Dirtiest Beaches in the World

Located in south Molokai, Kamiloloa Beach is a narrow beach with light brown sand and many rocks, a nearby large reef, and many nearby palm trees and shrubs. This beach is situated near a hotel named Hotel Moloka’i.

Popular white sand beach with many facilities- lifeguard, bathroom, lounge/umbrella rental; surfing spot; close to many restaurants and shops.

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.

Located in the middle of the San Clemente waterfront, San Clemente Pier City Beach is one of the most popular beaches in San Clemente. The narrow beach has light brown sand, patches of gravel, and a wooden pier that 1,300 feet into the sea. It features a backdrop of a grassy park and palm trees. 

Located within the popular and beautiful coastal resort of Playa del Carmen along the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a long and wide white sand beach.  The beach is positioned along the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean coast and has a beautiful backdrop of many oceanfront buildings, including hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, a promenade lined with many shops, and a large park popularly known as the Parque Los Fundadores, which together offer Instagram-worthy views.  Playa del Carmen is part of the Riviera Maya, a tourism corridor that attracts millions of visitors each year, contributing significantly to the local economy and emphasizing the importance of sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts while protecting the natural environment and marine life.

Located on the border of the cities of San Clemente and Dana Point, Poche Beach lies near the intersection of North El Camino Real and Camino Capistrano. Adjacent to the Shorecliffs Beach Club and running close to active train tracks, this beach is mostly rocky with some stretches of light brown sand. The Poche Creek meets the ocean near the beach, often flooding the area during rains and storms. There are oceanfront residential areas both to the north and south of the beach area. Poche Beach has no lifeguards or any other facilities.

Located in the city of Dana Point, Doheny State Beach – North Beach is a scenic beach with light brown sand, nestled within the larger state-managed Doheny State Beach area. This beach is not only a gateway to the beautiful Pacific Ocean but also features a unique creek, San Juan Creek, which flows adjacent to the beach before meeting the ocean. Notably, the beach and its surrounding area offer excellent opportunities to explore tide pools, especially during low tide, making it a prime location for tidepooling enthusiasts. This makes Doheny State Beach a distinctive destination among the many state parks in Orange County.

Doheny State Beach – North Beach is open between 6 am and 10 pm.

Located in the southern part of Ko Phi Phi Le island, Maya Bay – also called Maya Bay Beach and Maya Beach – is an extremely popular, beautiful, curve-shaped, 250-meter-long beach with light brown sand and nearby oceanfront limestone cliffs.  This beach is located in the Krabi Province of Thailand and it is a part of a national park named Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. 

Lonely Planet listed this beach as the third best beach in the world in its January 2024 edition.  The British newspaper The Independent also listed this beach as one of the 13 best beaches in Thailand, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  

Maya Bay Thailand is usually open for visitors between 7 am and 6 pm.