All the time, my wife Bella and I hear people telling us that they discovered the most amazing beach in the world. Now, I automatically get a tad wary of such comments, as the term ‘best’ is relative to what each individual is looking for. Further, a beach could be the best in one thing, but sorely lacking in another aspect.
For some, it means having a restaurant, a bathroom, some lively entertainment, and of course—easy access. To others it really has nothing to do with the actual beach—but moreso on how the swimming at that beach is. For others it’s a place to feel far far away from the world, and maybe have some intimate moments with your loved one. So you see, it’s all based on perspective.
For me, the perfect beach has the following qualifications
- There’s nobody (almost at least) there. I like stretches of sand with nary a footprint. Just desolate sand. Me and my lady.
- The sand is fine. Not rocky or grainy.
- The swimming is good—there’s no crazy rip-tide or undertow.
- It’s facing West. There’s nothing like watching a sunset on the beach with your loved ones or friends as the sun dips over the horizon.
- This seems to go hand-in-hand with ‘nobody there.’
- Clean vistas. I really don’t want to be looking at a city or factory from the beach—just doesn’t jive with the feeling.
- That the beach is ideal for whatever sport we want to partake in: paddle-boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, etc.
Alright, enough of me telling you about my bourgeois beach tastes- let me show you some of our favourites with photos.
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Pine Cay, Turks & Caicos
With a barrier reef protecting the Turks and Caicos islands— the sea rarely gets very rough around these islands— making it ideal for swimming or spending lots of time in the water. Pine Cay is a private island with about 3 dozen houses—so the beach is pretty much always devoid of people—except for the occasional small tourist boat. But with a few km’s of stretch, you’ll often miss them. Did I mention the color of the water is magic?
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Sian Ka’an Reserve, Tulum, Mexico
A long desolate stretch of beach that’s inviting for long walks and superb views. A few species of turtles use it for nesting during summer months—trust me, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. The waves depend on the wind, but you can have glass-like water—or four foot waves. It’s a perfect place to kitesurf—so Bella and I spent full days doing just that.
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Bazaruto Island, Mozambique
Be prepared to be completely blown away by the views from the main island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. Climb up the giant sand-dune to get the best vistas of swirling hues of blue and green as you breathlessly take in the Indian Ocean. It’s the perfect place to relax in-between scuba-dives!
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Bambarra Beach, Middle Caicos, Turks & Caicos
A place we plan on going back to time and time again—beautiful Bambarra beach in Middle Caicos. Powdery sand. Rarely a soul to be seen, and waters that you could spend hours looking at. It’s tricky to get here—but well worth it. There’s an island called Pelican island about a 25 minute walk straight out from shore that you can walk to during low tide—or kite to, if you brought your gearJ
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Mahahual, Mexico
This is another gem where you can get the best of both worlds. You can stay in a little cabin on the beach with all the amenities of restaurant, kite school, and activities—or you can drive a little further down to find some desolate stretches. Of course, a stop by the Mahahual landmark tree is a must. I might not sure how many hurricanes it survived—but it still stand stoically by the edge—lending itself to incredible photos.
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Punta Coco, Holbox, Mexico
This was a perfect place to kiteboard—and is on the somewhat deserted side of the island. You can walk out knee deep for a couple hundred feet in crystal clear water. Punta Coco goes into the perfect category for one main reason—the sunsets. As it faces west, at the end of a days kiting, we’d sit there and ponder the magnificent sunsets—excited for what tomorrow would bring.
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By The Expeditioners Roberto
