail

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This 200-mile beast of a walk is also known as “Britain’s Toughest Trail”. It ends at Cape Wrath, the most northwesterly point on the mainland, passing stunning glens and steep mountains along the way. It takes around three weeks to walk the whole route, but you can do shorter sections. The Rhiconich to Sandwood Bay stretch is particularly beautiful: In fact, it’s like nowhere else on Earth.

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