Best Sandcastle Beaches in the World

Located in the resort village of Polzeath, Polzeath Beach—also called Hayle Bay and Pollsygh Beach—is a 640-meter-long west-facing beach in the county of Cornwall with light brown sand, a few pebbles, a rocky shoreline, and rocky cliffs.  This beach is located at the mouth of the Camel River, near the Camel Estuary.  A stream sometimes flows through the beach – once it passes the beach, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. 
The Sunday Times listed this sandy beach as one of the best beaches in the United Kingdom – Conde Nast Traveller also listed this beach as one of the best beaches of Cornwall.  In addition, The Telegraph also listed it as one of Britain’s 20 best beaches, and it also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  Polzeath Beach Cornwall has also been awarded a Blue Flag because of its cleanliness.

Located in the city of Destin, Destin Beach is a beach with white sand.

Located in the small town of Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach is a long and wide beach situated between Drapper Lake and Bog Redfish Lake at the northwestern end of the state of Florida.  Blue Mountain Beach is a family-friendly beach as it is west of Grayton Beach State Park which has many playgrounds. Blue Mountain Beach is in front of the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by many antique shops, nightclubs, and international lifestyle stores including Chubbies, Lululemon, and Lilly Pulitzer.  

If you went to Rio De Janeiro and didn’t go to Copacabana Beach, did you go to Rio at all? There’s a reason this beach is so world-renowned and the inspiration for Barry Manilow’s 1978 hit song, “Copacabana.” This magnificent beach spans four kilometers and is divided by “postos,” markers that help divide the beach by activities and groups that frequent there. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even befriend many of the fun-loving Cariocas and get a deeper experience with the vibrant Brazilian culture.

During the day, there’s a plethora of activities to do at Copacabana like sailing, water skiing, surfing, hiking, biking, and spiking volleyballs. Beach chairs and umbrellas welcome all beachgoers to lounge and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Copacabana is split by 6 postos. North of Copacabana, posto 1 establishes a quieter section known as Leme Beach where older locals and kids from the nearby favelas like to hang out. Posto 2 marks the end of Leme Beach, and activity starts picking up on the beach. Here you’ll find plenty of opportunities to join the locals in games of volleyball, football (soccer), and frescoball. Posto 4 has a section of palm trees where you can enjoy the shade and watch slackliners try their hand at gravity-defying acrobatics just feet off the ground. The southern end of Copacabana, between postos 5 and 6, is the best area to surf, paddle board, and swim. The Copacabana Fort acts as a windbreaker that prevents waves from getting too choppy inviting surfers of all experience levels.

If you’re looking to slow down the pace over a meal, sit down at Churrascaria Palace, one of the best churrascarias (traditional Brazilian barbecue restaurant) in town, where waiters bring out some of the juiciest and well-prepared meats you will ever have. If you want something a little quicker or more casual, drop by Joaquina, a restaurant just south of posto 1 at the north end of Copacabana. With an ocean-facing location, outdoor seating, and traditional Brazilian cuisine, you won’t be disappointed by the experience.

As the day comes to a close and the nightcrawlers start to come out from their mid-day siestas, Copacabana transforms into a night owl’s haven. If you’re looking for live music at a hole-in-the-wall dive bar, drop by Bip Bip, a Copacabana staple just west of posto 5 famous for bringing local musicians to play some of the best choro and samba music around. If you want something a little roomier, check out Mariuzinn Disco Club. With two bars, two dance floors, and an upstairs balcony to top it off, you’ll be sure to have an authentic Brazilian night out.