The most gorgeous pink sand beaches in the world

Squint hard enough and you can almost spot the peachy shores of Harbour Island, from Eleuthera Island, a top Bahamas destination. Hop on a five-minute ferry to get a closer view, checking out coral reefs in crystal clear waters while you’re at it. At five kilometres in length, the pink beach on Harbour Island’s eastern shore has plenty of room for everyone, offering snorkelling, diving, horseback riding and fishing opportunities. To explore the island to its fullest, rent a golf buggy to navigate historic landmarks, dining at an authentic restaurant on the marina before staying overnight at a colonial cottage.

Though the exclusive island of Bermuda has a number of world-class white beaches (your hotel may even claim a stretch), the pink sand in Bermuda is something worth travelling for, particularly Horseshoe Bay on the south coast. Here you’ll find a pastel pink stretch sheltered between limestone cliffs, lapped by the coral-rich waters of the Atlantic. Whether you fancy diving in among marine life with your snorkel or would rather watch volleyball- and kickball-playing land mammals, Horseshoe brings it all. Walk the lengthy bay to find the most photogenic spots, jogging or hiking on the trails ideally before the cruise ships dock up and steal all the best sunbeds. Elbow Beach is a nice alternative but to avoid the crowds, try visiting these Bermuda pink sand beaches outside of peak season (May to October).

From Bahamas to Barbados, the Caribbean comes blessed by hundreds of beautiful beaches, and Crane Beach is definitely up there with the best. Located on the east coast of Barbados, flanked by rugged rocks and rolling waves, the pink shores of Crane Beach are set to impress. Enter the beach in style, descending the cliffs via the glass elevator of the hilltop Crane Resort, or go old school via the 98-step stairway. Free umbrellas and lounge chairs await guests of the resort (non-guests can pay a small fee), but it’s BYOB – bring your own boogie board – to best embrace the choppy waters. Other than sunbathing on the pink sands, visitors to Crane Beach can also take a hike up to a vantage point, possibly spotting sea turtles in the waters below.

Beaches with pink sand are hard to come by in the continental US, but California’s Pfeiffer Beach is perhaps a notable exception. Part of the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in the Big Sur region, this beach is said to have a purplish hue – especially when wet – but the manganese garnet deposits (!) are not the only reason to visit. As well as impressive tones, Pfeiffer Beach also benefits from its very own 24-metre waterfall, crashing from the granite cliffs above, in addition to rock formations and sea caves for geological exploration. Take your photos at sunset through the arch at Keyhole Rock, showcasing the beauty of erosion to all your jealous followers. Though swimming isn’t advisable on Pfeiffer Beach, clambering the rocks and hiking on the cliffs above is sure to keep you satisfied.

Pocketing more than its fair share of sensational beaches, Hawaii necessitates that extra bottle of reef-safe sunscreen. Focusing on stand-out shores, we head straight to Kaihalulu Beach, the number one pink sand beach Hawaii has to offer. Nit-pickers may tell you that there are no proper pink sand beaches in Hawaii, but we’ve relaxed the rules here for Kaihalulu Beach. Found on the island of Maui, near Hana Bay, Kaihalulu Beach is more rust-red than pink, owing to erosion from the lava cinder cliffs surrounding. As much as you’d like to see this ‘pink sand beach in Hawaii’, visitors must be confident hikers in order to make the descent, as the trail was lost in a landslide a while back. Those who brave the hike down to this hidden cove will find themselves walled in by red rock, alone with the pristine waters and dramatic views of koa‘e kea tropicbirds soaring overhead.

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