There’s nothing like a heatwave to get you in the mood for a trip to the beach. Paired together, sand and sea offer the perfect way to relax in the sunshine. From white beaches in Tahiti to a seasonal beach in Colorado, grab your towel and discover five scenic beaches around the world.
Five Worldwide Beaches for Sun, Sand and Sea
Playa de Patacona – Valencia, Spain
In Valencia, travellers can combine rich culture, phenomenal food and golden beaches into one perfect city break. This east-coast city’s Mediterranean sands get the morning sun before almost anywhere else in Spain, and the sea is warm enough for swimming as early as April and as late as November. Within easy reach of the city centre, Patacona beach is the best in the city for a quiet and tranquil experience. As the sun rises over the Mediterranean, rest amongst the palm trees and watch horseback riders trot past.
Tigertail Beach – Florida’s Paradise Coast
With 30 miles of award-winning coastline, Florida’s Paradise Coast – Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – and its beaches can be enjoyed year-round with the ever-felt sunshine and glistening gulf water. Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach is a truly unique spot due to its sand bar shape and access route, either around the lagoon or through shallow waters. Once on the beach, visitors can enjoy the pristine white sands and clear waters, or go shelling or kayaking. It’s also a popular bird-watching spot, listed in the Great Florida Birding Trail Guide as one of the best all-around birding locations in Southwest Florida.
Yonehara Beach – Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
An island beach in Southern West Okinawa, Yonehara beach is a wild oasis ideal for keen snorkelers and lovers of nature. Situated on Ishigaki, known for its sandy beaches and coral reefs, the island is home to dense jungle landscapes as well as the largest mountain in the Okinawa Prefecture. Of the area’s coastline, Yonehara is one of the nicest, free to access, and has facilities such as showers and equipment hire. Enjoy the peak of summer between April and November for the best and safest weather to swim in.
Toaroto Beach – The Islands of Tahiti
Located 30-minutes west of Papeete, Toaroto Beach is one of the island’s best stretches of white sand, and its protected waters make it sensational for most beach activities including paddleboarding, snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing. The beach is conveniently located near a park with public showers and restrooms as well as several restaurants nearby.
Medano Creek – Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
Medano Creek at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a secluded swimming beach in Colorado. Every spring, the gentle flowing Medano Creek emerges from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind the pristine sand dunes. Forming an oasis for travellers wanting to build sand castles and cool off in the waters, popular activities include swimming, sand sculpting and discovering the famous sand dunes. Travellers need to be quick, as come late August the oasis disappears for another year.
