A sense of insider knowledge surrounds the beaches on Bocas del Toro, a group of
islands on the Caribbean side of Panama. Often overlooked as a
beach destination, hidden away on Bocas del Toro are a number of
relatively unknown enclaves. With powdery sand, idyllic slanted
palm trees and a fringing of rainforest, the key to these beaches’
seclusion is their relative isolation. The pick of the bunch is Red
Frog Beach, where jungle and beach are within touching distance.
Reach it via water taxi, with prerequisite hammocks, creaky beach
bars and a handful of rustic resorts waiting for you.

A gateway to the sea beyond, the real star of the beaches on
this remote, tiny island, accessible by a 55-minute flight from
mainland
Tahiti, is the sheer amount of fish swimming around its crystal
clear waters. Bring your gear and feast your eyes on one of the
world’s best snorkelling spots. And once you’ve had your fill,
spend the rest of your time idling on the deserted pink sand
beaches.

Just as much about the journey as the destination, Baia do
Sancho is found on a secluded, environmentally protected
archipelago. Despite repeatedly being voted one of the world’s best
beaches, it is often deserted. Best reached either by boat,
allowing you to capitalise on the area’s fantastic diving, or by
land where you are rewarded with a fantastic view of the bay before
descending down a cliff-side staircase to the beach itself. From
January
to July
visits are restricted to 6AM-6PM as turtle-spawning season
dominates.

Sometimes beauty comes at a price. Radhanagar is one of India’s
most beautiful beaches but with a thriving domestic tourism
industry this can mean crowds. It’s still well worth a visit though
but head here in the late afternoon and be rewarded with not only
dwindling crowds but also glorious sunsets over the Andaman
Sea.

If the beach-bucket culture of
Thailand‘s most popular islands induces a sense of panic, head
instead to Koh Kradan, south of buzzing Koh Lanta. This tiny island
is part National Park, part resort island, creating the perfect
blend of natural beauty and handy amenities. Limestone outcrops at
sea make for a blissful backdrop to sundowners after a laborious
afternoon spent kayaking around the island’s perimeter.

One of Hawaii‘s
most famed beaches laughs in the face of generic white-sand
counterparts, trumping them all with its glittering deep black
lava-stone beach. Sandwiched between sparkling turquoise waters and
dense green foliage, the inky beach is like a sweeping stroke of an
artist’s pencil. A worthy destination in its own right with a host
of geographical landmarks to visit including volcanic caves and
cliffs.

A slight departure from the dominating criteria on this list,
South Beach is all about the crowds not seclusion. Crank up the
Will Smith, don your skimpiest swimwear and dive into the non-stop
exuberant party atmosphere that makes Miami‘s
South Beach one of America’s most famous. A hedonistic world of
beautiful people, convertible cars and endless Art Deco buildings –
there’s nowhere else quite like it.

Beaches don’t come any more perfect than those on the Pamalican
in the Philippines. A private island
housing the exclusive Amanpulo hotel, the pristine beach shines
like a halo as you land on the island via private plane. With each
villa leading lazily down to its
own stretch of beach, privacy and exclusivity allow you to enjoy
this slice of paradise with super luxury trimmings.

British beaches don’t just mean striped awnings, melting 99s and
lobster-red tourists. Venture further afield and the British Isles
plays host to a range of beautiful – if somewhat windswept – coves
and bays that may not get much sunshine but are no less magical for
it. Rhossili Bay near Swansea is one of the best; a three-mile long
stretch of wide beach with fantastic views from atop Rhossili Down
and an exposed shipwreck visible only at low tide.

Consistently ranked one of the world’s best, Loblolly offers up
a seemingly never ending stretch of pillow soft sandy beach that
snakes its way along the transparent waters. Thatched umbrellas,
beach huts and a smattering of bars are dotted along but Loblolly
retains a sense of calm due to its sheer length. Take it all in
from the 360-degree lookout or simply while away the days
sunbathing and snorkelling.