The Spiaggia di Marianelli Riserva Naturale di Vendicari sits near the southeastern tip of Sicily looking out over the Ionian Sea. It is one of a string of lovely beaches set within the protected coastline of the Riserva Naturale di Vendicari.
Nestled in a small, shallow bay backed by sand dunes dotted with almond and lemon trees, Marianelli is widely viewed as the most beautiful beach within the reserve.The sweep of golden sand here is caressed by clear turquoise waters and owing to its relatively remote location it rarely gets busy.
It may seem a little strange that what is perhaps the best known beach in Cinque Terre is also one of the hardest to get to. Up until a few years ago there was a choice of ways to reach Guvano beach.
The most unique of these involved a 1.5 kilometre long tunnel running from near the station in Corniglia right to the beach. The tunnel was originally part of the now abandoned nineteenth-century Genoa-La railway, but it has been closed to the public for a few years owing to safety… read more »
A mere stone's throw across the lagoon from Venice is the island of Lido. At its far end, some 3 kilometres from the city, is the village of Alberoni. Despite its proximity to Venice there is little of note here, that is except for an impressive expanse of dune-backed sand facing into the Adriatic Sea.
Strolling along this golden sand expanse you really would have little idea you were within earshot of the bells of St Marks, or any city really. The extensive dunes, from which the village gets its name,… read more »
Set in a horseshoe shaped bay on the southern coast of Elba, Acquarilli is a charming little beach that, unlike its neighbours, never attracts a crowd. Spiaggia di Acquarilli is located between the popular beaches of Lido di Capoliveri and Lacona, which are probably the best-known on the island. The reason this little cove remains quiet is that access is a little tricky.
If you are not fortunate enough to be able to park your yacht in the bay then you will have to negotiate the steep path down the tall cliffs.… read more »
Many beaches may claim to have white sand and turquoise waters, and many do. But few have either to quite the same degree as the beach on Isla Coronado in Baja. Just a short boat trip from the popular coastal town of Loreto this beautiful little island is easy enough to get to but never busy.
The crystal clear water here makes it a great spot for snorkeling with tropical fish abounding in the shallows. There are also pelicans, sea lions and even dolphins if you're lucky.
This remote beach managed to stay off the tourist radar for many years. Often described as the most beautiful beach in Michoacán, if not the whole Pacific coast, it was a pretty well kept secret. These days Maruata remains off the beaten track but there is the semblance of tourist infrastructure.
Playa Maruata is actually three adjoining beaches which become increasingly hazardous as you head westwards. The main beach is a 3 kilometre crescent of golden sand which runs in front of the village. As well as being the biggest this is… read more »
Acapulco's "secret beach" is so named as it tucked away in an upmarket corner of Santa Lucía Bay with public access very limited. Overlooking the beach, beyond the fringe of dense vegetation are some of this holiday city's most exclusive postcodes. It is therefore not too surprising they wanted to keep this hidden gem to themselves.
Unlike many of the beaches in Acapulco, which are battered by the Pacific swells, Playa del Secreto is tucked away in a sheltered cove. It is probably all this seclusion and almost wilderness feel to the… read more »
Donkey Beach, also known as Paliku Beach, is a relatively secluded beach on the east coast of Kauai. A stretch of unspoilt golden sand backed by fields and a few trees this is a lovely spot to throw down a towel and soak up the tropical sun.
The beach here isn't the best for swimming and snorkeling though as the waves can be powerful and the currents strong. In fact it is more popular with surfers and bodyboarders when the conditions are good.
What Donkey beach is perhaps best known for is… read more »
Located near the western corner of Oahu's North Shore, not far from Haleiwa, is this lovely little pristine stretch of sand. Despite not being that far from anywhere Polo beach has a wonderfully secluded feel to it with its backdrop of ironwood trees. Often as not the beach here will be empty but don't be surprised to see horses being ridden on the beach - after all it is named for the Polo Club next door.
The water here is an enticing turquoise color and Polo beach is generally more… read more »
Tsambika Beach is a deep-set beach with a length of around 800 metres to boot. Combining easy to love golden sands with light blue waters, it's overlooked by the ancient Monastery of Tsambika, accessible by a steep path and stairway.
Facilities at Tsambika Beach are second to none, with a good choice of places to eat and drink, sun loungers and umbrellas to rent, and even a waterpark to entertain younger beachgoers. Dinghies and smaller boats sometimes anchor temporarily in the beach's shallows, while a little further out visitors can opt… read more »
Kaminia Beach (Paralia Kaminia) forms part of a stretch of sand extending for at least 2.5 kilometres from Kefalonia's southernmost point. One of the longest beaches on the island, visitors can be sure of finding a spot, whether close to the round hills which back it or the shallow crystalline waters it meets. Some areas can be cordoned off as the nesting sites of loggerhead turtles. Once highly endangered, they are now making a comeback thanks to projects like that on Kaminia Beach.
Well suited to holidaymakers, Kaminia's shallows run without… read more »
The wild, west coast beach of Cala Torta has quite a different feel to most of Mallorca's coves and beaches. Situated amongst the rolling hills of the Llevant Peninsula this remote sandy bay has a very natural, pristine air to it.
Cala Torta is around 200 metres wide and sits between low headlands with a backdrop of dunes. As you would expect for Mallorca the sand is white and the sea is a clear turquoise. There are often more waves here than on the island's other coasts and the beach does… read more »
It is likely that the name of this beach, Cala Varques, is derived from Catalan word for cows, "vaques". Once upon a time they were the most common visitors to the beach, wandering down from the local farm to take in the scenery. Things have changed a little since those days.
Despite the remote location and fairly convoluted access Cala Varques has become quite popular over recent years. Probably a victim of its own Instagrammable appeals, gone are the days when you could pretend you were on a desert island.
