Pink sand beaches are a special (not to mention, lovely) phenomenon that only occurs in a handful of places around the globe. Although they are very rare, pink beaches can be found from California to the Caribbean, from Greece to Southeast Asia.
Forget about soft white sand or golden sand – these days, the seaside is all pretty pink and there are several places where you can find sun, sea and soft pink sand – their colors come from rocks, red shells, corals and more.
On this much-loved Bermuda beach, you'll find many sun-seekers lounging on the pink sand. It can get especially busy around spring break, so avoid it if you're looking for a more tranquil experience. Remember: there are no public facilities on this stretch of beach, so please bring your own chairs, umbrella and snacks.
With quite a few shipwrecks around Bermuda's waters, Bermuda is a haven for those who enjoy diving and snorkeling. One of the island's most popular attractions is the Pollock Shield, the wreck of a World War I cargo ship that hit the reef and sank in the area in 1915. It's about 100 feet from Elbow Beach, and you can explore it by bringing a snorkel and fins or scuba gear.
The pink sandy beaches of Budeli (an island in the Maddalena archipelago off the northern coast of Sardinia) have been widely photographed, attracting tourists from all over Europe (and beyond) to experience its beauty firsthand. The pink hue of this beach depends on the number of bacteria present on the beach. Here's the problem: no sunbathing, not even stepping on the beach. In 1994, Italy** made it illegal to step on the sand in order to protect this rare place – seriously, if you get caught strolling on the pink sand, you can be fined hefty. You can take a day trip to the island and enjoy its many other features – even if you can't relax on shore, it's still well worth seeing from the boat.
Pfeiffer Beach is located off the stunning Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur, California, away from the main road at the end of Sycamore Canyon Road, a two-mile winding trail. The pinkish-purple color of the sand – from the manganese garnet rocks – isn't noticeable, but wander to where the blue waters lap the shore to the north and you'll find some interesting shades as the water flows in and out.
This part of the coast is very rugged, with rocky outcrops offshore, including the often photographed Keyhole Rock, where the last rays of sunlight shine in through natural arches at sunset. There is parking (for a fee) but no other facilities, so if you want to stop for a day, bring your own picnic.
Don't expect to have the sand to yourself on Bermuda's most famous beach. Horseshoe Bend is a very popular place for tourists and locals alike. Don't let that put you off, though – it's still a fantastic day trip. Rocky outcrops in the azure ocean have small pools and caves to explore, and beach trails along the rugged coastline are spectacular places to walk.
There are many facilities including loungers and chairs rented from the Rum Bum beach bar, as well as public restrooms and showers. Local minibuses and public buses stop here from all over the island, so it's an easy do-it-yourself excursion with a free parking lot behind the beach.
On a thin peninsula at the northern tip of the Bahamas, Pink Beach is a 23 miles of beautiful sandy beach. The soft and delicate particles get their color from the tiny foraminifera shells, which are washed by the clear waters from the ocean. The result is a gorgeous pastel pink beach that is soft under bare feet, perfect for swimming.
The 4-star Pink Sand Resort beachfront resort offers unbeatable ocean views from rooms and an excellent restaurant (expect locally caught European seafood) and offers bike, kayak and paddleboard rentals. Dunmore Town is a 10-minute walk east of the beach, and there's plenty of entertainment to do – stop by the Princess Street Gallery to see local arts and crafts, and don't miss Brian'S Grill and Jerk. The nearby island of Eleuthera is also home to pink sandy beaches, many of which are relatively unknown and uncrowded.
Barbados' Crane Beach is a quintessential Caribbean beach backed by swaying coconut palms overlooking the azure waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Rent a sunbed on the pink sand beach (available for purchase from the Crane Hotel, free of charge for staying guests), listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, or rent a bodyboard to go surfing. There's an informal beach bar under an umbrella on the beach,**coconut cocktails – it doesn't get much better than that!
The Greek island of Ellaforisi in Crete is one of the most famous pink sand beaches in the world and is a popular holiday hotspot from spring to autumn due to the region's mild temperatures. The pink sand is lapped by the crystal clear Mediterranean waters;At low tide, the sandbar leads to an island with a chapel.
There are sunbeds to rent and plenty of space to put down towels, and the active type can get a thrill with kitesurfing lessons at the Elafonisi Kite Club. There are a couple of restaurants around the free parking and further inland, but you'd better bring a picnic. For a change of scenery, take a 90-minute drive to another famous pink sand beach in Crete: Balos.
The uninhabited island of Greater Santa Cruz is located more than a mile south of Zamboanga City and has the only pink beach in the Philippines. Accessible on day trips from the mainland (booked through kiosks on the Paseo del Mar walking trail), it's a charming haven away from the city. Swimming is not recommended as the currents can be very strong, but you can paddle on the pink sand and shoot a lot of **.
The number of visitors is limited, so please arrive early at the kiosk and note that all visitors must leave the island by 2 p.m. to protect the island.
Tucked away in the remote southeast corner of Lombok, Tangsi Beach is a lesser-known gem. Rent a scooter and ride out onto the peninsula where you'll enjoy stunning views of Indonesian rice fields and rural life before reaching the pink sandy beaches that come in color from tiny dead corals washed along the shore.
In a cluster of corrugated iron houses at the western end of the beach, there is a casual restaurant, Lombok Rasa Waroeng Pantai Pink, **local delicacies such as fried rice and satay.
Komodo Island is famous for the prehistoric Komodo dragons, which roam its pristine wilderness areas, but it's not all reptiles. The striking pink beach, part of the Komodo National Park, also has a hue from fragments of dead corals and offers excellent snorkeling opportunities, where you might spot manta rays or even sperm whales in the ocean.
Komodo Island is a national park that can only be reached from Flores or by boat multi-day tour from Lombok. Elsewhere on the island, there are excellent trekking and birdwatching activities – look for giant birds that build huge ground nests and hatch their eggs in warm droppings.