Across the globe, beaches are known for their inspiring natural beauty. While golden sands and turquoise seas are undeniably alluring, the world is a big and diverse place – home to some truly unique stretches of shore.
From lunar-like landscapes to secluded sandy coves, some of the most interesting beaches offer far more than sun, sea, and sand. From green, pink, and black sands to mysterious rock formations, and bubbling hot springs to waddling penguins, there are all kinds of surprises to be found at the very edges of the land.
So, if you’re keen to hit the beach on your next holiday but want to see something different, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 of the world’s most unusual beaches.
1. Vik Beach, Iceland
If you’re not fussed about actually swimming – and are drawn to otherworldly places – Iceland’s Vik Beach might be for you. Also known as Reynisfjara Beach and Black Sand Beach, this desolate cove looks like it belongs on another planet.
Located 112 miles from the capital, Reykjavik, this beach may not be the only black sand beach in Iceland, but it is the most dramatic. Craggy basalt pillars rise up from the pounding Atlantic waves, while hexagonal cliff formations loom over the beach. The basalt sea stacks feature in many ancient myths and legends, and today, they’re home to thousands of seabirds – from puffins to guillemots.
The frothy white sea foam crashing against the jet-black sand looks incredibly atmospheric too – it’s no wonder that this beach appeared in Game of Thrones. This beach is strictly for admiring though, not swimming, as the waves are dangerous.
2. Benagil Cave Beach, Portugal
Portugal’s Algarve region is known for its sweeping golden beaches, so if you’re looking to kick back on the sand, it’s an excellent choice. The soaring cliffs that line the coast provide a dramatic backdrop, but one beach stands out. Benagil Cave Beach is located, as the name suggests, inside a cave. But if this conjures up images of shadowy gloom, think again.
Benagil Cave was shaped through 20 million years of erosion, and at the top is a natural skylight. This allows light to fall in, drenching the water and sand with sun.
The only way to reach the entrance of this secret beach is from the water, so most tourists rent kayaks – although some take boat trips. Once you’re in the cave, you can stretch out on the sand, admire the beautiful patterns in the rock, and soak up the ethereal atmosphere.
3. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
It might be a bit of a stretch to call Giant’s Causeway a beach, but we think it just about qualifies…and given that it’s one of the most atmospheric places in the British Isles, it deserves a place on this list!
These interlocking basalt columns weave their way to the crashing Atlantic Ocean, acting as hexagonal stepping stones into the sea. According to local legend, the stones were placed here by a giant who was trying to build a bridge to Scotland.
Science, however, suggests that these basalt columns were formed after a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, when molten lava cooled in the sea. It may be Northern Ireland’s most visited attraction – one of Britain’s greatest natural wonders – but there’s a unique sense of mystery and peace to be found at Giant’s Causeway too.
4. Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, Hawaii, USA
Hawaii is known all around the world for its beautiful beaches – but most of us probably picture white, or at least golden, sands when imagining its stretches of shore. But Papakōlea Beach is the exception. It’s one of only four green beaches in the world, and if you’re visiting Hawaii, it’s well worth the trip.
Located on the Big Island, the beach is carved into a cinder cone that erupted 50,000 years ago. The green hue is due to the mineral olivine, a component of lava which forms as it cools.
Often called Green Sand Beach, Papakōlea is pretty remote. Getting here involves a 2.5 mile hike along rugged sea cliffs and, once you’re there, there aren’t any facilities, lifeguards, or places to buy food. However, the beautiful colours and sense of remoteness make this unique beach even more special. Be warned, though, the waves here can be pretty choppy!
5. Koekohe Beach, New Zealand
New Zealand is famous for its unique natural beauty – so it’s no surprise that one of the world’s most unusual beaches is found here. But what makes Koekohe Beach so special isn’t really the beach itself. Located on the Otago coast, on the South Island, Koekohe Beach is home to the mystifying Moeraki Boulders, which are huge spherical boulders dotted along the sand.
Measuring almost 10 feet across, these ancient rocks only appear at low tide. Many of the boulders have large cracks on the surface, leading to the popular belief that they were dinosaur eggs. According to Maori legend, the rocks are the remains of food baskets that washed up from the wreck of the Āraiteuru canoe, which brought their ancestors to New Zealand.
However, science tells us that the boulders are calcite concretions formed more than 60 million years ago. Today, the beach is home to a seal colony and dolphins, so it’s both a nature lover’s and photographer’s dream.
6. Boulders Beach, South Africa
Another beach that’s a must-visit for nature lovers is Boulders Beach in South Africa. Just like New Zealand’s Koekohe, Boulders Beach itself isn’t particularly unusual…it’s the residents who are special.
Boulders is likely to be the most crowded beach on this list – but, thankfully, it’s not crowded with tourists… This beach is home to thousands of endangered African penguins, and it’s one of the only places in the world where you can get up close to them. Seeing these cute, curious birds waddle across the sand is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The beach is a protected area, and you have to pay an entry fee (about £8), which goes toward conservation. The boardwalks are specifically designed for penguin viewing, and are intended to keep people away from the birds’ breeding grounds. The beach is named for the giant granite boulders that speckle the white sand, and these smooth rocks will make your photos even more impressive.
7. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
We’ve seen black sand and green sand beaches…so what about pink sand? The Bahamas are known for dreamy beaches, but none are quite so otherworldly as Pink Sands Beach. Located on Harbour Island, the candy-floss sand looks as though it’s been dyed.
The hue is created by the red shells of foraminifera shellfish, which, over time, are crushed and mixed with the sand, leading to that bubblegum shade. The striking pink sand is beautifully complemented by the sparkling azure sea, so if you’re into photography, remember to take your camera.
And, unlike many of the other remote beaches in this article, Pink Sand Beach has lots of amenities. This three-mile carpet of soft sand is lined with countless beach bars and cafes, so you won’t go hungry. There are also lots of places where you can rent boats and snorkelling gear to make the most of the pristine waves.
8. Hidden Beach, Mexico
Tucked away on Mexico’s uninhabited Marieta Islands is Playa Escondida – Hidden Beach. Also known as Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach), this intriguing stretch of sand is incredibly unique. If you were to walk through the quiet green landscape, you’d find that the land suddenly drops away in a near-perfect circle. And, hidden in the hole is a secret sandy beach that’s lapped by the Pacific Ocean.
If you think the circle looks a little too symmetrical to be natural, you’d be right. The islands used to be used by the Mexican government for military testing, and it’s believed that the crater was created by bomb tests in around 1900. The drop is too steep to access the secluded beach from land, but you can swim or kayak in via a water tunnel – which was also created by the bombs!
9. Hot Water Beach, New Zealand
This is the second New Zealand beach to make the cut…and while at first glance there may not seem to be anything that special about Hot Water Beach, the clue is in the name! Located on the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island, beneath these golden sands are hot mineral springs.
What makes this beach unusual is that the hot waters can only be accessed at set times. The hot springs filter through the sand for two hours before and after low tide. During these times, locals and tourists flock to the beach to dig holes in the sand and relax in the mineral-rich waters.
These holes act as your own private beachside hot tub, so it’s not difficult to understand their popularity. And, as an added perk, you can enjoy glorious views as the sun sets over the water.
10. Maho Beach, Saint Martin
Finally, there’s a beach on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin that’s special in a very different way. Split 60/40 between the French and the Dutch, Saint Martin is unusual enough by itself…but it also boasts a beach unlike any other. On the Dutch side of the island is Maho Beach, which has the white sands and azure waters the Caribbean is known for – though, it’s the location of this beach that makes it so unusual.
Maho Beach is at the end of an airport runway, and if you’re an aerophile, visiting is an unforgettable experience. There are many eye-watering videos of planes landing and taking off right above beachgoers’ heads, with planes getting so close that some spectators are blown off their feet! The beach is also home to plenty of cafes, restaurants, and beach bars, so there’s lots to do when you’ve finished spectating too.
Final thoughts…
From beaches dotted with strange, alien-like rocks to ones with pastel-coloured sands, Mother Nature has all kinds of surprises up her sleeve when it comes to the coast.
What makes some of these beaches so special is how secretive they are. From beaches found in caves with natural skylights to beaches formed inside craters, there’s something special about relaxing somewhere that feels so remote.
In contrast, some of these beaches aren’t secrets at all. Maho Bay is almost always packed with tourists waiting for the next plane, while Hot Water Beach is bustling at low tide, when tourists come to soak in the mineral springs. And, at Boulders Beach, it’s penguins you have to share the sand with!
For more inspiration, check out our article; 16 of the best beaches in the UK.
Have you been to any of these beaches? Or do you have your own recommendations for some of the world’s most unusual beaches? We’d love to hear about your travel experiences in the comments below.