Praia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.
Emerging from the cold, dark days of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, travelers can start planning beach vacations. Tripadvisor just announced the Best of the Best Beaches for 2023 as part of its annual Travelers’ Choice® Awards. =
Choices were made from tens of millions of reviews submitted by millions of global travelers over the past 12-months to determine travelers’ absolute favorite beaches of the year. Choices span the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. These most popular beaches offer something for every type of beach dweller, from sun worshippers to adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts.
“Our community is really looking to kick up their experiences by embracing the cliffs of Cannon Beach, on the coast of Oregon in the Western United States, and cooler destinations like Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland. said Sarah Firshein, the Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor.
Island getaways are popular this year, with almost three quarters of the world’s top 10 situated in remote, offshore locations. Winners span from the popular beaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean to the more secluded coastlines of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil and Havelock Island, India.
The Global Winners
Climbing six places from last year to reach the No. 1 spot is Baia do Sancho. Located on the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, part of a group of volcanic islands just over 200 miles from the country’s northeast coast, this area is renowned for its jagged coastline and diverse ecosystems.
Off the beaten track and only accessible by ladder from the mainland, Baia de Sancho is not only famous for its picture perfect turquoise waters and white sand beach, but also the exotic array of wildlife. Travelers who venture into the warm clear waters might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of sea turtles, rays, dolphins and even reef sharks. Flanked by forest-clad cliffs this wild, unspoiled spot is also famous for the friendly crabs that crawl the shoreline.
A new and exciting entry to the world list for 2023 is the dramatic Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, Iceland, with its world famous black sands and imposing rock formations towering over the shore, some may recognize the striking backdrop from Game of Thrones.
Reynisfjara Beach is popular with birdwatchers for the various types of seabirds spotted nearby, most famously, puffins. But with waves of up to 40 meters (131 feet) and freezing waters, this is a beach best admired from the safety of the coast.
Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2023
1. Baia do Sancho – Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2. Eagle Beach– Aruba, Caribbean
3. Cable Beach – Broome, Australia
4. Reynisfjara Beach – Vik, Iceland
5. Grace Bay Beach – Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
6. Praia da Falésia– Olhos de Agua, Portuga
7. Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India
8. Spiaggia dei Conigli – Sicily, Italy
9. Varadero Beach – Cuba, Caribbean
10. Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
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The U.S. Winners
Ka’anapali Beach on the Hawaiian island of Maui was named No. 1 in the U.S., climbing a remarkable 16 places from last year to top the list. Three miles of powder white sand and crystal-clear water, this palm-tree lined island paradise shore is lapped by gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean.
Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, Georgia, comes in at No. 3, described by Tripadvisor reviewers as “other worldly” thanks to the ancient driftwood monuments that line the coast.
Three other new entries are in the top 10 this year, including Hanalei, on the island of Kauai, securing a No. 4 spot. Overall, Hawaii has three total winners in the U.S. top 10, more than any other state. But the Aloha State ties Florida for the most winners overall in the top 25, with eight each.
Top 10 Beaches in the US for 2023
- Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
- Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida
- Driftwood Beach – Jekyll Island, Georgia
- Hanalei Beach – Kauai, Hawaii
- Ho’okipa Beach Park – Maui, Hawaii
- Henderson Beach State Park – Destin, Florida
- Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Oregon
- Coronado Beach – Coronado, California
- Ogunquit Beach – Ogunquit, Maine
- La Jolla Cove – La Jolla, California
See all the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Beach winners for 2023 here.
(For all things travel, check out my award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, Follow on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. You can also find the podcast on my website.)
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