The World's Most Beautiful Pink Beaches
It’s officially rosé season, so we’ve got pink on our minds -- pink beaches to be exact.
Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece
This spot is located on the southwestern side of Crete and gets its pink hue from the pink coral sands that line it. If you’re hoping to escape the other tourists -- as this spot does get crowded -- simply wade into the knee-deep water of the lagoon and walk across to the uninhabited Elafonis Island (Deer Island). There you can either explore the surrounding area or simply relax on what will feel like your own private slice of paradise.
Getting here: Daily bus service runs from Chania, which is 46 miles away. You can also reach the beach by car or even by boat.
Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
Horseshoe Bay, a great spot for families, is located on the south shore of Bermuda. The beach is a pink color, thanks to a mix of crushed shells, coral and calcium carbonate, and is a great spot for snorkeling and wakeboarding (if simply soaking up the sun with a good book isn’t what you’re after). Visitors can also head out to the surrounding rocks and explore the numerous caves, or if you have little ones in tow, head over to Port Royal Cove where the waters are calm.
Getting there: Since visitors to Bermuda aren’t allowed to rent cars, the beach can be reached via taxi or the No. 7 bus.
Spiaggia Rosa, Budelli, Sardinia
Head to the island of Budelli, located in the Maddalena archipelago, and explore Spiaggia Rosa, situated on the southeastern part of the island. This pink-sands coastline is perfect if you’re in search of unspoiled scenery.
Getting there: From Olbia (located in northeast Sardinia), head 40 minutes by car to the port of Palau, where you can then catch a ferry or smaller boat.
Pantai Merah (Pink Beach), Komodo, Indonesia
Spend your day on Pantai Merah (Pink Beach) -- located on the eastern part of Komodo Island, part of Komodo National Park -- simply relaxing on a beach towel or trekking. You can also rent snorkeling gear and explore the vast marine life that surrounds the area.
Getting there: Take a flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo, and from there take a speedboat to Komodo. You can either dock straight on Pantai Merah or dock on a different part of the island and trek from there.
Pink Beach, Great Santa Cruz Island, Philippines
Located on the tiny island of Great Santa Cruz in the southern Philippines, Pink Beach is a great spot to enjoy a number of water activities, from snorkeling to scuba diving and swimming. Visitors should be warned that they’re limited to only daytrips, so you’ll need to pack everything into a short span of time.
Getting there: To get to Great Santa Cruz, take a 20-minute motorboat ride from Paseo del Mar.
Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
If Caribbean-like turquoise waters are what you’re after, then Playa de Ses Illetes is a must. Situated on the western side of Es Trucadors peninsula, in northern Formentera, this thin strip of beach offers a plethora of water sports, from water skiing and sailing to windsurfing. Or, if you prefer, unwind at one of the many beach bars while enjoying the exquisite view.
Getting there: Catch a boat to Ibiza from Barcelona, Valencia or Denia and from there book a 2-hour ferry ride to Formentera. From the port, it’s a 15-minute car ride (or hour walk) to the beach.
Ashley Bess is an editor turned freelancer writer who describes herself as short, opinionated, recently repatriated, lover of gin and travel and with a head full of useless song lyrics and movie quotes.