Who doesn’t love a good day out at the beach? At least I do! The beach is the perfect place to forget about the stress of the city and all the things that keep us busy, and sometimes, about the things that put us in a bad mood. When we think about a beach, we think of refreshing ocean waves and sunbathing on a chair, while sipping on coconuts and delicious cocktails, enjoying the view and probably waiting for sunset hours in order to appreciate the different colors of the sky. Today, I’ve chosen for you, some of the strangest, yet gorgeous looking beaches around the world. These places are not your typical white sand/turquoise water ideal beaches. The beaches on this list will definitely make you jump out of your seat and look for ways to get to them. My number one pick is a place so colorful and surreal that it’ll make you think you’re stepping into a dreamland.
10. Chandipur – India
When people talk about beaches in India, they are likely to mention Goa, which is considered the ultimate destination for an Indian holiday by the water. However, the beach I chose is a 40 hour drive from Goa, in the northeastern part of the country. What makes Chandipur so interesting is that the water recedes significantly during the ebb tide, allowing people to walk up to five kilometers into the ocean – it’s as if people are walking on water. This phenomenon makes it possible for visitors to interact with creatures that they’d usually not see, unless they went for a snorkeling or diving trip. Some of the things they can find within this spot are: starfish, shells, and the horseshoe crab. If you are not a good swimmer or you never dare to go too far into the water, Chandipur is definitely worth visiting!
9. Red Sand Beach – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
If you’re serious about learning about the strangest beaches on Earth, you better get used to seeing different and exotic sand colors all around! Next on our list is a beach filled with red sand. This deep red color is a result of the high content of iron in it. If the red color is not striking enough, check out these guys who will be lounging under the sun with you: the sea lions! There’s a whole colony of them on the shores of Rabida Island – the one island in the galapagos with the red sand! Feel free to hang out and take selfies with them, but stay away if you spot a bull sea lion – he’s very loud and overprotective of his colony. The red of the sand on this island blends perfectly with the Galapagos Cactus and other rare trees, making up a landscape that you can’t find anywhere else!
8. Hot Water Beach – New Zealand
Imagine owning your own spa on the shores of a beautiful beach! This fantasy is a full reality on the shores of Hot Water Beach – a New Zealand natural wonder where an underground hot water river flows out to the surface of this golden sand beach. Every year, thousands of visitors come to the place to dig their own spa pool in the sand to relax and enjoy the majestic views surrounding them. The area is only accessible during low tide, but this will give you more than enough time to dig you own pool and relax with the steam from the hot water. The area has been well preserved by locals. In fact, some experts believe that the Hot Water Beach and the places surrounding it are some of the longest inhabited areas in New Zealand, with local tribes that have lived there for more than a thousand years! For that reason, they ask you not to eat or drink while you’re in the hot pools and of course, to keep the place tidy and clean.
7. Shell Beach – Western Australia
I guess the name is auto explanatory! Located in the Shark Bay Region, in Western Australia, this beach is fully covered with shells. With a length of 60 kilometers, this beach is so long that you can’t see where it ends. The cockle shell, which is the one on this beach, has easily survived thanks to the high salt levels in the water that made it difficult for predators to adapt and thrive in this environment. These shells form a kind of limestone called “coquina”, which used to be mined for the construction of buildings in neighboring cities. Luckily, the Shark Bay was declared a World Heritage Site and all the mining had to stop.
6. Papakolea – Hawaii, USA
5. Vaadhoo Island – Maldives
4. Giant’s Causeway Northern Ireland
3. Padar Island – Flores, Indonesia
2. Benagil Sea Cave Beach – Portugal
1. Hidden Grotto Beach – Mexico
