{"id":12532,"date":"2014-12-22T00:10:52","date_gmt":"2014-12-21T23:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/?p=12532"},"modified":"2015-12-30T12:56:45","modified_gmt":"2015-12-30T11:56:45","slug":"top-10-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/top-10-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10: most beautiful beaches in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monday newsletters<\/a>\u00a0always feature\u00a0top 10 travel lists<\/a>\u00a0to inspire.<\/p>\n

Today (December 22, 2014): Top 10 most spectacular\u00a0beaches in the world.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

With winter officially making its entry in the Northern Hemisphere yesterday, the idea of hitting the beach sounds pretty terrific. But is it possible to rank the world’s best beaches? \u00a0Of course not, as preferences will differ from traveler to traveler, based on\u00a0amenities, accessibility, swimming & water sports options, safety, sense of place, relaxation, and scenery. Nevertheless, being well-traveled and having\u00a0put my feet\u00a0into the sand\u00a0of numerous\u00a0beaches around the globe, I hereby present you my list of the 10 most spectacular and beautiful beaches in the world.\u00a0From coral to sandy and long to enclosed, it should come as no surprise that most of these beaches are located in the\u00a0world’s best beach destinations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, these beaches are no secret (anymore) and you will have to share their incredible beauty with many others travelers. If privacy is a must, you may consider swapping the beaches listed below for one of the\u00a0world’s most beautiful (semi-)private hotel beaches<\/a>\u00a0or opt for a stay at one of the\u00a0world’s most exclusive private island resorts<\/a>\u00a0instead.<\/p>\n

There is more\u00a0information below the slide show.\u00a0Think I missed one? Share your favorite beach\u00a0in the comments section<\/strong>, or take my\u00a0poll\u00a0<\/strong>below!<\/p>\n

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10. TULUM, RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO<\/strong><\/h5>\n

What sets Tulum apart is the proximity to some of the most stunning Mayan ruins in all of Mexico: it is here that one of the world’s best cultural destinations<\/a>\u00a0meets one of the world’s best beaches. Tulum’s ruin is an ancient walled city\u00a0sitting on rocky cliff that overlooks a stretch of beautiful beach. With hordes of tourists visiting every day, the area is not exactly private, but the broad white-sand beach and mesmerizing turquoise Caribbean waters more than make up for it.<\/p>\n

\"TULUM,<\/a>
TULUM, RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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9. NAVAGIO BEACH, ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Navagio beach is an isolated yet strikingly beautiful sandy cove on the Greek island of Zakynthos. It is often referred to as the Shipwreck Beach because it is home to the wreck of a ship called Panagiotis that is believed to have been a smugglers ship.The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly. The strip of beach is accessed only by boat, but you can see it from above if you stand on the high side of the cliffs that overlook it.<\/p>\n

\"NAVAGIO<\/a>
NAVAGIO BEACH, ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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8. GRACE BAY, TURKS & CAICOS<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Turks and Caicos comprise 40 islands and cays, of which Providenciales is the main tourist centre. It\u2019s here, on the northern shore, that you\u2019ll find Grace Bay, a 19km (12 miles)\u00a0 paradise-perfect mix of sugary sand and transparent water, fringed by a coral reef system with fabulous snorkeling and diving. Unfortunately, an increasing number of resorts and condo hotels have sprung up along the shore in recent years, so you may be better off these days on the more private hotel beaches of\u00a0Amanyara<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Parrot Cay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"GRACE<\/a>
GRACE BAY, TURKS & CAICOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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7. WHITEHAVEN BEACH, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Whitehaven Beach\u00a0is protected by the Whitsunday Islands National Park, and is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Australia’s most\u00a0famous beach stretches for 4,4 miles (7 km) and is washed by swirls of turquoise, blue and green water. The sand is 98 per cent pure white silica, which gives it a brilliant, near luminescent colour.\u00a0You can reach\u00a0the beach via a helicopter or seaplane, or you can sail to Whitehaven Beach with one of the many yacht excursions in the area.<\/p>\n

\"WHITEHAVEN<\/a>
WHITEHAVEN BEACH, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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6. BAIA DO SANCHO, FERNANDO DE NORONHO, BRAZIL<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Baio Do Sancho is\u00a0situated on the remote island of Fernando de Noronha, an active volcanic archipelago of 21 islands in the Atlantic Ocean,\u00a0located approximately 220 miles (350 km) off the coast of northeastern Brazil\u00a0bay. \u00a0Sparkling emerald water and soft white sands are surrounded by vegetation-covered 250 ft (75 m) cliffs.\u00a0The beach can only be reached by boat or by foot on a\u00a0dirt trail through a crack in a rock wall with a\u00a0few dozen uneven, slippery-sandy steps. The beach is perfect for snorkelling and spotting rays.<\/p>\n

\"BAIA<\/a>
BAIA DO SANCHO, FERNANDO DE NORONHA, BRAZIL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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5. LONG BEACH, VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It are not only tropical beaches that can make one speechless with breathtaking beauty. The best example is Long Beach, the longest sandy beach on Canada’s Vancouver Island, that\u00a0offers eye-popping scenic views and an unmatched maritime wilderness. Located within the boundaries of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve between Tofino and Ucluelet, its 10 miles (16 km) of pristine sand are backed by lush rainforests and washed by a cool pounding surf. \u00a0Twenty-thousand grey whales migrate up this coast each spring and summer.<\/p>\n

\"LONG<\/a>
LONG BEACH, VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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4. MAYA BAY, KOH PHI PHI, THAILAND<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful,\u00a0sheltered bay on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi. With a ring of white sand surrounded by mangroves and towering limestone walls blanketed by dense foliage, it’s easy to see why director Danny Boyle chose this beach for cult-favorite\u00a0The Beach<\/em>, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.\u00a0The main beach within the bay is around 200 metres long with silky soft white sand, underwater colourful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water; the whole bay is one big reef.<\/p>\n

\"MAYA<\/a>
MAYA BAY, KOH PHI PHI, THAILAND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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3. CAMPS BAY, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Cape Town tops our list of the\u00a0world’s most beautiful cities<\/a>, not least because of\u00a0magnificent\u00a0beaches\u00a0on its doorstep. Camps Bay is not only Cape Town’s most popular beach, but also the only urban beach to make it into our top 10 list.\u00a0Set against the majestic backdrop of the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and boasting blinding\u00a0white\u00a0sands, Camps Bay’s\u00a0water is a bit cold, due to the currents in the Atlantic Ocean, but that will not\u00a0distract you from the\u00a0amazing surrounding scenery and world-famous\u00a0sunsets.<\/p>\n

\"CAMPS<\/a>
CAMPS BAY, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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2. POLIHALE BEACH, HAWAII, USA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Polihale is hands-down the Hawaiian archipelago’s most breathtakingly beautiful beach.\u00a0 This seemingly deserted seven-mile stretch\u00a0on the western end of Kauai, one of the world’s most scenic islands<\/a>,\u00a0is several miles from the nearest town and holds a vibe of enchantment and mystique, still alive on Hawaii today. The beach can\u00a0only be reached via a poorly marked, dirt sugarcane road, making a four-wheel drive vehicle preferable (check with your rental car company for restrictions before heading out).<\/p>\n

\"POLIHALE<\/a>
POLIHALE BEACH, HAWAII, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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1. ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT, SEYCHELLES<\/strong><\/h5>\n

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d\u2019Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of enormous granite boulders, worn by time and weather. An offshore reef provides protection from ocean waves, making the turquoise water an ideal spot for swimming. Keep an eye out for endangered birds and giant tortoises.<\/p>\n

\"ANSE<\/a>
ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT, SEYCHELLES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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*** Follow me on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***<\/em><\/p>\n

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