A-C: Most Incredible Beaches Around The World

Here in the UK the school summer holidays are coming to an end; for some, they ended a while ago. With the busy autumn term ahead, the memories of fun family beach days will fade as the evenings draw in and the temperatures drop. But we’re not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. Oh no! We want to embrace every last sun-kissed wave, every last sunset over a calm sea, every last sandcastle, shell hunt and ocean swim that made our summer holidays simply the best ever!

This A-Z, over 9 days, showcases the very best, most incredible, add-to-bucket list beaches around the world – according to my travel blogging friends. Today we start with the letters A to C, showcasing beaches from Thailand, Easter Island, Cuba, the USA, Georgia, The Philippines, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and South Africa. Kick off your flip flops, pop on your sunglasses, relax on your lounger, and drink in these heavenly contributions …

A – Aonang Beach, Thailand

Thailand is famous for its beautiful beaches and its hard to choose one. Last year we travelled to Aonang, even though I have been to Thailand 3 times, this was my first visit to Aonang. Aonang is about an hours drive from Krabi and is on the mainland although many of the famous beaches are only a long boat ride away including Koh Phi Phi and Railway Beach.

Aonang is predominantly a backpacker haven and I was super concerned that it wouldn’t be suitable for the kids. How wrong was I? We found Aonang to be very family friendly and the beaches are just as lovely as some of the islands near by. I do suggest you walk down the beach a bit though as the water is a bit oily in the area where the boats come in and out. Its not the nicest but just a few hundred metres down the beach is lovely.

Submitted by, and thanks to, our3kidsvtheworld

A – Anakena Beach, Easter Island

While South Pacific Islands would conjure up an image of perfect white sand beaches with gently swaying palm trees, Easter Island is not exactly what you expect. Beach visit is not exactly a reason why visitors flock to Easter Island – most of the island is covered in volcanic rocks and dark sands.

However, there are two small beaches on Easter Island. While it is not known for the amazing Southern Pacific beaches, Anakena Beach is one of things to do in Easter Island. Here, you come face to face with several Easter Island moai stone heads on their respected platforms. Anakena Beach is one of the most recognized beaches in the world, thanks to its permanent residents.

Submitted by, and thanks to, The Round The World Guys

A – Ancon Beach, Trinidad, Cuba

Trinidad in central Cuba is a charming colonial town founded in the middle of the 1500s. The town has a lot going for it; colonial architecture, a vibrant nightlife, authentic restaurants, spectacular parks, swimming holes and nature. Despite these attractions,  I think Trinidad’s most impressive feature is its spectacular beach or playa, named Ancon. You can catch a bus to Ancon Beach in the center of town. It is about a 20-minute ride to one of the most beautiful honey coloured, crystal blue waters beach I’ve ever seen.

If you are looking for relaxing things to do in Trinidad, chill out at Ancon Beach with a local Crystal beer or a smooth Cuban rum poured into a chilled coconut…aahhh! Then rent a Hobbie Cat or a small boat and snorkel to the untouched reefs – some of the most pristine in the world – or explore surrounding, uninhabited islands.

Submitted by, and thanks to, Travels With Talek

B – Baker Beach, San Francisco, USA

Baker Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in San Francisco. You know it’s a gorgeous local spot when all of the couples getting married take their engagement and/or wedding photos here! It’s got amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day and is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The beach is dog-friendly and family-friendly though it can be NSFW in the areas closer to the bridge as nudity is permitted. Make sure you stop by this perfect spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean while on a trip to San Francisco!

Submitted by, and thanks to, The Adventures of Panda Bear

B – Batumi Beach, Batumi, Georgia

Batumi, the largest port city on the Republic of Georgia’s Black Sea Coast, is home to one of the most popular beaches in the Caucasus. A much-loved summer retreat during Soviet times, Batumi still draws large crowds during the warmer months and is known for its casinos and outlandish architecture.

Batumi Beach itself is a pebble beach with crystal blue waters, hemmed in by a wide promenade that is ideal for walking or bike riding. There are a number of notable buildings and sculptures located along the beachfront, including Ali and Nino, a reticulated metal statue that moves with the sea breeze.

Submitted by, and thanks to, Wander-Lush

B – Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is one of the 7,000 islands in the Philippines but it’s the one that is the most popular. For its beauty, cleanliness, and fine white sand. Boracay is a popular beach for parties, weddings, and water sports. Many locals and foreigners come to the Philippines just to get married! How can we blame them? This island is covered in white sand that doesn’t heat up even under a very hot sun. Once a year the beach will be covered in green algae. While some tourist gets disappointed with it, locals of Boracay believe that these green algae come around to clean the beach. When the algae dry, it turns into the fine sand that everybody loves.

Boracay is also popular for its water activities like snorkelling and scuba diving. The sunset right here which is perfect for those who love to chase the golden hour. Because of the number of tourists that are coming here, Boracay is getting pricey for Southeast Asia, but there is still a way to survive here on a budget.

NOTE: At the moment, Boracay is closed and is expected to be open again in October 2018 due to the huge number of local and foreign tourist coming here. The government ordered its massive cleaning and reconstruction of public areas.

Submitted by, and thanks to, A Mary Road

C – Coco Island, part of Rodrigues Island, Mauritius

A narrow band of soft white sand lapped by the clearest of azure-blue water encircles Coco Island. 354 miles east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, it’s known locally as Ile Aux Cocos. It’s a wonderful place to swim from and our trip included lunch and a short guided walk, where we learnt about the various species of birds that live on the island, some of which are endangered.

One of 18 islands that lie in the shallow lagoon encircled by coral it takes over an hour to get here by boat from the main island of Rodrigues, which gives you some idea just how big this magical lagoon is. Rodrigues Island is completely off the radar for most tourists, so visit now before everyone else discovers it! To protect the Coco Island and the birds living here, security guards live there 24/7 and access is limited and can only be arranged via the Rodrigues Island tourism office.

Submitted by, and thanks to, TravelWithKat

C – Cote D’or Beach, Praslin Island, Seychelles

Cote D’or in Anse Volbert was our favourite beach in Seychelles. Every beach we found was clean and safe, with turquoise waters edged with creamy vanilla sands. So what made this one stand out from the rest? Well firstly, the size of the beach made it easy to find a quiet spot. Secondly, the waters were shallow enough for a weak swimmer like me, and also blessed with some amazing snorkelling. Thirdly, thanks to a long line of palm trees, escaping to the shade after a dip in the water was easy. And lastly, thanks to its location in Anse Volbert, Cote D’or has a large number of fantastic shops and restaurants to choose from when you want something a little different to do. Paradise!

Submitted by, and thanks to, The Sabbatical Guide

C – Coffee Bay, South Africa

Last year we spent one month road tripping around South Africa, and the area we liked best was the Wild Coast, the stretch of coast between Port Elizabeth and Durban. If I were to choose one place to recommend in the whole Wild Coast, I would go for Coffee Bay – the beaches around this small backpacker hamlet really live up to the name of the whole coast. They are wild and windswept, places to enjoy surfing and dramatic rock formations, like the ‘Hole in the Wall’ pictured here. You can also hike along the coast for three days or more, staying at guesthouses and visiting Xhosa villages along the way. Coffee Bay is truly a wonderful beach to visit in South Africa, especially if you love nature and listening to the sound of the waves.

Submitted by, and thanks to, The Crowded Planet

Thank you to all our fabulous contributors. We hope you’ve enjoyed our trip around the world to some amazing beaches. Please come back tomorrow for our next instalment, D-F, that will visit Iceland, Barbados, Myanmar, Greece, El Salvador, Australia, Puerto Rico and the Maldives.