The 10 best beaches in the world

The beach certainly embodies these ideals but it also has far more pragmatic benefits. Scientific studies have shown for years that going to the beach improves the immune system, clears the airways, smoothes the skin and even improves the metabolism.

If going to the beach has so many benefits, imagine how good it must be to go to one of the best beaches in the world . This short guide happens just by the way: if you want to discover the most beautiful beaches in the world to visit at least once in your life, read below!

The 3 best beaches in the world chosen by Heymondo

Beach of the rabbits Lampedusa

The first of the best beaches in the world that we at Heymondo want to tell you about is a pride of our Italy: it is the Spiaggia dei Conigli , located on the island of Lampedusa . The identikit of this beach leaves no room for doubt: very fine sand, crystalline water and an almost always blue sky are the three fundamental pillars on which the beauty of Spiaggia dei Conigli is based. Furthermore, thanks to the flora and fauna that inhabit it, this beach is a spectacular explosion of life.

In spite of the remote location of Lampedusa, thanks to the airport on the island it can be reached from all over Italy with a maximum of a couple of hours of flight, so it is truly within everyone’s reach.

Being an unspoilt pearl, there are no parking spaces near Spiaggia dei Conigli . To reach it by car, starting from the city center of Lampedusa, you have to travel about five km, then leave the car and take a twenty-minute walk through the typical “Mediterranean scrub” of the area to arrive at the beach only after.

The origin of the name of the beach of rabbits

A little curiosity: although it is called “Spiaggia dei Conigli”, don’t expect to see them there on the beach . Today there are certainly none, but it is not even certain that there were any in the past: according to some, the name could derive from the mispronunciation of the Arabic name Rabit, whose translation is “connection”, which served to indicate a line of sand that emerged on the surface and acted as a “connection” between the beach and Lampedusa.

The symbol of the area’s fauna is the legendary Caretta Caretta , the sea turtle that lays its eggs right on the Spiaggia dei Conigli. Turtles lay their eggs in the period from June to August: each egg hatches on average after two months, mainly at night, and once the turtles are born, they immediately have the instinct to run towards the sea. Hatching usually takes place at night, and there are volunteers to ensure that no one enters the area: however, if you are lucky enough to find yourself on Rabbit Beach just as the eggs are hatching , we assure you that you will be able to admire one of the best shows that the world can ever offer to the human eye.

 Whitehaven beach, the pearl of Australia

The best way to present this beach is through a sentence pronounced by an Indian chief in 1854, and which stands out in different corners of the Whitehaven natural park, in Australia, whose translation is more or less “you will only capture the memories of this splendid place , and you will only leave your footprints in the sand.”

Whitehaven Beach is located in the Whitsundays Islands , which are part of the Queensland region on the east coast of Australia . These are 74 mostly uninhabited islands, which can only be reached by sea or even on foot at low tide. The sand of Whitehaven beach is 98% silica, and when you dip your bare feet into it, it feels like you are immersed in material made of dreams, where even the laziest ones try their hand at long walks. The beach is immense, it seems infinite, and the colors of the sea in the area range from blue to emerald: in no uncertain terms, Whitehaven beach is absolutely the most beautiful in the world for us at Heymondo, even if for some this title would belong to that of Exmouth Australia.

Being a beach located on the other side of the world, it is obviously not easy for us Europeans to get there, but we can assure you that it is worth it. The first step is obviously to get to Australia: the flight lasts an average of 20 hours and includes stopovers. If your goal is to get to the airport closest to Whitehaven beach, it would be ideal to take a direct flight to Whitsunday Coast Airport , near Proserpine.

However, even if you land in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, somehow you can arrange to reach the area. Once you arrive near Proserpine, from there you can take the bus to Arlie Beach: you can get there in about twenty minutes. Once in Arlie Beach you can reach Whitehaven beach both by boat and by plane. 

How to visit Whitehaven Beach

One of the most popular ways to visit Whitehaven beach is, as you might imagine, by boat. Every day there are many boats that leave from Hamilton Island or Arlie Beach and offer day trips full of services: panoramic tour of the beaches (including Whitehaven where the stop is scheduled), guide in English, food and drinks.

For fans of the genre, it is even possible to go snorkelling : equipment and an instructor are made available by the tour operator. However, if you are looking for a unique experience of its kind, the same excursion can be done on board a helicopter or a seaplane . From the aircraft you can admire a suggestive bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area, but of course the tour includes a landing to go both in Whitehaven and in the natural parks of the area. Here, too, a guide in English and meals are guaranteed.

Whichever type of excursion you prefer, in both cases it can be deduced that going to Whitehaven can be complicated with children in tow, so it is a destination to experience as a young person or as a couple.

Since Australia’s seasons are reversed compared to ours (in the southern hemisphere winter corresponds to our summer), many think that the best times to visit Whitehaven beach are January and February. In reality , the best months to go to this corner of paradise in Australia are from May to October . Because? Simply because in that period the climate is not too hot and the rains are less frequent.

Playa de la Concha, Spain

In this special triptych of the best beaches in the world that we Heymondo offer you, there is also space for La Concha , which is located in San Sebastián , Spain. The particularity of this beach is that, compared to the norm that requires the most beautiful beaches far from population centers, it is located a few steps from the urban heart of San Sebastián, the reference city of the Basque Country. La Playa della Concha is the tourist symbol of the city, and is located between Pico del Loro and the fishing port of San Sebastián. Although houses and concrete are nearby, Playa de la Concha has the classic look of a paradise beach: fine golden sand, crystalline waters and fantastic colours.

The etymology of the name is also interesting: in Italian Playa della Concha translates into “beach of the shell”, and is so called precisely because the half-moon shape vaguely resembles that of a shell. This scenario is also supported by the presence of the island of Santa Clara in the center of the bay: if you look at them from the other side they look like a shell with its pearl.

The fact of being so close to the city center makes Playa de la Concha particularly crowded, especially in high season: however, if you are in the area of ​​San Sebastian it is absolutely worth a visit, also because it seems to have been Queen Isabella’s favorite destination at the beginning of the Nineteenth century: even if the sovereign of Spain of the time particularly loved Playa de la Concha, there must be a reason!

What to do in Playa de la Concha

Playa de la Concha has the appearance of a paradisiacal beach but the typical features of mass tourism: with its 1300 meters in length and over 40 meters in width, there is no shortage of space for attractions after all. All around the beach there are numerous accommodation facilities, and many sports can be practiced , such as beach soccer , rowing and windsurfing . Along the seafront there is even a cycle path that allows you to enjoy the area on a bike.

With these characteristics, Playa della Concha offers entertainment for all types of vacationers , including families with children in tow. Indeed, the sea in the area is always particularly calm, so it is the most suitable for the little ones. If, on the other hand, you are young without children and with a desire for nightlife, the area is full of places for aperitifs or for nightlife.

The other best beaches in the world

Saint Pete Beach, Florida

Representing Florida in this special ranking of the 10 best beaches in the world is Saint Pete Beach , which occupies all the space of Long Key , an island located in the central-eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico . White sand beach, crystal clear water and a prevalence of sunshine make Saint Pete Beach a perfect destination for vacationers. In the surroundings of the beach there are several accommodation facilities, which makes it perfect for both family holidays and those for young people. For those who love sports , Saint Pete Beach offers an embarrassment of choice between sailing, surfing, fishing, kite boarding and skim boarding.

 Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

When it comes to beautiful beaches, the first thought goes to the Caribbean. And if we talk about the Caribbean, obviously we cannot fail to mention the Cayman Islands . Seven Mile Beach is the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean , and consequently ends up in our special top 10.

To be more precise, the name is quite pretentious: Seven Mile is actually just over 6 miles (about 10 km), but such a paradise can easily be forgiven for the metric inaccuracy: the beach is crescent-shaped , the sand and so white and fine that it almost looks like talc, and the picture is completed by a crystalline sea on one side and imperious palm trees on the other. Seven Mile is located on the island of Grand Cayman , the main island of the archipelago, and although it is surrounded by the most important accommodation facilities in the area, the beach is public, so you don’t need to pay anything to access it.

Even in Seven Mile you can be divided between two types of vacationers: those who want to limit themselves to enjoying a good drink lying on the beach, and those who want to try their hand at excursions. Among these, the most suggestive is that of the helicopter trip , which allows you to enjoy this suggestive place from above. Given the large number of accommodation facilities in the area, Seven Mile is the perfect beach for both young people and families.

Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos Islands

Southeast of the Bahamas is the lesser-known Turks and Caicos archipelago , which boasts a total of 360km of white, sunny beaches where GraceBay is the most prominent . These are British-dominated islands, so the official language of the area is English. The islands of Turks and Caicos are very close to the concept of ” desert island ” that we have as a result of films and books on the subject: they are all medium-sized islets, of which just 8 are inhabited.

Grace Bay, as mentioned, is the flagship of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, with its calm and crystalline waters, the beach made of very fine white sand , all framed by an extraordinary coral reef. Among other things, this beach has also won the prestigious Travelers Choice , an award issued by the well-known web portal TripAdvisor , for the year 2022. Apart from this desert island scenario, there are actually several luxury resorts in the area, equipped with every comfort, and you can practice many outdoor activities.

The sea that bathes the Turks and Caicos archipelago is not only crystal clear, but enjoys a mild temperature all year round and has a shallow depth: this makes the area the perfect destination also for family holidays, where there are children in tow.

The numerous hammocks on the beach allow the laziest to enjoy maximum relaxation in the shade of the palm trees , while the more dynamic can practice many sports on the beach.

Snorkel in Grace Bay

It goes without saying that, in an area that can boast one of the largest coral reefs in the world, snorkeling is king. Among other things, while diving you can come across one of the many animal species that inhabit the waters of the Turks and Caicos archipelago: from turtles to lobsters, including dolphins, barracudas, manta rays and even whales and sharks. Especially due to the danger of the latter, it is always better to go snorkelling with the help of an instructor in the area.

Due to the very remote location, this beach can only be reached by air, being a 15-minute drive from Providenciales International Airport. While you’re in the area, among the other natural beauties you can visit are the bays of Pine Cay. Mangrove Cay and Parrot Cay.

Key Santa Maria, Cuba

When one thinks of Cuba , the first thought runs towards Havana, the capital and nerve center of one of the most famous islands in the world: however, this fantastic land is surrounded by many islets, among which one of the largest is that of Cayo Santa Maria . This islet is fantastic from the way you get there: you have to go along the Pedraplén, the famous viaduct that crosses the sea and goes from Bahia to Buena Vista.

The islet of Cayo Santa Maria has an area of ​​18 square kilometers and about 10 kilometers of beaches made up of very fine white sand . It is precisely from the color of the sand that Cayo Santa Maria has taken the nickname of “White Rose of the King’s Gardens”. The size of Cayo Santa Maria allows it to accommodate every type of tourist : there are areas rich in accommodation facilities that offer every type of service, but there are also points on the island where nature reigns supreme and with it all the fauna and the typical flora of the area.

 Things to do in Cayo Santa Maria

There are many activities that can be practiced in Cayo Santa Maria. Among the excursions , the most important is the one called ” Crucero del Sol “, which promises well right from the name: the staff guides you from your hotel to take you to Cayo Las Brujas, where you can set sail on board a catamaran , where you will enjoy the view of the turquoise waters of the area. The tour includes a visit to the various islets in the area, swimming with dolphins, seafood lunch and snorkelling for diving enthusiasts.

Speaking of dolphins, just in Cayo Santa Maria there is one of the most beautiful dolphinariums in the world , a must-see. The visit is especially recommended for animal lovers because, beyond what one might think about certain types of structures, in the Dolphinarium of Cayo Santa Maria dolphins are treated in the best possible way and without depriving them of their natural habitat.

Baia do Sancho, Brazil

We cannot talk about the best beaches in the world without including one that represents Brazil , a land that has always made seaside tourism its flagship. Representing the Carioca country in our special ranking is Baia do Sancho (for English speakers Sancho Beach), located in the Fernando de Nornha archipelago, 350 km from the mainland and belonging to the district of Recife.

The characteristic of Sancho Beach is that it is a beach of modest dimensions, which however is surrounded by majestic cliffs 30 meters high . Among other things, in some points these cliffs are accessible and represent a sort of natural viewpoint, from which we let you imagine what a fantastic panorama you can admire. Many tourists from this strategic point can film the dolphins that inhabit the surrounding waters swimming close to the shore.

The particular natural conformation of Sancho Beach also makes it not easily accessible: to get to the beach you have to go down a steep stone staircase and a narrow tunnel between the cliffs before finally seeing the sea up close. When we talk about a narrow tunnel, we really mean a gap of a few tens of centimetres: just think that the staff of the natural park in the area supervises the accesses so that tourists pass one at a time, because it is already impossible to have two.

Why visit Baia do Sancho

Whatever the way in which to reach Sancho Beach, know that it will always be worth it: the beach is made up of the typical golden and very fine sand of the areas, and the waters have a typical color ranging from blue to emerald, but at the same time such a transparency that it can be seen up to 50 meters horizontally. It goes without saying that with a scenario like this, snorkelers are happy: among other things, in the seabed there are many varieties of corals and you can come across sea turtles . Precisely because of the latter, the beach is inaccessible from 6 pm to 6 am the following morning: in fact, it is necessary to make sure that the turtles can lay their eggs in absolute serenity.

Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in Brazil are reversed compared to ours. However, to avoid temperatures that are too low or too high, the ideal is to go to Sancho Beach in spring or autumn . When it’s summer with us, from June to August, the temperatures are harsh there, while going when it’s winter with us means running into great heat with heavy rains.

It goes without saying that if you go to Sancho Beach and think of staying in a state-of-the-art resort, you are off track. The area, both for its naturalistic conformation and for preserving the habitat of local flora and fauna, is devoid of any accommodation or tourist structure : the best you will be able to find are the souvenir kiosks in the park.

To stay as close as possible to Sancho Beach, the solution is to book a hotel on the main island of Noronha . Here too, however, don’t expect luxury hotel chains: the best are small family-run hotels. Final gem: the quality of the hotels in the area is measured in “dolphins” and not in “stars” as in our parts: it ranges from a minimum of 1 dolphin to a maximum of 3 dolphins.

Manuel Antonio beach, Costa Rica

Among the best beaches in the world we could not fail to include a representative of another land famous for its paradisiacal sceneries, Costa Rica . Representing this small state is the beach of Manuel Antonio , where the natural park of the same name also stands.

This beach is located on the Costa Rican side facing the Pacific Ocean. It can boast the canonical white and very fine sand and a sea of ​​breathtaking beauty. Among other things, it is a beach also suitable for families, very well kept. Being inserted inside the park of the same name in Manuel Antonio, access to this beach is subject to a fee. These are not exorbitant rates, you can pay both in US dollars and obviously with the local currency (the Costa Rican Colon). This expense is used to support the maintenance of the naturalistic area, so you are happy to pay it.

Not having accommodation facilities on the beach, the suggestion is to bring a packed lunch .

What to see in Manuel Antonio National Park

What then in reality, if you decide to take an excursion inside the Manuel Antonio National Park, you probably might not notice the monkeys, since there are almost 300 different species of animals.

If you are a bird watcher , Manuel Antonio National Park could be the right place for you, as there are 184 different species of birds. Among other things, the park managers have made available to tourists an online list of all the bird species present. It can be a fun game to check from that list how many you’ve managed to see live. The park can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 7 to 16.

The city center of Manuel Antonio is equipped to receive mass tourism and there are several accommodation solutions . It starts from simple rental apartments up to luxury hotels. The gastronomic offer is also interesting: in addition to the inevitable Costa Rican ceviche (a dish based on fish and seafood marinated in lemon), we suggest you enjoy the fresh fruit-based cocktails, which are another Costa Rican excellence .