A beach always feels like the ultimate escape, with the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, which science says has a calming effect on our brain activity. And then there's the guaranteed hit of vitamin D our exposed skin absorbs.
Whether you're looking for black-sand beaches, high-octane watersport hotspots, secret bays or the finest palm-fringed tropical paradises, Lonely Planet shows you where and how to find them. So pack your beach towel and hit the sands.
Includes:
Bliss // Tropical desert island paradises
Cabbage Beach // Nassau, Bahamas Crane Beach // Barbados Flamenco Beach // Culebra, Puerto Rico Green Island Beach // Green Island, Antigua & Barbuda Hanalei Beach // Hawaii, USA Nalaguraidhoo Beach // South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Drama // Wild & unusual beaches
Bowling Ball Beach // Mendocino, California, US Giant's Causeway // County Antrim, Northern Ireland Gulpiyuri Beach // near Llanes, Spain Hidden Beach // Puerta Vallarta, Marieta Islands, Mexico
Action // Surfing & diving meccas
Bells Beach // Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia Biarritz Beach // Biarritz, France Bondi Beach // Sydney, Australia Ehukai Beach // Hawaii, USA
Discovery // Beaches for combing & exploring
Charmouth Beach // Dorset, UK Conche des Baleines // Ile de Re, France Navagio Beach // Zakynthos, Greece Squeaky Beach // Wilson's Promontory, Australia
Parties // Social & nightlife beaches
Bacvice Beach // Split, Croatia Copacabana // Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Gulf Shore Beach // Alabama, USA Paradise Beach // Mykonos, Greece
Encounters // Wildlife & conservation hotspots
Agonda Beach // Goa, India Diani Beach // Mombasa, Kenya Espiguette Beach // Le Grau du Roi, France Manuel Antonio Beach // Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Family // Calm, safe all-rounders for all comers
Brandinchi Cove // Sardinia, Italy Koh Kood (Koh Kut) // Trat Province, Thailand Porthcurno // Cornwall, UK Praia de Mira // Mira, Portugal Will Rogers State Beach // Malibu, California, USA
About Lonely Planet: Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.



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