Most times when you need to relax and take your mind off the busy schedules in your daily life, you need to go to the beach and have a good time. Given the opportunity, you would like a place that will leave you with awesome experiences and memories.
What are the most unique beaches in the world? Most beaches across the world have unique features and characteristics that make them stand out among the rest. In this article we’ll go through the most unique beaches in the world and why you should try them.
Most Unique Beaches In The World
#1. Jokulsarlon Beach, Iceland
Jokulsarlon is a large glacial lake on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. The lake that’s considered to be the deepest in Iceland, over 248 meters is home to one of the most bizarre beaches you’ll ever see.
Due to the continuous melting of nearby glaciers, it’s constantly increasing in size, and it’s now 4 times the size it was in the ’70s. With the constant supply of icebergs floating in the water, the geographical features that form here are awesome. More spectacular is the diamond beach, which’s made up of fine particles of black volcanic rock.
#2. Pfeiffer Beach, California
Pfeiffer Beach is on the coastline of Big Sur California and is one of the most unusual beaches in the world. Rather than having white or golden yellow sand the deposits, there has a distinct purple coloration to them which leads to the formation of some incredible shapes and patterns.
Not all of the sand is this color which further adds to its beauty. The waves continually move it around and no 2 days are ever the same. This makes it among the most unique beaches in the world.
The beach is accessible throughout the year but for a particularly special time, it is best seen during sunrise or sunset.
#3. Pinks Sand Beach, Bahamas
The Bahamas are known for their incredible weather, water, and beaches but there is one place that has become famous because of the way it stands out from the rest. On the coastal Harbour Island is a beach where instead of being white or golden yellow, the sand has a slight pink tint in it.
This effect is present along the entire 3 miles long and 100 ft wide beach and it happened because of a specific species of animal that lives on the reef called Foraminifera. These microscopic insects feed off the coral that has shells that are either bright pink or red. Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas is among the best beaches in the world, and a trip to this beach just needs to be on your bucket list.
#4. Hot Water Beach, New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and with such mountainous and lush landscapes it’s no wonder so many movies choose it as the place for filming. There’s far more to the country other than the peaks and forests, and the hot water beach which is in the Coromandel Peninsula is one of the most common tourist destinations.
Located just 100 miles from the city of Oakland, it’s estimated that more than 700,000 people take a trip there each year.
New Zealand is covered in hotspots of geothermal vents and that is what causes the unique environment on this beach. The beach offers one of the best interactions visitors can have with hot springs. You can dig into the sand and release hot water and create your pool.
If you love digging holes in the beach and relaxing in hot geothermal waters there is nowhere else in the world that’s quite like it, and this makes it among the most unique beaches in the world.
#5. Star Sand Beach, Japan
At first, when you walk across the beaches of Taketomi island in Japan, you might not think there is anything too different from other beaches you’ve visited. But if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that this beach is one of the most unusual in the world. That is because you’ll find mixed in with the sand particles are husks of millions and millions of tiny organisms known as Foraminifera.
If you pick up just a small handful of sand you’ll have hundreds of stars in your hand which is why this place is commonly referred to as the star sand beach. This is not the only beach in the area you can see this although it the largest that’s among the most unique beaches in the world. Next time someone asks you if there are more grains of sand on the beach or stars in the sky then remember Star Sand Beach in Japan.
#6. Benagil Sea Cave Beach, Portugal
Well, if you’ve been searching for somewhere with crystal clear waters, perfect sand, and isolation from the rest of the world then the Benagil Sea Cave Beach, Portugal is your ideal location. It’s in Algarve and thanks to the soft rock formation in the area the tidal forces have curved incredible structures with arches and giant skylight with the beach nested inside.
It provides the perfect relaxing experience. When the sun shines in it illuminates the amber hues on the layered walls making it among the most unique beaches in the world. It’s kind of special because you can’t just walk there, you have to access it through one of the archies in the sea. This means you need a kayak or a boat to get there. The place is never overcrowded on any given day making it a perfect getaway.
#7. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
If you are looking for crystal white sands and turquoise-colored water then there is simply no better place in the world to visit than the Whitehaven beach which is among the most unique beaches in the world. The 4.3 miles long stretch of coastline is located on Whitsunday Island.
While you are allowed to have a barbeque as long as you won’t leave any trash on the beach, dogs and smoking is banned to prevent the sand from becoming tarnished.
#8. The Bomb Blast Beach, Mexico
Most beaches have been formed over thousands of years as the action of the waves crashing against the coast, there is one in Mexico that was created just recently, and rather than being a cause of nature this one is as a result of human activities.
Located on Puerto Vallarta on the Marieta Islands which are just a few miles off the coast of Mexico, Playa Del Amor which means the love beach has become quite popular over the last few years thanks to its stunning visitors. The island used to be a testing ground for the Mexican Military and a detonation of a bomb created a crater and the only way to access it is by a short swim through a tunnel.
While you are there you’ll witness countless different species of marine wildlife like whales and dolphins making it one of the most unique beaches in the world.
With such escalating interest from visitors who want their chance to relax on this secluded island the government has stepped in to ensure the beach is preserved, you need a permit to travel to the island and the numbers granted each year is limited. If you are lucky enough to get one, this is guaranteed to be an experience that you won’t forget.
#9. Zlatni Rat Beach, Croatia
Also known as the golden cape, Zlatni Rat Beach is one of the best beaches you can visit in the Mediterranean, and amazingly each time you go it will be slightly different. That’s because the coastline is subjected to strong ocean currents that are continually reshaping it.
Most of the land is covered in white pebbles to form a 2084 ft long beach, but in the center, there is a pine growth that conceals the remains of a Roman villa and it’s still operating a swimming pool. Surrounded by cool waters, this beach is one of the most unique beaches in the world making it a perfect place to relax when temperatures soar.
#10. Cathedral Beach, Spain
It may seem like an unusual name for a beach, but once you see it you’ll understand. It is located on the North-Western coast of Spain. In the local language, it’s known as Praia de Augas Santas, which means beach of the holy waters. The forces of the Atlantic ocean have curved the rocks in a way that looks almost like gothic architecture.
The Cathedral beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, during low tide you can walk through but during high tide, the area is completely covered underwater.
#11. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles
Often voted the most beautiful and unique beaches in the world, and easily one of the most photographed, Anse Source D’Argent is truly a paradise. Located on the island of La Digue in Seychelles it’s surrounded by emerald clear warm waters and has fine perfectly white sand.
The thing that makes this place truly unique is the presence of huge granite boulders along the shoreline that has been smoothened by the action of the waves and the sand that is blown by the wind and they look magical. This place is so magical that once you visit, you’ll never feel like leaving it.
#12. Papakolea Beach, Hawaii
When you think of an ideal beach, you’ll probably picture perfectly white or golden yellow sand. But have you ever thought of green beaches? The most impressive beach can be found in Hawaii, Papakolea beach is in a bay that is formed by a volcanic cone that was formed around 49000 years ago.
Rather than being a result of algae or dye, the sand is this unusual color because it has been formed by naturally green rocks. When volcanos erupt they release various minerals, the most common of which is olivine which contains both iron and magnesium, it crystallizes as magma cools and this is what gives the green color because the iron is present in various forms. This makes it one of the most unique beaches in the world.
#13. Glass Beach, California
Normally, we think of a beach as being made of sand or stones, but there is one in California that’s completely different as it is completely covered in glass.
Located close to Fort Bragg, this is as a result of years of garbage disposal along the nearby coastline. The crashing waves ponder the glass and turn them into small smooth rounded pieces when they have washed ashore, the beach is therefore completely safe to walk along and a vibrant blend of color and jewelry makers often go there to collect parts for their designs.
It’s such a beautiful place that more than a thousand people visit the beach daily during the summer months.
#14. Vaadhoo Beach, Maldives
Also known as the sea of stars, Vaadhoo beach is one of the most interesting places in the world. The sparkling beach of Maldives is a result of a natural phenomenon known as bioluminescence.
The island itself is tiny with less than 500 permanent residents but it’s one of the most popular places in the Maldives due to this naturally occurring phenomenon. The glow is a defensive measure and it’s triggered by nearby movement. This means that even a crash of the waves or even a soft press of a footprint is enough to trigger it. If you happen to be there in the evening or at night the effect is so inspiring.
This phenomenon is experienced in a few other beaches in the world in some seasons but in Vaadhoo it’s experienced all year round making it one of the most unique beaches in the world.
#15. The Red Sand Beach, Galapagos
The Galapagos Islands are well known for their unique biodiversity, but it’s not just the plants and the wildlife that are unusual, the geographical features are unlike anywhere else in the world too.
On Rabida island, thanks to its volcanic coastline the beaches aren’t covered with the white sands as you may expect, but they are covered in deep red color. This is because of the high levels of iron that are present after countless eruptions in the past.
It makes a stunning view across the surrounding water and if you ever make a trip there, you’ll find yourself in the good company of large herds of sea lions and flamingos making it one of the most unique beaches in the world.
Concussion
In this article, we have listed the top 15 most unique beaches in the world hoping it will help you decide on your next beach to visit and what to expect. Check out the most unique places you never knew existed.
