You have seen white sand beaches. But what about a pink sand beach? Whether you’re a sunbather or a swimmer, if you’re someone who loves visiting beautiful and eccentric beaches, this article is for you.
About Pink Beaches
Before we dive into the various pink beaches found around the world, let me tell you why the sand looks pink. Pink sand beaches are quite rare and can be found in a limited number of places. The sands appear pink because of a single-celled marine creature known as Foraminifera. They live inside red shells. After they die, the ocean waves bring these red seashells back to shore. They get mixed with the white sand. With exposure to sunlight, they look appear pink.
Sounds interesting right? Let’s not waste any more time and see where these marvels can be found!
1. The Balos Lagoon, Greece
One of Crete’s most photographed beaches is the Balos Lagoon. In the middle of Cape Gramvousa and Cape Tipani, northwest of Chania and Kissamos is this family-friendly sand beach with warm, gentle water. Eleonora falcons, monk seals, and loggerhead sea turtles are just a few of the rare birds and aquatic creatures that can be found there. They are protected under the Natura 2000 programme. Although the area is a protected reserve, tourists can still sunbathe and engage in other activities. Because the water is deeper beyond the rocks, it is ideal for snorkelling.
How do you get there?
- From Kissamos, a ferry can be taken. You may have the opportunity to see dolphins while on your journey.
- You can drive from Kaliviani to Cape Gramvousa if you have a car or a motorcycle. It’s a ten-kilometre journey. After arriving on Gramvousa Island, the beach is 1km away.
- You can also take a 3-hour hike from Kaliviani that takes you across the Gramvousa scenery and the Platyskinos mountain.
2. The Pink Beaches of Tikehau on French Polynesia
The Tikehau atoll, located north of Tahiti in French Polynesia, contains numerous little pink beaches. The white and pink dunes contrast well with the blue sea. It features diverse marine life, including tuna and manta rays, as well as sharks. In water sports, tourists usually swim, snorkel and dive here. You can spot predatory sea creatures such as hammerhead sharks and moray eels if you go scuba diving.
How do you get there?
Flights are available directly from French Polynesia. Tikehau atoll is near the other tolls.
3. The Pink Beach, Indonesia
One of the most striking features of the Komodo Islands in Eastern Indonesia is the pink beach known as “Pantai Merah.” It’s also known as “the red beach” in the area. If the clear blue skies, green hills, and pink beaches aren’t enough for you, you can scuba dive and observe the marine life. Kayaking, scuba diving, and swimming are some of the water sports available. You may even see a Komodo dragon here as the Komodo Islands are home to them!
How do you get there?
- You can travel to Bali by plane.
- There is a local flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo.
- You can take a speedboat to the Komodo islands once you arrive in Labuan Bajo. You can also walk to the beach for four hours.
4.Playa de Ses Illetes, Spain
The English translation of the Spanish name “Playa de Ses Illestes” is “beach of small islands.” This 500-meter long sandy beach, also known as Ses Illestes, is located on the Es Trucadors peninsula in the northern part of Formentera. It’s one of the area’s many pink sand beaches. The rare aquatic plant “Posidonia Oceanica” can be seen here. This plant provides a significant amount of oxygen to marine life while also giving the ocean water a crystalline appearance.
How do you get there?
There are several ways to get to this beach. You can travel by bike, car, bus, or even on foot.
5. The Crane Beach, Barbados
Crane’s pink sand beach is located in Barbados’ Eastern District, St Phillip. It’s known for pale pink sand, a lush green coconut grove, rugged limestone cliffs, and boogie boarding. The name comes from the time when cargo ships were loaded and unloaded using a crane on the highest cliff during British rule. You can surf on this beach because of the high waves. Don’t worry about safety; lifeguards are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can relax and enjoy participating in water sports. The Crane Resort, which is located on a cliff, is a convenient place to stay and enjoy the beautiful beach.
How do you get there?
The beach is accessible by car.
6. The Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
Horseshoe Bay is a popular tourist destination on the south coast of Bermuda. This lovely pink beach resembles a horseshoe. As a result, it gets its name from here. It is also known as “baby beach” because the calm, shallow water is ideal for children to swim and snorkel. The length of this pink sand beach is only 400 meters. You can walk to several nearby beaches from here.
Since May to September is the best time to visit, it is usually very crowded. If you want peace and serenity, go between October and April. Horseshoe Bay is surrounded by cliffs. So, if you enjoy exploring the unknown, cave exploration is a great option. Cliff jumping and diving are fun activities for those who enjoy adventure and excitement. Umbrellas, towels, chairs, and sports equipment are among the beach rentals available. There’s a lighthouse called “Gibbs Hill Lighthouse” that offers a spectacular view of the beach.
How do you get there?
Any public transportation is easily accessible. Renting a scooter or an electric car, taking a private taxi, or taking the bus are all options.
7. The Elafonisi Beach, Crete
In 2014, TripAdvisor named Elafonisi Beach in Greece as one of the top 25 sand beaches in the world. It’s a one-kilometer-long beach and home to rare species of flora and fauna. Summer flowers like Sea Daffodils and winter flowers like Androcymbium Rechingeri are present here. You can see Loggerhead Sea turtles here. The sand at this beach isn’t always pink throughout the year, which is a fun fact to know. The water is lukewarm and the wind is consistent, making windsurfing ideal.
How do you get there?
- You can get there by car, though the roads are not in good condition. It takes about 1.5-2 hours to get there.
- During the peak season (early autumn), buses are available, but not during the off-season.
- You can take any coach tour of your choice with which you can do other site-seeing too. You can get the tickets in the nearby locality.
- You can also take a boat if you stay near the beach. It will drop you off near the beach, where you will have to walk for 10 minutes to get to the beach.
8. The Tangsi Beach on Lombok
Tangsi Pink Beach is located in the southeast region of Lombok. The waters are calm so visitors can either swim or dive. Because this beach is still quite remote, it is rarely crowded. It’s one of the safest beaches for parents and children to enjoy as it gives off a relaxed vibe. The months of December to March are ideal for visiting. There are beach rentals like beach chairs available.
How do you get there?
Tangsi beach is about a two-hour drive from Mataram town. It is preferable to travel by car.
9. The Pink Beach in the Bahamas
On Harbour Island, the pink sands beach is a 5-kilometer stretch of pastel-pink soft sand. It’s regarded as one of the Bahamas’ best beaches. Unlike other beaches, the sand is always cool and comfortable to walk on. Near the water’s edge, the wet sand appears pinker. Swimming, fishing, and snorkeling are all possible in the calm water. Nearby are exotic resorts, restaurants, and lounges. There will never be a shortage of food or sleep.
How do you get there?
You can fly to North Eleuthera airstrip from Nassau, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami. You can take a taxi to the ferry and then a boat to Harbour Island once you arrive.
10. The Pink Beach on the Budelli Island, Italy
This pink beach is also known as “Spiaggia Rosa,” which means “pink beach,” and is located in Sardinia’s northwest region. Tourists can only look at Spiaggia Rosa from afar because they are not allowed to enter the beach or engage in any other activities. The Italian government enacted this prohibition in 1994 after tourists began illegally selling pink sand or keeping it as a souvenir.
How do you get there?
You can see the island from afar by taking a ferry or a boat.
Conclusion
I’ve compiled a list of the top ten pink sand beaches on the planet. These ethereal pink sand beaches are ideal for experiencing mother nature’s exquisite beauty firsthand while also relaxing.
