Top 10 Secluded Beaches
Seeking out sun, surf, and sand is an easy enough task, but is it possible to stir seclusion into the mix, too? Our editors say “shore”!
1. Ao Phra Nang Beach, Thailand
Often cited as “Phuket 10 years ago,” the beach resorts surrounding the Thai port town of Krabi remain, for the time being, far less trodden than those of its famous island neighbor, some 100 miles to the west. Accessible only by long-tail boat from Krabi or from the more frequented beach resort of Ao Nang, the far-flung headland of Laem Phra Nang, or Railay (also called Rai Leh) Beach, is our preferred destination, thanks to its stunning surroundings of karst cliffs (making it popular with rock climbers), lush jungle and the warm waters of the emerald Andaman Sea. Here, four neighboring white-sand beaches unfold, of which Ao Phra Nang Beach is the most secluded with its snorkeling-friendly reefs, soft sands and singular luxury hotel. Visitors are free to relax in relative solitude, or to seek out adventure with a swim to “Happy Island,” just offshore, or by poking about in Tham Prah Nang Cave at the cliff’s base. Go now before it’s discovered by the masses.
Often cited as “Phuket 10 years ago,” the beach resorts surrounding the Thai port town of Krabi remain, for the time being, far less trodden than those of its famous island neighbor, some 100 miles to the west. Accessible only by long-tail boat from Krabi or from the more frequented beach resort of Ao Nang, the far-flung headland of Laem Phra Nang, or Railay (also called Rai Leh) Beach, is our preferred destination, thanks to its stunning surroundings of karst cliffs (making it popular with rock climbers), lush jungle and the warm waters of the emerald Andaman Sea. Here, four neighboring white-sand beaches unfold, of which Ao Phra Nang Beach is the most secluded with its snorkeling-friendly reefs, soft sands and singular luxury hotel. Visitors are free to relax in relative solitude, or to seek out adventure with a swim to “Happy Island,” just offshore, or by poking about in Tham Prah Nang Cave at the cliff’s base. Go now before it’s discovered by the masses.
2. Baía de Sancho, Brazil
Red-tinged sands and turquoise-trimmed shores define this pristine bay, which unfolds on the main and only inhabited island of Fernando de Noronha, an Atlantic archipelago off of Brazil’s northeastern coast. Protected as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and a national marine park, the ecological sanctuary of the beach and its environs can be explored in near solitude, thanks to strict restrictions on commercial development and controlled visitation. The few visitors that do access the isle are thinned out even further by the precarious approach to the remote Baía de Sancho, which entails climbing down a cliff face along a series of ladders (although the faint of heart can arrange to arrive by boat on snorkeling or diving excursions). The waters here thrive with an array of marine life, from live coral to manta rays and sea turtles to dolphins. Just be sure to pack provisions, as there’ll be no bars, peddlers, or the like on these isolated shores.
Red-tinged sands and turquoise-trimmed shores define this pristine bay, which unfolds on the main and only inhabited island of Fernando de Noronha, an Atlantic archipelago off of Brazil’s northeastern coast. Protected as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and a national marine park, the ecological sanctuary of the beach and its environs can be explored in near solitude, thanks to strict restrictions on commercial development and controlled visitation. The few visitors that do access the isle are thinned out even further by the precarious approach to the remote Baía de Sancho, which entails climbing down a cliff face along a series of ladders (although the faint of heart can arrange to arrive by boat on snorkeling or diving excursions). The waters here thrive with an array of marine life, from live coral to manta rays and sea turtles to dolphins. Just be sure to pack provisions, as there’ll be no bars, peddlers, or the like on these isolated shores.
3. Bowman's Beach, Florida
The secret’s out about the beauty of Sanibel Island’s linen-white sand beaches — situated about 25 miles southwest of Fort Myers— so you won’t be alone in searching for a stretch of sand to call your own. But that’s just what you’ll get when you leave your car and make the quarter-mile walk to Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel’s most peaceful place. The island is well-known as one of the best shelling spots in the country, but you’ll find little competition here. There’s minimal development and ditto for amenities — though Bowman’s does have one perk not found on any other beach on Sanibel: barbecue grills. Enjoy the pristine sand at Casa Ybel Resort (www.casaybelresort.com) and slurp down briny oysters at The Lazy Flamingo (www.lazyflamingo.com), where staff let you bring a glass of wine to the beach to watch the sunset.
The secret’s out about the beauty of Sanibel Island’s linen-white sand beaches — situated about 25 miles southwest of Fort Myers— so you won’t be alone in searching for a stretch of sand to call your own. But that’s just what you’ll get when you leave your car and make the quarter-mile walk to Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel’s most peaceful place. The island is well-known as one of the best shelling spots in the country, but you’ll find little competition here. There’s minimal development and ditto for amenities — though Bowman’s does have one perk not found on any other beach on Sanibel: barbecue grills. Enjoy the pristine sand at Casa Ybel Resort (www.casaybelresort.com) and slurp down briny oysters at The Lazy Flamingo (www.lazyflamingo.com), where staff let you bring a glass of wine to the beach to watch the sunset.
4. Costa de la Luz, Spain
An Andalusian affair with sand and sea awaits at Spain's southernmost point, where from the small coastal cities of Huelva to Cadiz and on to Tarifa, over 50 miles of dune-backed beaches beckon with fine white sands trimmed by pine trees, animated fishing villages, and wide Atlantic-facing waters. Abundant year-round sunshine ensures that this Costa de la Luz, or “Coast of Light,” is well-deserving of its moniker. Yet its shores manage to remain blissfully crowd-free and devoid of unsightly high-rise development, a European rarity largely attributed to its lack of proximity to any major Spanish city (it’s about a three-hour drive to Seville), as well as to the forceful Levante (East) and Poniente (West) coastal winds that detract the masses, aside from the avid windsurfers who consider the area to be a sporting mecca. But come July and August, once the breezes die down and ocean ripples flatten, the sands heat up with the perfect combination of summer sunshine, sizzling Spanish bods, and coveted (relative) seclusion.
An Andalusian affair with sand and sea awaits at Spain's southernmost point, where from the small coastal cities of Huelva to Cadiz and on to Tarifa, over 50 miles of dune-backed beaches beckon with fine white sands trimmed by pine trees, animated fishing villages, and wide Atlantic-facing waters. Abundant year-round sunshine ensures that this Costa de la Luz, or “Coast of Light,” is well-deserving of its moniker. Yet its shores manage to remain blissfully crowd-free and devoid of unsightly high-rise development, a European rarity largely attributed to its lack of proximity to any major Spanish city (it’s about a three-hour drive to Seville), as well as to the forceful Levante (East) and Poniente (West) coastal winds that detract the masses, aside from the avid windsurfers who consider the area to be a sporting mecca. But come July and August, once the breezes die down and ocean ripples flatten, the sands heat up with the perfect combination of summer sunshine, sizzling Spanish bods, and coveted (relative) seclusion.
5. Enderts Beach, California
Living as long as 2,000 years and growing as high as 35 stories, the imposing old-growth redwoods that make up Northern California’s Redwood National Park tend to overshadow the region’s sublimely quiet coast, which is separated from the lush forest by wide swaths of sand and marsh. That doesn’t bother the birds and occasional sunbathers at Enderts Beach, an idyllic stretch surrounded by wildflower-carpeted bluffs. The half-mile walk from the parking lot, about 500 feet above sea level, down to the driftwood-strewn beach is rewarded with bracing breezes and dramatic views of the Pacific and its denizens (migrating whales can be spotted in March and April), with nary a human in sight. Once you hit the sand, send the kids off on a ranger-guided tide-pool walk (the 2.5-hour walks meet at the parking lot) or pitch a tent at the Nickel Creek campground and spend the night in this land of giants.
Living as long as 2,000 years and growing as high as 35 stories, the imposing old-growth redwoods that make up Northern California’s Redwood National Park tend to overshadow the region’s sublimely quiet coast, which is separated from the lush forest by wide swaths of sand and marsh. That doesn’t bother the birds and occasional sunbathers at Enderts Beach, an idyllic stretch surrounded by wildflower-carpeted bluffs. The half-mile walk from the parking lot, about 500 feet above sea level, down to the driftwood-strewn beach is rewarded with bracing breezes and dramatic views of the Pacific and its denizens (migrating whales can be spotted in March and April), with nary a human in sight. Once you hit the sand, send the kids off on a ranger-guided tide-pool walk (the 2.5-hour walks meet at the parking lot) or pitch a tent at the Nickel Creek campground and spend the night in this land of giants.
6. Kaihalulu, Hawaii
A hard-to-find location, dangerous surf, and a treacherous cliff-hugging path down to the shore make Kaihalulu, also known as Red Sand Beach, secluded indeed — and off limits to all but the most adventurous. South of Maui's Hana Bay on the far side of Ka'uiki Hill, this reddish cove — the product of an eroded volcanic cinder cone — is surrounded by tall black cliffs and lined with green ironwood trees. While the strong Pacific currents are somewhat tamed, thanks to a rocky lava seawall that acts as a natural barrier against the surf, swimming is still risky as the jagged rock wall can be as dangerous as it is protective. All the same, the striking sight of the stretch of red-and-black sand set against the turquoise-blue lagoon, and guarded by the black rock barrier, make the trip here worth it. Because of its seclusion, the beach is often clothing-optional. Come early in the morning for the utmost isolation.
A hard-to-find location, dangerous surf, and a treacherous cliff-hugging path down to the shore make Kaihalulu, also known as Red Sand Beach, secluded indeed — and off limits to all but the most adventurous. South of Maui's Hana Bay on the far side of Ka'uiki Hill, this reddish cove — the product of an eroded volcanic cinder cone — is surrounded by tall black cliffs and lined with green ironwood trees. While the strong Pacific currents are somewhat tamed, thanks to a rocky lava seawall that acts as a natural barrier against the surf, swimming is still risky as the jagged rock wall can be as dangerous as it is protective. All the same, the striking sight of the stretch of red-and-black sand set against the turquoise-blue lagoon, and guarded by the black rock barrier, make the trip here worth it. Because of its seclusion, the beach is often clothing-optional. Come early in the morning for the utmost isolation.
7. Palmetto Point Beach, Barbuda
While popular Antigua boasts 365 beaches along its shores, none is as secluded as the magnificent swaths found on its sister island of Barbuda, some 25 miles to the northeast. A rarity in the Caribbean, where building big resorts on spectacular sands is more the norm, Barbuda's miles of white- and pink-hued beaches have been largely left untouched, with only two full-service resorts — K Club (www.kclubbarbuda.com) and Coco Point Lodge (www.cocopoint.com) — to share them. Even the island's finest stretch, a seven-mile expanse from Palmetto Point to Coco Point, is typically so deserted that you can expect to share your day with sea shells instead of people. Seclusion like this certainly appealed to Princess Diana, who vacationed here four times during her lifetime.
While popular Antigua boasts 365 beaches along its shores, none is as secluded as the magnificent swaths found on its sister island of Barbuda, some 25 miles to the northeast. A rarity in the Caribbean, where building big resorts on spectacular sands is more the norm, Barbuda's miles of white- and pink-hued beaches have been largely left untouched, with only two full-service resorts — K Club (www.kclubbarbuda.com) and Coco Point Lodge (www.cocopoint.com) — to share them. Even the island's finest stretch, a seven-mile expanse from Palmetto Point to Coco Point, is typically so deserted that you can expect to share your day with sea shells instead of people. Seclusion like this certainly appealed to Princess Diana, who vacationed here four times during her lifetime.
8. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
While Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula may already be a bona fide surfer haven, mainstream tourism has yet to discover the largely untrampled stretch of Santa Teresa’s coast on the peninsula’s southernmost tip. You’ll have to endure a nearly six-hour trek to get here — a car-ferry combo from San José, much of which is on a barely drivable dirt road — which may be why the jungle-swathed stretch from the beach villages of Malpais to Santa Teresa is still so preserved. Fronted by the Pacific’s unruly waves and backed only by jungle, even the few bungalow boutiques and hammock hotels are set beneath the lush canopy, unseen from the sand. Besides a few surfers out by the breaks and perhaps some mischievous monkeys pillaging for fruit in the canopy, you’re likely to have the beach to yourself. Come in the off-season (summer through fall) for even more solitude; September brings migrating whales just offshore, often visible from the sand.
While Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula may already be a bona fide surfer haven, mainstream tourism has yet to discover the largely untrampled stretch of Santa Teresa’s coast on the peninsula’s southernmost tip. You’ll have to endure a nearly six-hour trek to get here — a car-ferry combo from San José, much of which is on a barely drivable dirt road — which may be why the jungle-swathed stretch from the beach villages of Malpais to Santa Teresa is still so preserved. Fronted by the Pacific’s unruly waves and backed only by jungle, even the few bungalow boutiques and hammock hotels are set beneath the lush canopy, unseen from the sand. Besides a few surfers out by the breaks and perhaps some mischievous monkeys pillaging for fruit in the canopy, you’re likely to have the beach to yourself. Come in the off-season (summer through fall) for even more solitude; September brings migrating whales just offshore, often visible from the sand.
9. Shipwreck Beach, Greece
One of the most photographed beaches in Greece is also one of its most remote, thanks to the towering cliffs that surround Shipwreck Beach’s sandy cove and make it accessible only by boat. Picture-perfect indeed, the Ionian island of Zakynthos is famous for its trademark beach — a perfect milky-white crescent where the wreckage of a marooned vessel, dating back to 1983, remains half-emerged in the sand; the beach was originally called Agios Georgios before the wreck became a fixture on the idyllic stretch, and Navagio (“shipwreck” in English) beach was born. Cruise tours departing from the northern village of Volimes will ferry passengers to the famous shore, as well as to the island’s other treasure, the Blue Caves at Skinari — massive airy grottos that are big enough to snorkel, swim, and boat through.
One of the most photographed beaches in Greece is also one of its most remote, thanks to the towering cliffs that surround Shipwreck Beach’s sandy cove and make it accessible only by boat. Picture-perfect indeed, the Ionian island of Zakynthos is famous for its trademark beach — a perfect milky-white crescent where the wreckage of a marooned vessel, dating back to 1983, remains half-emerged in the sand; the beach was originally called Agios Georgios before the wreck became a fixture on the idyllic stretch, and Navagio (“shipwreck” in English) beach was born. Cruise tours departing from the northern village of Volimes will ferry passengers to the famous shore, as well as to the island’s other treasure, the Blue Caves at Skinari — massive airy grottos that are big enough to snorkel, swim, and boat through.
10. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Tucked away on Australia’s idyllic Whitsunday Island (the largest of the Whitsunday chain), Whitehaven Beach seems impossibly pure. The dove-white, four-mile-plus stretch owes its silky, talcum-powder softness to the 99.8-percent pure silica grains that swath its shore. Backed by lush acacia forest and fading into pristine, cerulean waters, the setting simultaneously calls to mind and transcends island clichés. Best of all, the sands border on deserted thanks to exacting visitation limits enforced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (individuals must sign up with a tour operator to access the area). Consequently, Australia’s most photographed beach appears almost exactly the way it does in the pictures — inviting, relaxing and refreshingly empty.
Tucked away on Australia’s idyllic Whitsunday Island (the largest of the Whitsunday chain), Whitehaven Beach seems impossibly pure. The dove-white, four-mile-plus stretch owes its silky, talcum-powder softness to the 99.8-percent pure silica grains that swath its shore. Backed by lush acacia forest and fading into pristine, cerulean waters, the setting simultaneously calls to mind and transcends island clichés. Best of all, the sands border on deserted thanks to exacting visitation limits enforced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (individuals must sign up with a tour operator to access the area). Consequently, Australia’s most photographed beach appears almost exactly the way it does in the pictures — inviting, relaxing and refreshingly empty.
戳这里 Claim your page
来源: 文学城-玉洁冰清