Photo courtesy of Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Deadmans Beach on Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands: one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
What is defines a beautiful beach? For some, it'sthe whitenessof the sand and the clarity of the water. For others,it's theruggedness of the coastand the power of thewaves.For others,it'sthe beauty of the people sitting along theshore.When it comes to beaches, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
So I decided to pollsome of the most astute judges out there: superstar travel photographers and Instagrammers who make it their business to showcase beautiful places. I tapped into 20women whose taste and judgement I trust to find out what they think are the most gorgeousbeaches in the world. Naysayers will argue that many stunnershave been left off (feel free to add your favorites in the comments section). But say what you will: There's no denying the beauty of the 27 places that made thislist.
Photo courtesy of laura_austin/Instagram
Along the bright blue shores of Tulum, Mexico.
Where: Tulum, Mexico
Who: With wanderlust running through her veins, photographer Laura Austin is someone you cant help but watch. After growing up in small mountain towns in Colorado and Vermont, she is currently based in Los Angeles. The contrast of her roots in nature and the urban environment where she lives now forcesAustinto constantly escape the city and explore. Follow her on Instagram:@laura_austin
Why: From yoga retreats to trendy beach bungalows, it is the perfect mix of luxury and adventure with the most beautiful crystal-clear blue water and white-sand beaches.
Photo courtesy of @girleatworld
Boracay White Beach in the Philippines.
Where: Boracay White Beach, Philippines
Who: Melissa Hie is a user-experience designer who caught the travel bug a few years ago. She also loves eating and has found the perfect medium to combine the two through Instagram. While not a photographer by trade, she has been interested in photography since young age and is fascinated by "bokeh. Her love for photography took off once she got her hands on an iPhone five years ago. Follow her on Instagram: @girleatworld
Why: If you are looking for a quiet white beach with clear blue water, Boracay is not the place for you. And that's exactly why I picked this place. Don't be mistaken, the soft white sand and the clear blue water are there, but what makes Boracay stand out to me is that the White Beach is lined up with cool restaurants, chic cafe, clubs, water sports activities and hotels, just steps away from the beach. It really makes a quick post-lunch dip in the clear blue water very convenient, and you never run out of things to do!
Photo courtesy of @laurenepbath/Instagram
Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday islands of Australia.
Where: Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia
Who:Lauren Bath is a chef turned photographer, thanks to her early success on Instagram. After quitting her job in 2013,shelaunched full force into a travel careerandalso writesand has become involved with project management and education. With her unique approach, Bathis able to tap into the all-important dreaming phase of holiday planning.Follow her on Instagram:@laurenepbath
Why: I find it difficult to articulate what I love about the beach, as Ive grown up by the sea and it feels as much a part of me as any other part of me. I feel the power of the tides and the waves, the salt air permeates my home and the subtle sounds of the ocean filter through to me as I sleep. Despite all of my travels and my love of the mountains and deserts, I know Im only home when the beach is close by.
Photo courtesy of @theashleygraham/Instagram
Ashley Graham at Six Senses Zil Pasyon in the Seychelles.
Where: Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles
Who: Ashley Graham is a leader for the bodypositivity movement, a business-savvy entrepreneur who designs lingerie, dresses and swimwear, a sought-after television personality and an author. Her book,A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty & Power Really Look Like,was recently published by Dey Street Books. Follow her on Instagram:@theashleygraham
Why: The beaches in the Seychelles atSix Senses Zil Pasyonare some of the most stunning Ive ever seen. The atmosphere is exotic and peaceful with the pure white sand and incredibly bright blue sea water, almost so picturesque that it looks like a stage set for a tropical island.
Photo courtesy of @eggcanvas/Instagram
Strolling on Sugar Beach in St. Lucia.
Where: Sugar Beach, St. Lucia
Who:Erica Choi is a New York City-based digital art director, photographer and blogger. She is the founder of Egg Canvas, a visual journal conveying an array of lifestyle stories spanning fashion, beauty, hospitality and travel. Her experience as a graphic designer in the luxury industry has led Choi to continuously develop a keen sense of refined aesthetic, and she hopes to communicate this sensibility through her style, content and work.Follow her on Instagram:@eggcanvas
Why: Sugar Beach is situated between the UNESCO World Heritage Pitons, and provides a sense of isolation and calm, but community at the same time. We stayed in a beach-front bungalow at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, where we were able to wake up to the sound of the waves and go to bed at night before taking a dip in a private Jacuzzi in our courtyard. Every day felt like a scene from a movie.
Photo courtesy of @izkiz/Instagram
Blue Lagoon in ldeniz, Turkey.
Where: Blue Lagoon, ldeniz, Turkey
Who: Jennifer Tuffen is a British Instagrammer, travel blogger and content creator who works on campaigns with major brands, tourism boards and hotels around the world. Jennifer loves taking photos and showing the beauty of the world around her in her own unique, colorful way. She started photography as a hobby and is now one of the top travel Instagrammers with more than 2.7 million followers. Follow her on Instagram: @izkiz
Why: One of the most beautiful beaches Ive been to and probably one of the best beaches in the world is the Blue Lagoon in ldeniz, Turkey. The area is a well-known paragliding spot and youll see them floating all over the azure sky above you like colorful birds. just so I could take photos of the Blue Lagoon from above. The picture-postcard beach, with its turquoise blue and emerald green shades, makes it the perfect place to take a dip.
Photo courtesy of @taramilktea/Instagram
Miami's South Beach from above.
Where: South Beach, Miami
Who:Tara Whiteman is an Asian-Australian traveler, designer, creative and Instagram star who is also known as Tara Milk Tea. She showcases her love of travel, food and fashion via Instagram, herblog, an online store and collaborations with companies that share her passions, including some of the world's best-known travel brands. Follow her on Instagram:@taramilktea
Why: South Beach in Miami is exciting, colorful and most definitely beautiful. The rainbow, art deco architecture that lines this beach has its own charm, and you can bike ride along the path to see the Miami locals, who are quite possibly the most tanned, topless and muscly people you'll ever see. Flying over South Beach is one of the best ways to see this Miami gem and I did exactly that.
Photo courtesy of @alysscampanella/Instagram
Alyssa Campanella on Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara.
Where: Butterfly Beach, Santa Barbara
Who:Alyssa Campanella Coombs is a style and travel editor atThe A List, as well as a former Miss USA. Since her site launched in 2014, she has traveled all over the world with her husband, actor Torrance Coombs, on behalf of The A List, which is alifestyle blog andone-stop destination on the most sought-after in fashion, travel and beauty.I love keeping my readerson their toes as they're welcomed into my feminine and fast-paced world across the globe."Follow her on Instagram:@alysscampanella
Why:For our one-year wedding anniversary trip to Belmond El Encanto this past April, we knew a beach escape to one of Santa Barbaras beaches would be the best choice. Still centrally located, Butterfly Beach is much less crowded than other Santa Barbara beaches, which made it feel extra private. Stay for the sunset its the perfect combination of serenity and romance.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon on Deadmans Beach on Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands.
Where:Deadmans Beach, Peter Island, British Virgin Islands
Who: Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon is a Caribbean travel expert, award-winning travel journalist, TV personality and self-described Carivangelist, who ventures to the beach and beyond to share the diverse cultures, relaxed lifestyle and colorful people of the worlds favorite warm-weather destination. Follow her on Instagram:@JetSetSarah
Why: One of five strands on Peter Island (a private-island resort in the British Virgin Islands), ; punctuated with thatch-roofed palapas; and blessed with cool breezes most of the day. Ive only visited twice, but I have a photo taken of me on the sand printed on the back of my business cards. So now wherever in the world I am, I only have to pull one out to feel as if Im there.
Photo courtesy of @meg_haywoodsullivan/Instagram
Imsouane Plage in Morocco.
Where:Imsouane Plage, Morocco
Who: Meg Haywood Sullivan is a professional photographer and environmentalist who splits her time between shooting campaigns with brands and pushing for environmental stories through editorial features and her social platforms. With one foot in the outdoor industry and another in the realm of the commercial/fashion world Sullivans clients include Patagonia, KEEN, Clif Bar, The New York Times and more. She currently is working on various projects exploring mankinds relationship with the great outdoors.Follow her on Instagram:@meg_haywoodsullivan
Why:Imsouane Plage in Morocco is nicknamed Magic Bay" by the locals for a reason it has one of the longest waves I have ever surfed, plus the gorgeous backdrop of mountains cascading to the beach. Imsouane is a must-see for all those adventure-seeking world travelers out there who want a dose of culture mixed with remote paradise.
Photo courtesy of @carly/Instagram
Carly Heitlinger on Steps Beach in Nantucket.
Where:Steps Beach, Nantucket
Who: CarlyHeitlingeris a New England-based influencer who started her blog in 2008. She covers style, travel and New England lifestyle. Anything that shed share with her close friends, she shares with her fans, whether its a trip she just went on, a great sale that cant be missed, a documentary or book she loved, a personal challenge shes gone through or simply an outfit she thought was particularly cute. Follow her on Instagram:@carly
Why: I have yet to find one that I dont love each has a unique feel but Steps Beach is a favorite of mine. Steps Beach is best reached by bike, which you get complimentary if you are a guest at any of the Nantucket Island Resorts: White Elephant Village, The Wauwinet and The Cottages at the Nantucket Boat Basin. This beach is a little more secluded due to a steep descent to the sand, but its worth the climb down and up. A great spot to enjoy a picnic or to watch the sunset.
Photo courtesy of @krystal_bick/Instagram
The beach at Curtain Bluff in Antigua.
Where:Curtain Bluff, Antigua
Who: This Time Tomorrow is the discerning girls destination for all things style, travel, art, dating and New York City related. And probably a few other rambling (and hopefully amusing) mishaps along the way, told through the eyes of Krystal Bick, a lifelong West Coaster now living in the West Village with her corgi Elvis. You can find them on an given Saturday reading a book in Washington Square Park.Follow her on Instagram: @krystal_bick
Why: Beaches are quiet and tucked away beautifully unassuming and intimate in every way. And the water? Don't get me started on the water. It's like walking out into a warm, inviting bath, with the sun waiting to dry you off the minute you step out.
Photo courtesy of @bearleaderchronicle/Instagram
St. Ives beach in Cornwall.
Where: St. Ives, Cornwall
Who: While some are born to royalty, Daniela Stallinger was born to travel. At just three weeks of age, she took her first international flight and by her early teens had a well-worn passport. Choosing photography as a career, Stallinger was naturally drawn to travel as a photographic genre and has worked around the world on assignment. She is also the founder of Bearleader Chronicle, a travel site that looks beyond the obvious to discover hidden gems. Follow her on Instagram: @bearleaderchronicle
Why: An easy trip from London on the sleeper train from Paddington Station, because if its unique light, lush nature, golden beaches and the quintessential English village life. From spring to fall, the beach features all manner of surf activities, along with an ever-curious seal population. Romantic beach walks at low tide in the fall and winter, capped off with a lovely cup of tea and biscuits cant be beat.
Photo courtesy of Brooke Brady Photography
Andrea Pion of A Slice o' Pi at the Ocean House beach in Rhode Island.
Where: Ocean House Beach, Rhode Island
Who: Andrea Pionof A Slice o' Pi isa lifestyle and style blogger, who is a lover of all things delicious, pretty and New York City. She moved to New York in 2013 and created A Slice o' Pi as a place to document all the things that defineher.This is a slice of herlife, along with the places and things sheloves and cherishes the most.Follow her on Instagram: @asliceopi
Why: Greeted by a warm sandy beach and crystal-clear waters that can compete with the Caribbean, every square inch of the hotel will tug on your heart strings. I love the exclusive privacy thatOcean House guests receive whether walking the beach collecting New England seashells or relaxing underneath the resort'sBose-powered cabanas, which are outfitted in bright Lilly Pulitzer prints. With it being only a short three-hour train ride away from Manhattan, it's the perfect East Coast getaway.
Photo courtesy of @meagancignoli/Instagram
The wide open Jamaica Inn beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Where: Jamaica Inn Beach, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Who: Meagan Cignoli is the founder and creative director atVisual Country, a full-service creative video production agency specializing in creating micro video content for social media and TV. The company that began in her Brooklyn apartment now counts Google, Coca Cola, Nike, Tiffany & Co, Twitter and hundreds of other major brands as clients. Cignoli more recently has prioritized travel into her busy lifestyle. Not only do I gather inspiration from new destinations, but it reinvigorates my entire creative process, she says.Follow her on Instagram:@meagancignoli.
Why:My first visit to Jamaica did not disappoint. The entire island is magical.Jamaica Innin Ocho Rios is one of those marvelous colonial-style Caribbean resort with no TVs, radios or clocks in the rooms so distractions are minimal. The inn is situated on a private cove with a 700-foot private white sand beach considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. The water is calm in the morning if you want to try stand up paddleboarding or go snorkeling. The best part of my room was direct ocean access, where I started and ended each day with a dip in the crystal blue water.
Photo courtesy of @lesleyannmurphy/Instagram
LesleyMurphy on Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico.
Where: Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
Who: Lesley Murphy is a travel journalist, TV personality and blogger based out of an overweight suitcase, who travels the world for a living.She is the founder of TheRoadLesTraveled, a site that reveals her crazy adventures around the world, from getting lost in the culture of people and how they move, to what they eat and how they make a living. Lesley enjoys discovering what makes a destination tick. Follow her on Instagram:@lesleyannmurphy
Why: A big portion of Dorado is beautifully calm and good for snorkeling or paddle boarding, thanks to the rock barrier that acts as a wave breaker put in place years ago by the Rockefellers when the family turned a plantation into the Caribbean's first luxury eco-resort, now called Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Another unique aspect is the Rockefeller Nature Trail that goes through forests and alongside the beach to show off the island's diverse flora and fauna. And I can't forget the hammocks that overlook the beaches an unreal spot to watch some of the most dramatic sunsets I've ever seen.
Photo courtesy of @sophiehellyer/Instagram
Cala Goloritz, Sardinia.
Where: Cala Goloritz, Sardinia
Who:Sophie Hellyer is a surfer and environmentalist living on the west coast of Ireland. Sophie started and runsThe Green Roomsurf school and shop as a toolforenvironmental and social activation. Inher sparetime, you will always find her near a body of water, body surfing,swimming, surfing or paddle boarding. Rarely seen onland. Follow her on Instagram: @sophiehellyer
Why: I have travelled to some amazing places around the world, but when asked which is the most beautiful beach I can answerCala Goloritz without flinching. There is a 143-meter pinnacle, making it a paradise for climbers, resembling something from the movie UP and an archway to the right of the beach to swim through or jump off for the more adventurous. I think it is the only beach I have been to in my life where there was no visible plastic pollution; the Sardinian government seem to do a lot to preserve and protect it from human damage, declaring it a national monument and aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
Photo courtesy of @jetsetchristina/Instagaram
Christina Vidal on Pelican Point Beach in California's Half Moon Bay.
Where:Pelican Point, Half Moon Bay, California
Who:Christina Vidal is the California-based luxury travel blogger behind JetsetChristina. She's been to 55 countries and countingand her swoon-worthy Instagram shots are all about enjoying the finer things in life. "My perfect day involves brunching, beaching, sailing, sunsets and champagne," she says. "Life is short, but vacations are shorter. I try to inspire people to live up every moment of travel to the very fullest." Follow her on Instagram: @jetsetchristina
Why: , because despite being only 30 minutes south of San Francisco, it transports you to a world away. Stepping foot onto The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, I felt as if I had flown to Scotland. There were waves crashing against majestic, rugged cliffs, people roasting marshmallows over bonfires, and even a bagpiper playing music at sunset. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever set foot on.
Photo courtesy of @stacieflinner/Instagram
A view of Playa Redondo from Belmond Miraflores Park in Peru.
Where: Playa Redondo, Lima, Peru
Who: Stacie Flinneris an interior decorator and founder of stacieflinner.com, a premier online destination for travel and design inspiration. Currently on a year-long, around-the-world trip, Flinneris dedicated to discovering and sharing the most beautiful places and spaces in the world.Follow her on Instagram:@stacieflinner
Why: Lima's beachfront has something for everyone, from day trippers looking to sun themselves on El Silencio's miles of white sand to expert surfers looking to ride the biggest waves Peru has to offer at Pico Alto Beach. When staying at Belmond Miraflores Park, I enjoyed a privileged position overlooking Playa Redondo. I loved the beach, as it offered the perfect way to capture both the beauty of the glamorous neighborhood and Lima's dramatic coastline.
Photo courtesy of Susan Portnoy @insatiabletraveler/Instagram
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The 27 Most Beautiful Beaches In The World - Forbes
