This year, it's decided: you won't be content with the usual white sand beach! You're not interested in the crowded coastline as soon as the sun comes out: you want to discover new horizons, new scenery. How about green, pink or even starry sand for sunbathing or colorful sandcastles? The beaches we've selected will astonish you with their unique landscapes, often in stark contrast to those of the most popular seaside resorts. From Australia to Spain to the Bahamas, they're all off the beaten track and promise an unparalleled experience for bathers and photographers alike. Here's our world tour of the most unusual beaches, for an unforgettable and original summer.
1. Maho Beach, between take-off and landing
Maho Beach, Saint-Martin© Solarysis - Shutterstock.com
This beach on the Dutch part of the island of Saint-Martin is well known for its proximity to Juliana airport: runway 10 is located just behind the bathers, who are brushed by every Boeing or Airbus arrival! It's an unusual sight and well worth the detour, but be careful on Maho Beach, as the jet engines blow hard, especially during take-off. What's more, we much prefer the smell of sun cream to that of kerosene!
2. Hot Water Beach, spa and beach
Hot Water Beach, New Zealand© Fotos593 - Shutterstock.com
If you're heading to Hot Water Beach, south of Hahei in New Zealand, don't forget your shovel, even if you're past the age of sandcastles! Here, bathers dig into the sand to access the hot springs and enjoy a veritable private spa. Beware, however, that temperatures can sometimes be very high and the beach very crowded. The secret quickly got out, and it's easy to see why!
3. Rábida Island, a red beach in the Galápagos
Red beach on Rabida Island, Galapagos© Don Mammoser - Shutterstock.com
This is one of the most beautiful places to see in the Galapagos Islands: Rábida, also known as Jervis, is a small uninhabited island in the Galapagos archipelago, south of Santiago Island. A veritable natural sanctuary with a rich and varied fauna, it boastsa red sand beach, probably due to its intense volcanic activity. When sea lions, pelicans and pink flamingos come to rest here, the spectacle is grandiose: you'd almost forget you were swimming!
4. Scala dei Turchi, a stairway to the sea
Scala dei Turchi, Sicily© nikolpetr - Shutterstock.com
Sicily is full of beauty, and Scala dei Turchi is one of them. The sea and erosion have carved out this geological curiosity in the form of a staircase over the sea at Porto Empedocle, making it one of the most unusual beaches in the world. The whiteness of the chalk glistens in the sunlight and contrasts sharply with the blue of the sea, creating a sumptuous backdrop. It's one of the favorite spots for Sicilians and visitors alike when the fine weather arrives, so opt for the end of the day to enjoy the tranquility of the site as the sun sets.
Discover also Sicily's 15 most beautiful beaches for swimming.
5. Pink sand beach, life in pink in the Bahamas
Pink Sand Beach, Bahamas© Gus Garcia
Pink sand beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas. Located on Harbour Island,its pink sand is the result of tiny corals and shells crushed and swept up by the ocean. In recent years, the pink beach has become a hit on social networks. But beware, its sand is not the bright pink you might think from some influencers' photos: it's actually reflections that are already very impressive.
See also our article What to do in the Bahamas? Top 13 must-do activities.
6. Papakolea, green sand in Hawaii
Papakolea beach, Hawaii© Christopher Mazmanian - Shutterstock.com
Papakolea beach in Hawaii has a special kind of sand: it's green! This color is due to olivine, a mineral found in the sand and derived from volcanic rocks. To get there, you'll have to take an extremely bumpy road that's virtually impassable by car. The 6 km round trip is best covered on foot. This beach is one of the jewels of the archipelago and one of the most unusual beaches in the world. Respecting its unique environment means ensuring its preservation over time.
7. Shell Beach, Australia's shell beach
Shell Beach, Australia© Anetta Waberska - Shutterstock.com
Shell Beach may look like a paradise beach with its crystal-clear waters, but its soil is downright intriguing! Indeed, at Shell Beach, one of the most beautiful places to see in Australia, you won't find white sand, but a succession of small shells for 60 km! This unusual landscape may not be the ideal place to lay down your towel, especially as it's not far from Denham, in Australia's shark-filled Shark Bay.
8. Giant's Causeway, a legendary beach
Giant's Causeway, Ireland© jcarillet (1)
The Giant's Causeway is one of Northern Ireland's most unusual beaches and one of the country's most intriguing natural sites. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these 40,000 basalt columns pointing out to sea form an almost surreal landscape. The Giant's Causeway is at the heart of many Irish legends: it is said to be the work of the giant Finn Mccool, who so impressed his main enemy that he made him run away, destroying the causeway in the process. Tempted? Check out our article on What to do in Ireland? The 17 most beautiful places to visit.
9. Hoshizuna-no-Hama, walking on the stars
Hoshizuna-no-Hama© Ryu K - Shutterstock.com
The island of Iriomote is one of the treasures to be seen on a trip to Japan. Located in the Ryuku archipelago, it is largely covered by jungle and boasts many wild beaches. Among them, Hoshizuma-no-Hama is an exception: its sand is not white, but starry. In fact, these little stars are the fossilized mineral shells of molluscs. Less dreamy, but just as beautiful!
Discover our article Visiting Japan in 15 days: the best itinerary to follow
10. Gulpiyuri, the little beach in the meadow
Gulpiyuri beach, Asturias© Migel - Shutterstock.com
If you weren't already convinced by our article encouraging you to visit Asturias, here's another good reason to discover this Spanish region: Gulpiyuri beach in Naves, one of the most unusual beaches in the world. Listed as a Natural Monument and reputed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, Gulpiyuri is particularly unusual for its location in the middle of the land. Fed by seawater through a fissure in the rock, it looks like an oasis in the middle of the prairie. A must-see in Asturias!
11. The secret beach of the Marieta Islands, Mexico
Nestled in a sort of open-air crater and flooded with sunshine, the secret beach of Mexico's Marieta Islands is a real hidden treasure. This artificial beach was unexpectedly created by the accidental explosion of a bomb during military testing last century. Surrounded by majestic cliffs and bathed by the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, this beach offers an enchanting and unique setting and is one of the most beautiful places to see and visit in Mexico.
12. The sea of stars on Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives
It's one of the most beautiful places in the Maldives and one of the most unusual beaches in the world: Vaadhoo Island offers a natural spectacle of exceptional beauty, not to be missed under any circumstances. The island is famous for its marine phytoplankton, which light up at night when the waves hit the beach. The sea is then covered with thousands of points of light, reminiscent of fireflies. It's as if the starry sky is reflected in the water, creating an almost unreal spectacle. In reality, these tiny organisms light up when stressed, and it's the movement of the waves on the shore that makes them glow with a bluish light. A magnificent sight to admire and photograph.
