White sand will undoubtedly come to mind when describing a dream beach vacation. Soft sand between your toes, the gentle murmur of waves, and the clear turquoise water paint a picture of pure relaxation. That’s everything you want and need from a getaway to the coast. And to help you plan your next trip, researchers from luxury villa travel agents CV Villas conducted a study to reveal the world’s beaches with the whitest sands.
Photo: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock
The 30 Beaches With the Whitest Sand in the World, Proven by Color Analysis Theory
The top spot for the whitest sand in the world was Tulum Beach in Mexico, which surprisingly beat other Caribbean and European destinations.
CV Villas utilized Google Maps screenshots of over 200 beaches worldwide. For each location, a color dropper tool extracted the sand’s RGB code. This color code was compared with the RGB code representing the purest white. They then used an online color difference calculator to determine which beaches had sand closets to this ideal shade. Tulum’s beach was found to live up to its picture-perfect reputation, with sand just 1.4 points shy of the whitest of white.
Traveling to Tulum? Check out Matador’s Tulum accommodations guides:
Of course, satellite imagery can be affected by lighting and water clarity. However, the research does offer us a quantifiable starting point in the search for the perfect beach.
Anse Source D’Argent in the Seychelles. Photo: fokke baarssen/Shutterstock
The runner-up position went to Anse Source D’Argent in the Seychelles. With a score of 4.3 points off the purest shade of white, this beach offers a quintessential island paradise experience. It’s located on La Digue Island, which is car-free — the beach is only accessible by foot or bike.
The Tropea coastline in Italy. Photo: GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock
Europe takes center stage with a whopping 15 entries in the top 30. Greece’s Marmari Beach comes in third, followed by Italy’s Tropea Beach and Spain’s Platja de Muro. Interestingly, Spain holds the record for the most European entries in the top 30 with six beaches, showcasing the continent’s diverse and beautiful coastline. From Cala Pluma, dubbed Ibiza’s “secret beach,” to the expansive Los Lances Beach, offering views of Africa, Spain has much to offer a white-sand enthusiast.
Sunrise at Carmel. Photo: Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock
North America secures a strong showing in the top 20. Carmel Beach in California (ranked 14), a beloved spot on the Central Coast, and Siesta Key Beach (ranked 16) in Florida both claim impressive rankings. The iconic Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico (18) and Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos (20) round out the highlights.
Maya Bay is a part of the famous islands in Krabi Province, Thailand. Photo: greenmanyong/Shutterstock
While Europe dominates the rankings, Thailand has three entries, including Maya Bay (13), immortalized in Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach. And just a short boat ride away, Bamboo Island (15) also makes the list as does Maenam Beach (21) in Koh Samui.
Australia makes a solitary appearance with Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. True to its name, this pristine beach with its silica sand lives up to its reputation as a global white-sand destination.
The top 30 best white sand beaches in the world
- 1. Tulum Beach, Mexico (1.4)
- 2. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles (4.3)
- 3. Marmari Beach, Greece (6.5)
- 4= Tropea Beach, Italy (6.9)
- 4= Platja de Muro, Spain (6.9)
- 6. Cala Pluma, Spain (7.7)
- 7. Plage de Valras, France (7.9)
- 8. Cala Brandinchi, Italy (8)
- 9= Stocking Island Beach, Bahamas (8.5)
- 9= Taylor Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos (8.5)
- 11. Varadero Beach, Cuba (8.9)
- 12. Punta Prosciutto, Italy (9)
- 13. Maya Bay Beach, Thailand (9.4)
- 14. Carmel Beach, US (9.8)
- 15. Bamboo Island Beach, Thailand (10.3)
- 16. Siesta Key Beach, US (10.5)
- 17. Spiaggia La Pelosa, Italy (10.6)
- 18= Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico (10.8)
- 18= Luskentyre Beach, Scotland (10.8)
- 20. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos (10.9)
- 21. Maenam Beach, Thailand (11)
- 22. Los Lances Beach, Spain (11.2)
- 23. Keem Bay, Ireland (11.3)
- 24. Agios Prokopios, Greece (11.4)
- 25. Whitehaven Beach, Australia (11.5)
- 26= Eagle Beach, Aruba (11.7)
- 26= Las Salinas, Spain (11.7)
- 28. Port de Soller, Spain (11.9)
- 29. Praia Dona Ana, Portugal (12.6)
- 30. Platja de Son Xoriguer, Spain (12.9)
