The idea of a beach destination revolves around people imagining powdery white-sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, and palm trees. But there is more to the world’s beaches than just the sand and waters. Some beaches offer a variety of sand, from black and white to red and pink. And features creatures that no one would find on a usual beach like some pigs hanging out in crystal clear blue waters. If tourists want to make their beach vacation extra special, here's the list of the unique beaches worldwide:
10 Maho Beach – Sint Maarten
Aside from the powdery white sand beach and blue waters, Maho Beach also features loud engine noise and strong wind from the airplane that passes by the beach. Maho Beach is near Princess Juliana International Airport. The planes would pass by the sea at a shallow distance with the people hanging out in the waters. Some tourists visit the beach because of these unique circumstances. Other visitors enjoy waiting for a plane and taking fantastic photographs.
9 Black Beach - Iceland
Located in the capital of Iceland is the Black Beach, which features stacked basaltic rocks facing the sea. It is unique because of the black sand resulting from volcanic activity. This beach is special because tourists cannot swim in the waters. It can be dangerous even standing near the waters, especially if the weather is terrible. Tourists may climb carefully on the rocks to take photographs.
8 Pink Sand Beach – Indonesia
There is not just one pink sand beach worldwide, but it can still be considered unique because people are used to white and black sand beaches. Pink Sand Beach is located in Komodo National Park, it is a bit secluded, but it's worth the struggle. The sand turns pink because of the red coral. The grains of the corals mix with the sand and create this picturesque view.
7 Glass Beach – California, USA
Located in MacKerricher State Park of Fort Bragg is the colorful shoreline of Glass Beach. The beach is truly unique because of its history of the shore. Unfortunately, the glasses came from people's garbage that they threw on different coasts and around California. Because of several years, the drinks were already worn out and the pieces were smooth and glowing. The glasses look magical, lying on top of the beach's white sand.
6 Green Sand Beach – Hawaii, USA
If pink beaches are unique, green sand beaches are much more impressive. The green sand of Papakolea Beach is one of the only four green sand beaches worldwide. The color of the sand came from a mineral component of lava called olivine. The green color is formed once the lava has cooled when touched in the shoreline, the same process in black sand beaches resulting from volcanic activity.
5 Red Sand Beach – Hawaii, USA
Hawaii is home to unique beaches and this includes the Red Sand Beach. It is called Kaihalulu Beach but is now more known as the Red Sand Beach. Like the other beaches with a unique color of beach sand, Kaihalulu's sand turns red because of volcanic activity. The beach is not very expensive but is incredible and surrounded by the red cove with lush green grasses and trees.
4 Hyams Beach – Australia
Located in the Jervis Bay of New South Wales is the Guinness World Records title holder in 2005, Hyams Beach. The beach features the whitest sand in the world because of the quartz element. The white sand compliments well with the crystal clear turquoise blue waters of the beach, which is why it is really popular. Tourists can go camping at the Jervis Bay National Park, guests of the beach can also enjoy kayaking and dolphin watching.
3 Shell Beach - Australia
Another unique feature of sand is the tons of shells lying across the shoreline of Shark Bay. The shells came from the Hamelin Cockle, which lives in the same saline waters nearby Shark Bay. Visitors must wear proper shoes when walking by the shoreline to prevent getting hurt by the shells. Other things to enjoy here are swimming in the clear waters and snorkeling. There's also a shell block quarry which tourists can visit.
2 Pig Beach - Bahamas
Instead of different varieties of fish dancing in the clear waters of Big Major Cay, pigs have taken over the spot. If tourists are into unusual vacations, this destination is a perfect place. Together with the goats and stray cats, the pigs are the only inhabitants of Exuma. The number of the pig is not less than 25, and their sizes are from newborn piglets to the biggest. There have been many folktales on the history of the pigs, and it is interesting to hear.
1 Boulders Beach – South Africa
This is not Antarctica; Boulders Beach is located in Cape Town in South Africa. Tourists visit here to see the community of African penguins. The beach is the only way to see these cute little African penguins up close. The area might be residential, but the beach is protected because the penguins are now considered endangered. However, tourists are not advised to feed and go too near the penguins because they are wild animals.