Pink Sand Beaches are real, and a spectacularly beautiful thing that will take your breath away and create memories that last a lifetime.

Located in a few places around the world, you should consider visiting one of the many stunning pink sand beaches. Pink Sand beaches obtain their colour through a combination of thousands of broken coral pieces, shells and remnants of calcium carbonate called red foraminifera washing ashore that live in nearby coral reefs.

In this guide we have put together 11 of the best pink sand beaches in the world in:

• Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
• Elbow Beach, Bermuda
• Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas – Harbour Island
• Crane Beach, Barbados
• 17 Mile Beach, Barbuda
• Tangsi Beach, Lombok, Indonesia
• Komodo, Indonesia
• Spiaggia Rosa, Italy
• Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
• Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece
• Balos Lagoon Beach, Greece

 

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Getting its name from its horseshoe shape, Horseshoe Bay Beach is along the southeast coast. This popular beach features a beautiful light pink sand curve which runs into the beautiful blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The coral reef offshore prevents waves getting to the beach, making it a snorkelling paradise although is only recommended for strong swimmers due to the occasional rough waters.

With the beach being a popular cruise ship port, it is quite crowded during peak seasons although during the off-season it can be a quiet and relaxing place to enjoy the breath-taking beach.

 

Elbow Beach, Bermuda

One of the quieter pink sand beaches in Bermuda, you can be virtually guaranteed a nice relaxing day here. Like Horseshoe Bay, it is great for snorkelling with the offshore shipwrecks.

 

Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas

An Instagram-worthy beach, the water here is warm all year round due to the great Bahamas weather, and is somewhat protected from rolling waves by a coral reef which makes it a great to place to visit with children.

 

Crane Beach, Barbados

Another amazing pink sand beach in the Caribbean, is Crane Beach – while many of the pink sand beaches on this list have calm waters due to the coral reefs nearby, its worth noting that Crane Beach does have powerful waves although these are great for boogie boarding.

Fun Fact: If you’re staying at the luxurious Crane Resort, you can have access to free loungers and umbrellas although, you can also pay a fee if you aren’t.

 

17 Mile Beach, Barbuda

On the tiny island of Barbuda, 17 Mile Beach has escaped much tourism over the years and one of the best ways to visit is through a day trip from Antigua. 17 Mile Beach is virtually unspoiled, making it a wonderful off-the-beaten path pink sand beach experience. Like some of the other beaches mentioned above its great for snorkellers with a great variety of sea life as this is where the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea converges.

Tangsi Beach, Lombok, Indonesia

Lombok is a gorgeous island in Indonesia, and it is there where you can find the scenic Tangsi Pink Sand Beach near a fishing village on the east side of the island. The water is safe and calm, so like the other beaches it is great to snorkel although, it is worth knowing that this part of the island is not yet that well known to tourists. As a result, it is abit difficult to get to as the paved road to the beach is poorly maintained, although a fantastic tranquil escape but make sure you bring stuff with you as there are no services like restaurants here yet.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a beautiful pink sand beach this is one not to miss, as whilst some of the pink sand beaches can be abit pale, this beach is truly pink and is at its brightest in the morning.  The area itself is also surrounded by hills and cliffs, which make it a truly scenic location and means you can climb and enjoy the view of the pink sand and sea.

 

Komodo, Indonesia

Komodo Island features a stunning pink sand beach which is fantastic for snorkelers and swimmers alike with shallow water, and a coral in great condition. The beach has several things to do, with loads of Watersports available but we do recommend visiting with a guide, as the island is home to Komodo Dragons!

Spiaggia Rosa, Italy

This one makes our list, due to how gorgeous it is, but Spigagga Rosa Pink Sand Beach is off limits to the public. You can view the beach from a boat or a nearby cliff, but no one is allowed on it to preserve the vibrant pink hues which used to be even brighter before visitors were taking jars of it when they left

 

Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain

There are some great surrounding services and amenities at this beach, making this definitely worth visiting if you’re in Europe, particularly as Playa de Ses Illetes is less crowded than nearby Ibiza. Meaning ‘beach of the small islands’ and a cluster off Formentera, this pink sand beach is worth visiting no only for lounging but to enjoy one of the many seafood restaurants that dot the island too.

 

Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece

One of the most famous pink sand beaches on our list, Elafonisi Pink Sand Beach, is located in Crete and technically sits on an island that is connected to the mainland by a sandbar.  It’s really easy to get to by foot because the water between the two is basically non-existent and at times very shallow.

The islet features shallow warm turquoise water with beautiful white and pink sand beaches, and is located in a protected zone, meaning there are gorgeous natural beauty in every direction you look. It’s a popular destination for families because it has a load of amenities including parking, restrooms, beach chairs, and umbrellas.   However, if you head into the island itself you will find a nature reserve with rate wildflowers, loggerhead sea turtles, small caves and intriguing rock formations to explore.

 

Balos Lagoon Beach, Greece

Due to the crushed seashells that have washed ashore, this beach is technically a pink sand beach in parts although, its primarily white. It can get quite crowded during the summer months due to its clear turquoise water and breath-taking scenic views.

However, when you do see the pink sands of the Balos Lagoon Beach, it looks something out of a fantasy as its paired with the turquoise of the Mediterranean with the greenery and rock structures in the distance.