Some of My Favorite Beaches
I’ve compiled a short and diverse list of some of my favorite tropical beaches from different parts of the world. I could have easily made an extensive list loaded with places from Brazil and Thailand alone, but I wanted to mix it up a bit here.
These aren’t necessarily the most famous beaches I’ve visited. They’re places that stood out to me because of the scenery, water, atmosphere or simply the experience I had there.
If you’re particularly interested in learning more about Brazil’s beaches, check out some of my other posts about places like Pipa, Itacaré, Arraial do Cabo and Búzios. You won’t be disappointed!
Coconut Beach
Port Barton, Philippines
The best part about this beach might be getting there.
In Port Barton, you can rent a kayak from the main beach and cruise the quiet coastal waters to Coconut Beach, which is lined with swaying coconut trees. The paddle itself becomes part of the experience and takes you away from the small town into a much more rural tropical setting. Kayaking, walking and riding a scooter are all ways travelers reach the beach.
I prefer the kayak method, especially as the sun begins to set. The sunsets are absolutely dreamy here.
The sand is very soft — probably the softest I’ve ever felt. To top it off, there are friendly pigs and some stray dogs that roam the beach. They aren’t invasive at all; rather, they add character to the entire atmosphere.
Praia dos Golfinhos
Pipa, Brazil
Praia dos Golfinhos is one of the beaches that made Pipa so memorable for me.
The setting is gorgeous: a long stretch of tropical coastline backed by dramatic stone cliffs and greenery, with the Atlantic stretching out in front of you. Part of the experience is simply walking along Pipa’s shoreline to reach it, watching the scenery gradually change as you move away from the busier parts of town.
But the dolphins are obviously what make this beach special.
During my visit, I was swimming when dolphins appeared surprisingly close to me in the water. Seeing them from shore would have been memorable enough, but actually being in the ocean while they swam nearby turned an already beautiful beach into one of my favorite coastal experiences in Brazil.
Even without the dolphins, the cliffs, tropical vegetation and relatively undeveloped scenery would make Praia dos Golfinhos stand out. With them, it’s a hard place to forget. You can read more about the beach and the rest of the area in my complete guide to Pipa, Brazil.
Phra Nang Cave Beach
Ao Nang, Thailand
I can’t say enough about this gorgeous little paradise. It’s just stunning. The calm, warm turquoise water is the perfect temperature, accompanied by soft sand, towering limestone cliffs and an overhang that you can explore and swim beneath.
The dramatic limestone landscape is characteristic of this part of Krabi, and the combination of cliffs, caves and clear water is what makes Phra Nang feel so distinctly tropical.
I recommend arriving early in the morning to experience the tranquility before the crowds arrive and to choose a nice spot to station yourself and your belongings. It’s a popular beach and relatively small. I’m not quite sure if as many monkeys are still around, but there’s always a chance of a sighting here and there.
TIP: Check out Railay Viewpoint for a nearby hike with great views.
Tayrona National Park
Magdalena, Colombia
Tayrona National Park is a utopia of beaches and truly wondrous. Here, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta meet the Caribbean, creating a landscape of jungle-covered hills, rocky coastline, blue water and secluded beaches. It was one of many highlights from my time in the Colombia, where I spent 9 months over the course of a couple years.
It’s the only place I’ve ever been where I felt completely one with nature. I explored a restricted and abandoned beach with monstrous waves that were definitely not suitable for swimming. The experience was surreal: witnessing the sheer power of the ocean beside the jungle, completely alone, screaming, “I’m the king of the world!” at the top of my lungs.
Some of the park’s beautiful beaches and coastal areas include:
- La Arenilla
- Punta Las Gaviotas
- La Piscina — ideal for snorkeling
- Cabo San Juan
- Bahía Neguanje
- Gayraca
- Playa Cristal
- Bahía Cinto
Not every beach in Tayrona is safe for swimming, so pay attention to local warnings and designated swimming areas. The park itself contains beaches, coral formations, mangroves, coastal lagoons and multiple types of tropical forest in a remarkably compact area.
Cancún’s North-Facing Beaches
Quintana Roo, Mexico
The north-facing portion of Cancún’s Hotel Zone has a noticeably different feel from the long Caribbean-facing stretch farther south.
The water here is generally calmer because of its more sheltered position toward Bahía de Mujeres and Isla Mujeres, while the eastern side of the Hotel Zone is much more exposed to Caribbean waves. The water is a gorgeous turquoise color, and the sand is extremely soft, native to the area.
The eastern side, however, has undergone major restoration over the years, particularly after Hurricane Wilma devastated its beaches in 2005. Millions of cubic meters of sand were subsequently used to restore heavily eroded sections of the Hotel Zone.
I stayed at the InterContinental, which gave me convenient access to this particular stretch of beach. The surrounding hotel properties keep the area exceptionally maintained, and during my stay it felt considerably calmer than some of Cancún’s busier beaches.
Many of you are probably wondering why Isla Mujeres isn’t on my list. Sadly, I’ve never been there — which is the only reason for its absence.
On another note, If you’re heading farther south along the Riviera Maya, I also wrote about my experience scuba diving around Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
