Most Recognized Marine Life Beaches in the World

Located along the La Jolla shoreline, La Jolla Cove Beach is a small yet immensely popular beach with light brown sand. This north-facing beach is situated within a rocky cove - named the La Jolla Cove - below the northeastern part of a blufftop park called the Ellen Browning Scripps Park. There is a rocky point near the western part of La Jolla Cove Beach which protects the water near this beach from strong waves, making it a favorite spot for snorkelers and scuba divers. The bluff sides around the beach are composed of sandstone, and the view of La Jolla Cove is simply breathtaking, especially from nearby Torrey Pines.

Located in the south-western part of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Sea Lion Cove has a small pebbly beach that is surrounded by a rocky shoreline. The water near this beach can occasionally have large waves and strong currents. The area around the beach has coastal scrub vegetation and interesting rock formations. 

Located in Espanola Island, Gardner Bay – also called Gardner Bay Beach and Bahia Gardner – is a beautiful mile-long white-sand beach in the popular vacation destination the Galapagos Islands.  Lonely Planet magazine listed this beach as one of the 25 best beaches in the world in 2024.  In addition, CNN has named this beach as one of the best beaches in the world in 2017, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located near Simon’s Town on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, South Africa, Boulders Beach - also known as Boulders Bay - is a small white sand beach with unique granite rock formations. The beach is part of the well-known Table Mountain National Park and is adjacent to Foxy Beach. It has a spectacular backdrop of gigantic granite boulders, dunes, coastal vegetation, and many oceanfront buildings, which together add allure to its beauty.  

Boulders Beach is immensely popular for its resident colony of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus), protected under the Cape Nature Conservation Program. Boulders Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by UK-based financial website Money.co.uk and ranked 12th best beach by Big 7 Travel, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The beach is one of the few places in the world where you can observe these endangered birds up close in their natural habitat. The penguin colony at Boulders Beach started in 1982 with just two breeding pairs. Today, it has grown to over 3,000 birds, making it a major tourist attraction in Cape Town and drawing a large influx of visitors. The beach has elevated boardwalks that allow visitors to observe the penguins without disturbing their habitat. In addition, the beach is a site for educational programs and conservation efforts to protect penguins and their environment. Also, conservationists have installed artificial nest boxes to provide safe nesting sites for the penguins, helping to boost their breeding success. Despite being in a protected area, the Boulders Beach penguins face threats from natural predators, human disturbance, and environmental changes.

Located on the southern coast of Cape Le Grand National Park in Western Australia, Lucky Bay is a five-kilometer-long crescent-shaped white sand beach with many rocky portions.  In May 2023, a survey based on the votes of over 750 travel professionals declared this beach the best beach in the world and was also acknowledged as the whitest sand beach in Australia by the National Scientific Committee.  It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  The beach is positioned in a sheltered inlet and has a beautiful backdrop of dunes, coastal vegetation, rocky headlands, and unique granite boulders strewn around the bay, shaped into intriguing shapes by wind and water, which together provide incredible views of Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve and the Pacific Ocean.  The beach is part of Cape Le Grand National Park, which preserves the fragile ecosystem, including coastal landscapes, woodlands, heathlands, and native biodiversity of the region.

Looking for a beautiful getaway vacation? Come to Heron Island and enjoy the company of the scenic views and wildlife. Provided with the utmost staff members and lounges!

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 Plettenberg Bay on the southeastern coast of South Africa, Robberg Beach is popular with families, children, and locals because of its easy access, gorgeous views, and warm waters. This Blue Flag beach has many amenities including public restrooms, showers, lifeguard stations, and food vendors. Robberg Beach has two parking lots with security guards near the entrance of the beach but on crowded summer days, these lots fill up quickly so be sure to plan ahead. There is a stepped pathway that leads to the sand and wheelchair access on adjacent ramps.

The clear calm waters are great for swimming, surfing, bodysurfing, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. The golden sand stretches almost four kilometers and is the perfect place for long walks, jogs, and volleyball games. Robberg Beach is very popular for watching dolphins and seals from the shore – and if you visit from July to December, you can see the annual migration of whales. If you want a little exercise, Robberg Nature Reserve is only a 10-minute drive from the beach and offers many hiking trails on the Robberg Peninsula.

If you get hungry, you can take a short 5-minute walk to Full Circle Plett, a family-friendly restaurant that’s famous for its pizza. In the heart of Plettenberg Bay, you’ll also find many restaurants within a 10-minute drive of the beach. We like Indigo Bay Oceanfront Grill & Bar, a popular restaurant with fine dining and gorgeous ocean views. If you’re looking for casual dining, try Off The Hook for a quick afternoon bite and fresh seafood.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out the many beachfront accommodations within walking distance of Robberg Beach. The Periwinkle Lodge is a 4-Star luxury lodge that offers private rooms with balconies and stunning panoramic views of the Robberg Peninsula. You can also stay at The Robberg Beach Lodge, a collection of luxury private beachfront villas with two outdoor pools. At the north end of Robberg Beach, you’ll find the Beacon Island Resort, a large family-friendly hotel that overlooks Plettenberg Bay.

Located in the city of San Simeon, Point Piedras Blancas Beach is a small, wide, and rocky beach that is a part of the Hearst San Simeon State Park and Piedras Blancas Outstanding Natural Area. Point Piedras Blancas Beach is situated on the north side of the historic Piedras Blancas Light Station. Point Piedras Blancas Beach is a perfect destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Point Piedras Blancas Beach does not provide access to beachgoers other than windsurfers and kiteboarders as it is a habitat for northern elephant seals. 

Located below oceanfront bluffs in Malibu, Point Dume State Beach – also called Point Dume Beach, Big Dume Beach, and Dume Cove Beach – is a crescent-shaped, extremely popular state-managed beach with light brown sand.  Lonely Planet magazine listed it as one of the best beaches in Malibu, and Conde Nast Traveller magazine also listed it as one of the best beaches in Los Angeles.  It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  The beach is open between sunrise and sunset.

Located in the city of Inverness, Drakes Beach is a very small, wide, and remote beach that is a part of Point Reyes National Seashore.  Drakes Beach is north of the historic lighthouse and museum Point Reyes Lighthouse – an incredible spot for photography. Drakes Beach is situated next to the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center featuring many informative exhibits about the nearby area, especially Point Reyes. Please note that the lighthouse and visitor center are open from Friday to Monday only.   

Located in the neighborhood of Waikiki, Kaimana Beach – also known as Kaimana Beach Park, Kaimana’s Beach, Sans Souci Beach, and San Souci Beach – is a wide beach with light brown sand, nearby palm trees and Hau trees, nearby rocky reefs, and a nearby rocky breakwater.  The beach area is located adjacent to a war memorial named Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium.  Kaimana Beach is a part of a much larger beach named Waikiki Beach. 

Located between the towns of Moeraki and Hampden on the Otago coast of New Zealand, Koekohe Beach - also known as Moeraki Boulders Beach - is a one-mile-long beige sand beach with many rocky portions.  The beach is renowned for the Moeraki Boulders, large and spherical stones that weigh several tons and are up to two meters in diameter.  These perfect, spherical-shaped, cracked, honeycomb-like boulders were formed around 60 million years ago by septarian concretions in sea floor sediments.  Many also believe the boulders are the remains of eel baskets, gourds, and kumara from the wreck of the ancestral canoe, Araiteuru.  The beach has a beautiful backdrop of rugged cliffs, dense vegetation, and a beachfront cafe that offers Instagram-worthy views of the South Pacific Ocean.  It is worth noting that these boulders are protected by law, and visitors are encouraged to respect the natural environment.

Located in the city of Madeira, Madeira Beach is a two-mile-long, wide, and an excellent beach situated in front of Boca Ciega Millennium Park. The beach faces the Gulf of Mexico and is filled with many water sport enthusiasts including surfers, snorkelers, divers, and sailors. Dunedin Beach has beautiful white-light grey sand and its shore are covered by lots of seashells making it an awesome destination for beachcombing.  

Located in the northern part of the Kauai shoreline, Tunnels Beach – also called Makua Beach – is a popular half-mile-long beach with coarse golden coral sand. The travel website Big 7 Travel listed this beach as one of the best beaches in the world – in addition, Travel+Leisure magazine also listed this beach as one of the “12 Best Beaches in Kauai for Sunsets, Snorkeling, and Swimming.” This beach is very popular with families and you can see many families here, especially on weekends.