World's 50 best beaches (40-31)
40. Las Salinas, Ibiza, Spain
We're hoping that's sun cream ...
Some people like to party in Ibiza’s clubs. Others prefer to do it on the beaches.
Las Salinas, a 1,600-meter-long crescent of sand in the island’s southernmost tip, is the most happening beach of them all.
Music blasts from Las Salinas’ beach bars from morning till night, attracting some of the world’s most famous bodies, including the stick thin frames of Kate Moss and Jade Jagger.
Even if you don’t get to see them on Las Salinas, you probably won’t mind, since the beach is also a magnet for nude sunbathers.
Las Salinas can be reached by bus from Ibiza or by cycle from the city (11 kilometers from Ibiza and 25 kilometers from San Jose). It's a 10-minute drive from Playa d'en Bossa or Ibiza Town; www.ibiza-tourism.net.
39. Cape Maclear, Malawi
Only thing to fear in this lake -- angry fishermen.
Cape Maclear sits on the edge of Lake Malawi, a lake so large it feels like an ocean.
Thanks to an abundance of endemic fish species, the lake area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The beach, something of a hippie hangout, is linked to the town via a single dirt road lined with a handful of hostels and dive shops.
Beach bums love Cape Maclear for its diving, snorkeling and kayaking -- the water is free from brine, and there are no sharks or jellyfish.
From the bus station in Lilongwe, take a minibus to Monkey Bay. Flag down a pick-up to take you the rest of the way into Cape Maclear; www.capemaclear.co.za.
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38. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Great surfers, but not too many.
In the province of Eastern Cape, Jeffreys Bay has everything a beach needs.
Its legendary breaks attract the world’s top surfers to the annual Billabong Pro ASP World Tour surfing event. It’s rife with photo ops when migrating whales pass by the bay to give birth every season.
Nearby lagoons make ideal venues for water sports, such as boardsailing and canoeing. The Seekoei River Nature Reserve, a haven for rare birds, is close by. Its Blue Flag Beach status makes it attractive for holidaying families.
Best of all it feels uncrowded compared with other world-class beaches.
Jeffreys Bay Tourism (PTY) LTD, Shell Museum Complex, Da Gama Street, Jeffreys Bay; +27 42 293 2923; www.jeffreysbaytourism.org
37. Vilanculo Beach, Mozambique
Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique's only underwater national park, is nearby.
Lazy. Friendly. Scenic. What else do you want in a beach? How about great swimming?
The coral reefs and rich marine wildlife growing off the archipelago here create a forest beneath the sea, making Vilanculo one of the best diving destinations in the West Indian Ocean.
The small coastal town of Vilanculo has thatched huts lining the streets, a friendly local population and a plethora of laid-back bars and restaurants. It’s named after Gamala Vilanculo Mukoke, a local tribal chef -- many locals share the same surname.
Vilanculo Beach is eight kilometers from the airport by road. Transfers are available to and from the airport; www.vilanculos.co.za.
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36. Capo Sant’Andrea, Elba, Italy
Bonaparte knew a good thing when he saw it.
Looking at Elba today, it’s hard to imagine why Napoleon ever wanted to leave.
Almost all the beaches on the island are worth checking out, but if you want to make your Facebook friends really jealous, post some pictures of Capo Sant’Andrea.
At this inlet, the azure water is clear enough to see the seabed even in the deepest sections. Chestnut trees sweep right down to the coastline.
The inlet’s golden beaches are framed by softly sloping granite blocks -- natural sun beds that are taken over by sunbathers during summer.
From Porto Ferraio, take the ATL bus to Zanca. Information on bus timetables available from ATL (+39 0565 91 43 92).
35. Venice Beach, California, United States
Looks like a pull-up -- actually, it's the only way to get comfy in that thong.
Yes, the many gorgeous beaches of Orange County caught our eye, and we love nearby Santa Monica. But no trip to Los Angeles is complete without a visit to Venice Beach. The beachfront district is a SoCal institution and a freak show free-for-all.
Qi gong masseurs, hair braiders, fortune tellers and artists all jostle for tourist dollars along the four-kilometer Venice Boardwalk. It's been this way since the 1950s and 1960s, when it became a center for Los Angeles’ Beat generation poets.
Hang around the basketball courts in Venice and you might just spot the next NBA superstar -- street ball is famously intense at the outdoor, beach-side courts.
Take the 405 Freeway from either direction to Venice Boulevard. Exit West and drive until you reach sand. Parking is available at the end of Venice Boulevard, right on the beach. Or take a US$20 cab from the airport.
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34. Plage de Piémanson, France
Mingle with flamingos, Camargue horses and nudists.
With the Atlantic Ocean to its west, the Mediterranean to its south and the English Channel up north, France has no shortage of picturesque beaches.
For sheer scale, gloriously unspoilt wilderness and nude bathing, however, Plage de Piémanson ranks among the finest. Part of Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, this obscure beach has tawny sand that stretches forever.
Clear Mediterranean waves lap at the shore. Tourists roast under the sun, many of them French and German, some of them nude.
To get there, you’ll have to drive through colonies of pink flamingoes. Also keep an eye out for Camargue horses, an ancient breed of white horse native to the region that roams wild in the reserve.
33. Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson, New Zealand
Golden sands that really do glitter.
Golden sand and the highest rate of sunshine hours in New Zealand give Kaiteriteri Beach all the qualities of an idyllic seaside experience.
The gateway to magnificent Abel Tasman National Park, the beach is located at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. From here you can hike the area’s well-known walking tracks, swim, sunbathe, enjoy local seafood or hire a kayak to paddle around the many coves and lagoons that surround Kaiteriteri.
The golden color of the sand comes from a high quartz content, which produces a glittering, Midas-like effect.
Penguins, seals and dolphins are common, so make sure those camera batteries are fully charged.
A short drive from the Nelson Township and picturesque Motueka, Kaiteriteri is decidedly the best beach in the South Island.
Kaiteriteri is located in Abel Tasman National Park. www.abeltasman.co.nz
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32. Southwestern Beach, Koh Rong, Cambodia
Simple is best.
Koh Rong is easily one of the Gulf of Thailand’s most gorgeous islands, with 43 kilometers of beach.
On the southwestern side of Koh Rong you'll find a beach comprising 5,000 meters of untouched white sand fringed with palm trees and dazzling turquoise waters.
At the southernmost end of this beach are rocks where snorkelers swim with schools of colorful rabbitfish, sergeant fish and parrot fish.
From Sihanoukville, catch a boat to Koh Rong with any of the guesthouses on the island. The trip takes two to three hours. Monkey Island(southeast side Koh Rong; +855 81 830 991; monkeyisland-kohrong.com) or Paradise Bungalows (southeast side Koh Rong; +855 34 933 664) are based on the other side of the island, but can organize boat tickets and help hire fishing boats to the western side of the island.
Read more: 5 best Cambodian beaches
31. Skagen Beach, Denmark
When you tire of the 65-kilometer beach, head for the candy factory.
It’s easy to see why Denmark’s coastal town of Skagen became an artists’ colony in the 19th century.
The shore at Skagen is a 65-kilometer-long sandy ribbon that hugs the northern tip of the country. The picturesque landscape consists of milky white sand dunes, fairytale forests and wind-blown beaches.
At Grenen, the northernmost tip of Denmark, the seas of Kattegat and Skagerak meet, giving the sea a stormy, two-tone appearance.
Skagen’s waters are too cold for swimming for most parts of the year, but there are plenty of attractions nearby. These include an annual midsummer's eve bonfire on the sandy stretch of Skagen Sønderstrand, the Bolcheriet candy factory and Råbjerg Mile, the largest sand dune in Northern Europe.
For information visit www.skagen-tourist.dk.
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