Pink sand beaches are among the most stunning natural wonders on the planet. These magical shores are unforgettable, and you should add them to your bucket list. When arranging a vacation to a pink sand beach, though, prioritization might be tricky. After all, there are thousands of pink sand beaches in the world!
How Do You Know If It’s Pink Sand?
You know you’re at a pink sand beach if the sands are whitish, pink, or red. You also can test it by rubbing it between your fingers and then looking to see what color it is on your palms. When it’s wet, look for small pieces of seaweed that may be mixed with the sand.
Red-pink sand beaches are not uncommon worldwide, but they are most often found near volcanoes. The most notable example is Bali’s iconic Sanur Beach, where Mt Agung last erupted in 1963, spewing tons of ash into the air and depositing enough onshore to create a permanent layer of pumice tinted its nearby beaches permanently pink.
What Countries Have Pink Sand Beaches?
Roughly thirty countries around the world have pink sand beaches. These countries include Brazil, Aruba, Grenada, Madagascar, and even the United States, with its White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Most of these beaches are made up of fragments of broken shells from a type of algae that can only be found in a handful of places around the world. The sands come from microscopic plankton called Dunaliella Salina, which absorb red organic molecules and produce pink pigment. Not all pink-colored sand is from this type of algae, though. Some hot springs deposit different minerals into an environment’s shoreline sediment, eventually creating its unique color for the beach. For example, take Boracay Beach in the Philippines. It’s composed of layers of coral dust and tiny bits of volcanic rock. Though it’s not technically a white sand beach, there’s still plenty to do on Boracay Beach besides swim!
Must-See Pink Sand Beaches
Seeing pictures of dream-like beaches can be enough to make anyone want to start packing. However, hundreds of beautiful beaches and islands are out there, many of which you might not have heard about yet. Here are the top three pink sand beaches that shouldn’t be missed!
1) Tybee Island, Georgia: This Savannah-area beach is a winner for an authentic taste of southern living without the tourist crowds and high prices. The most popular spot on Tybee Island is the mile-long pier. Overlooking 17th-century Fort Pulaski National Monument, it offers plenty of photo ops (try climbing up the stairs).
2) Vieques, Puerto Rico: There’s no place quite like Vieques when it comes to getting away from it all. Set aside for the US Navy during World War II and subsequently used as a bombing range until 2003, Vieques became a nature preserve in 2005.
3) Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: A vacationers’ paradise, this resort town is located on the eastern tip of Hispaniola – what’s more, it boasts some of the world’s best white sand beaches.
