18 of the World’s Best Beaches

The earth is made up of over 70% water and almost 95% of that water is made up of oceans. With all that surf and sand, there are countless choices of beaches and as a self proclaimed beach bum, I’ve encounter many. Here is a round up of 18 of the world’s best beaches according to Speck on the Globe.

Zanzibar

Wow. That may be the first and only exclamation you’ll need to describe this Tanzanian island. It’s totally unique with Swahili & Islamic influences that help to shape the spice trade routes from long ago. For the size there are dozens of sweet spots, don’t forget to spend some time away from the shores in Stone Town to get a real feel for this UNESCO island.

Best place to kitesurf & windsurf: Paje Beach

Best place for the ultimate Eco stay: Chumbe Island 

Philippines

It’s a country of over 7,000 islands, so it’s a dream vacation for a beach lover. Certain islands here continually appear on “top destination” lists and I visited several. Out of all of the beaches I visited, the ones on Coron Island were by far my favorite. Palawan province also has the famed beaches of El Nido, but the town, diving, secret lagoons and less touristy island hopping tours are what won me over.

Where to stay in Coron: The Funny Lion

Turks & Caicos 

While it has been a few years since I’ve been to TCI, the beaches of Providenciales are some that I compare all other beaches. “Provo” as it’s called, is one of the islands in the Caribbean, north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is all you want in a Caribbean vacation. Calm blue waters, laid back vibes, and delicious seafood make me want to return for more.

Best Beach: The award winning Grace Bay

Martinique 

I love when a last minute trip turns into a much needed adventure. I booked a cheap flight and rented a car, not doing much research prior to my trip. Like me, you’ll probably extend your trip because you’ll find the french influence, friendly locals and long lazy beach days too good to part with.

Where to have an island to yourself: Ilet Oscar

Dominican Republic 

Another Caribbean island to add to the list!  I promise, there will be other beaches outside of the Atlantic Ocean, but the DR deserves a space, let me tell you why. Most people are heading south to Punta Cana to an all inclusive resort, but my favorite part of the island is in the north, in the Puerto Plata province.

Best way to experience more: Purposeful Nomad Rest & Renew Retreat

Greece 

Moving over to the Mediterranean, island hopping in Greece is a sun seekers ideal vacation. I’m a firm believer that it is a challenge to find any Greek island that isn’t stunningly beautiful. The food and culture are also what makes a good Greek island vacation. Sunsets in Santorini, making moves in Mykonos or just chilling in Crete, there are endless possibilities for your best beach trip.

Best of the beaten path island: Kythira 

Malta & Gozo

One of the smaller European countries, Malta is one of my favorite vacation spots. One of my most popular posts on the blog is “50 Shades of Blue”, basically a love letter to the beautiful beaches of Malta. You’ll find one beach thinking it’s the best and then turn the corner to see another gem. I just couldn’t think of a world’s best beach list without mentioning this small but substantial country in the Mediterranean Sea.

Clearest waters in the Med: Blue Lagoon, Comino Island

Thailand

I’m sure you were wondering when Thailand would show up on this list.  Thailand has become the hot spot vacation destination in Southeast Asia. There are dozens of places that could be considered the best beach in the country, and everyone has their own favorites and opinions. Phuket is the island where I’ve spent the most time, Koh Samui is the island where I’ve relaxed, Koh Pha Ngan is where I’ve partied the hardest, and Koh Tao is where I first envisioned my blog.

Best beach town for island hopping headquarters: Ao Nang 

Cuba 

You think of vintage cars and cigars, but the beaches of Cuba were a surprise to us when we arrived. Our road trip may have been the highlight of our time on the island, however, our afternoon on the unspoiled beaches of Cuba was a rewarding one.

Best Beach: Cayo Las Brujas 

St. Kitts & Nevis 

I had the chance to get a quick visit to St. Kitts & Nevis when visiting a good friend who was working on the island. I would love to go back and spend some more time exploring. The Caribbean Islands are never going to disappoint when looking for clear waters and rum cocktails.

Best Souvenirs & Breakfast:  The Gallery Cafe 

Italy 

Move away from the pasta plate and head to the shores of the Mediterranean. The Amalfi coast is the perfect place to for those looking for a quintessential European summer holiday. Capri turned out to be one of the most relaxing days, we found a little nook that had comfortable lounge chairs, fresh seafood risotto and chilled white wine.

Best to Beat the Crowds: Bagni Tiberio Beach Club

Vietnam 

Rice fields, motorbikes whizzing through the streets, world famous cuisine and the Mekong Delta are view things you’d expect from Vietnam, beach is not usually on the list. Phu Quoc Island is the perfect escape from the business of HCMC or Hanoi. Do yourself a favor and spend a few days doing just about nothing except floating around the Gulf of Thailand.

Best Island Resort: Salinda Resort 

Palau

Not always the easiest to reach, the South Pacific has some phenomenal islands that have water so blue and sand so white it will make your head spin. I took advantage of a famous island hopper flight that touches down throughout Micronesia and out of all the few islands I saw, Palau was by far and away the most gorgeous. I was originally drawn to it through an interest in their Jellyfish Lake which due to environmental issues wasn’t accessible at the time, however the diving and snorkeling here is unparalleled.

Best Day Trip: Rock Islands 

Cambodia

I’m a big believer in the idea to have a few days in the city, or sight seeing, and then a few days relaxing.  Cambodia is the country where you can arrange the perfect itinerary in this manner. See Angkor Wat, learn history in Phnom Penh and then get down to Sihanoukville to take in some R&R.

Best Hidden Island Getaway: Koh Rong Samloem 

Indonesia 

Bali has long been the place for backpackers to spend time surfing, drinking, doing yoga and soaking up Southeast Asian sunshine. The island is notorious for having some party beaches that have become less and less desirable the more popular they become. Although I ended up loving meditating in the rice fields as much as I did surfing, Indonesia is so much more than just Bali.

Best Bali Surf Beach: Canggu 

Mexico

Another country that when you think of their beaches, you may think of spring break style party resorts like Cancun or Cabo. The Sea of Cortez can be a world away from the all inclusive lifestyle without giving up the luxuries. The marine life is so abundant Jacques Cousteau himself labeled it “the world’s aquarium”. Get all the guac your heart desires in Baja.

Best place to stay for whale watching:  Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto 

Malaysia 

The Malay Peninsula and it’s island Borneo are surrounded by the same waters as Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia & Vietnam. One could argue that the best beaches are on a small island in the north, Langkawi. I beg to differ. My best beach experience was on a small island off the coast of Borneo.

Best place to feel like you’re on a deserted island:  Turtle Island, Borneo  

Nicaragua

There is a reason this photo has been my phone’s background image for the last few years. Little Corn Island has some magical power over you. I went for a weekend and stayed for 10 days. It isn’t the easiest to get to, but it will be the most rewarding.

Best place for living your best island life: Yemaya

Best place for making new friends:  The Lighthouse 

Be a Better Beach Bum

There are a few things that we can do to ensure that these beaches stay pristine. The idea is to make a few small changes so that we can all continue to enjoy these beautiful places. Here is a short list of just a few easy ideas to  help you make changes to becoming a better and more responsible ocean lover. Keep our world’s best beaches clean!

• Pick up trash that’s been left on the beach and make sure you take everything you brought back with you. Get up, take a walk and collect even just a few pieces of garbage that have been washed up or left by other beach goers. I’ve found when other people see me picking up refuse, it can spark for them to do the same!
• Skip the Straws. Straws are one of the top offenders of plastics in our oceans, in America alone we use nearly 500 million straws a day! If you are getting a drink, kindly request to not have a straw and if you want to use one, find a bamboo or steel alternative to bring with you. You can do the same with plastic utensils, pack reusable silverware like travel utensils made from bamboo.
• Avoid plastics like bags, single use containers and water bottles. The best thing you can do is to have a reusable bag, eco friendly water bottle and containers that you can use again or that are recyclable. Avoid buying products with unnecessary packaging.
• Share the beaches and oceans with the wildlife. Keep shells on the beach where they belong, and avoid handling marine life. Instead of swimming with dolphins or disrupting hatching sea turtles, partake in activities where you can observe the wildlife at a safe distance, in their own natural habitat.
•  Avoid sunscreens that have chemicals that pollute the water and harm marine life. Be sure you have sun screen that is eco conscious, biodegradable and coral reef friendly.

That wraps up what I think is the list of the world’s best beaches. I hope this gives you the inspiration you need to get your bikini packed and out the door for summer.

Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page include affiliates, meaning at no additional cost to the reader, I will earn a commission if clicking through and making a reservation.  

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