When it comes to taking a break, the first thing I think about is a nice sandy beach in some sunny faraway tropical paradise. The Bahamas, Barbados, The Dominican Republic are places that immediately spring to mind.
There are, however, many places off the beaten track that have very underrated beaches. Here are a few of them for you to consider when planning your next trip away.
Camp Bay Beach in Roatan
Just 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras you will find the island of Roatan. Camp Bay Beach on the east end of Roatan unlike the more famous West Bay Beach is far from the major tourist hubs and therefore much quieter and serene. You still get the gorgeous views, warm crystal clear blue water and cool breezes of Roatan as well as the wonderful sandy beaches.
This beach is a great place to kick back and relax with a beer and some food from a local restaurant or get in the water and go snorkelling or scuba diving.
Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, The Bahamas
Made up of bits of coral, tiny rocks, broken shells and calcium carbonate from marine invertebrates, Pink Sands beach is a three-mile stretch of pale pink sandy heaven.
Harbour Island is where one of the top dive sites in the world called the Current Cut Dive is located. The Current Cut is a very fast, strong current that carries divers and snorkellers in a narrow 100-yard wide cut at up to 10 knots.
Varadero, Cuba
Varadero beach in Cuba is often referred to as the most beautiful beach in the world and has the most spectacular expanse of pure white sand anywhere in the Caribbean. Stretching over 35 km, walking on Varadero beach feels like you are walking on powdered sugar next to the crystal clear blue sea.
With little rain and low humidity, Varadero beach is the ideal beach destination all year round.
Curacao
With over 30 beaches, most of which are along the sheltered southwestern coast, Curacao is the Caribbean’s best-kept secret. With its calm and clear sea, beaches like Playa Kenepa, Playa Forti and Jan Thiel Beach make this an ideal location for snorkelling, scuba diving and windsurfing.
The Isles of Scilly
When discussing beaches of the world, I am sure that the beaches on the Isles of Scilly off England’s southwest coast wouldn’t be the first to be mentioned.
The Isles of Scilly are mostly uninhabited isles with beaches surrounded by turquoise waters which are popular sites for swimming, cliff jumping, snorkelling and sea safaris.
With frequent ferries running between the five main islands these stunning beaches are easily accessible all year round.