The World's 50 Best Beaches Aren't Exactly What You'd Expect

From remote sandbars only accessible at low tide to cliff-framed coves only reachable by hiking, the best beaches of 2026 span the world over. They also highlight a major theme: travelers are looking for places that aren’t crowded and still feel a little unconventional and unexpected. In fact, several beaches are within national parks, ensuring you won’t find towering hotels or margarita-slinging beach bars nearby.

The full list is available at the best beaches website, but these are five of the most varied — and unexpected — entries to make the list.

Entalula Beach, Philippines (#1)

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Palawan is already known for having some of the country’s best beaches, but Entalula manages to feel quieter than most. It’s usually accessed via multi-beach island hopping tours from El Nido, and since most guests don’t stay very long, travelers who do set out to spend the day at Entalula will probably have it mostly to themselves.

The beach itself is framed by jagged limestone cliffs that drop almost vertically to the sand, creating a private-feeling retreat. The sand is bright white, the water deep blue and turquoise, and there’s basically no development in the area. Expect drama and seclusion if you make the effort to reach it. To get there on your own, you’ll need to book a private boat from El Nido and pay for it to stay so you have a ride back home. A few companies offer the service, though you may not find it listed on their websites.

Nosy Iranja, Madagascar (#4)

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Nosy Iranja looks like two separate islands at first glance. But when the tide shifts, you’ll see a long, narrow strip of white sand appear between them.

This sandbar is fully walkable at low tide so you can cross between both sides, surrounded by shallow water. But a few hours later, the sandbar will disappear again, making a very limited window for guests to experience its beauty. The setting is also quite remote, requiring a boat trip from Nosy Be, which helps preserve the sense that you’ve stumbled onto something temporary, undiscovered, and even a little surreal. You can book private or group tours, most of which include lunch and drinks.

Boulders Beach, South Africa (#45)

Photo: Suzie Dundas

Boulders Beach isn’t a place to lay out in the sand — in fact, you might get in trouble if you do. That’s because the beach is home to a huge colony of African penguins, which nest directly along the shoreline and often wander across the sand. The beach itself is broken up by huge granite boulders that create small, protected coves, but the defining experience is sharing the space with animals you don’t typically associate with a beach vacation. There’s a small entry fee to visit and boardwalks raised across the sand so visitors can see the penguins without impeding their movement or behavior. There’s also an official gift shop, as well as lots of roadside vendors selling all manner of penguin-themed goodies.

If you do want to hit the beach, you can lay out at the beaches next door (Waters Edge Beach or Seaforth Beach).

Pink Beach, Indonesia (#22)

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Pink-sand beaches exist in a few places around the world, but this one in Komodo National Park is perhaps the pinkest of the pink. The sand gets its blush tone from crushed red coral that mixes with the white sand, with the actual shade of pink changing depending on the light. It’s easier to see from far away, but you can notice it while you’re relaxing on the sand, too.

Since it’s in the national park, there’s no real development, and visitors will need to arrive by boat on tours from nearby Labuan Bajo, the main gateway town on Flores Island. Komodo has recently tightened tourism regulations to further protect the endangered Komodo dragons, so make your plans to visit as far in advance as possible.

The Baths, British Virgin Islands (#31)

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At The Baths, the actual beach is almost less notable than the stunning rock formations. Massive granite boulders, many of which are stacked or wedged together, are dotted across the shoreline and into the water. It creates a network of grottos, narrow passages, and hidden pools that come and go with the tides. Visiting is much more of an adventure experience than your normal beach, with lots of climbing and squatting, plus some fixed ladders and ropes in areas to move around the boulders. The experience is less about laying out in the sun and more about exploring the terrain. At some points, you’ll feel like you’re in a cave, but then moments later, you’ll step back out onto the sunny shore.

To reach the Baths, you’ll first need to get to the island of Virgin Gorda, then take a 10-15-minute taxi ride to the beach itself. It’s also sometimes visited on tours from Tortola, the British Virgin Islands’ main tourism hub.