4 minute read
8 Best-kept Secret Beaches
From a black-sand paradise in Puerto Rico to a secluded swimming cove in Mallorca, these under-the-radar beaches will leave you equal parts amazed and refreshed.
By Andrea Karr
Gibson Steps
Victoria, Australia
The Twelve Apostles, a group of seven towering limestone stacks jutting out of the ocean in Port Campbell National Park, are famed for their rugged beauty. But just down the road, the beach at Gibson Steps is a less-frequented stretch of golden sand with its own pair of craggy pillars: Gog and Magog. At low tide, descend the 86-step staircase to the beach, taking in the ancient offshore sea stacks on one side and 230-foot-tall cliffs on the other.
DON’T MISS
The Gibson Steps sit along one of the most scenic drives in the world, the Great Ocean Road, which runs between dozens of natural attractions like the Grotto, a strange combination of cave, archway and sinkhole.
Playa Negra
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Most Caribbean beaches have white or golden sand, but not Playa Negra on the small Puerto Rican island of Vieques. The sheltered beach, just a five-minute drive from the town of Esperanza, gets its name from its black sand, a result of volcanic bedrock on Monte Pirata (the grains are even magnetic!). It provides a dramatic backdrop for a beach stroll or horseback riding, a popular activity on the island.
DON’T MISS
While on Vieques, take a nighttime kayak tour through Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world — it contains up to 700,000 microscopic dinoflagellates per gallon of water.
Cala d’Estellencs
Mallorca, Spain
More of a pebbly cove than a traditional beach, Cala d’Estellencs and its boathouses built directly into the rocky cliffs will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. The secluded fishing harbor and swimming destination is an hour’s walk from the village of Estellencs, or a one-hour drive from Palma, and promises clear water perfect for exploring the underwater caves. There’s also a snack stand, Bar Sa Punteta, where you can sip an Aperol spritz and gaze out over the sea.
DON’T MISS
There are no shower facilities on site, but, when there’s enough water flowing, you can rinse off in the Torrent de Son Fortuny, a small waterfall that ripples from the rock face.
Spiaggia di Scilla
Calabria, Italy
Spiaggia di Scilla (a.k.a. Scilla Beach) is nestled in the heart of a charming fishing village that rises up from the surrounding cliffs. It’s popular among Calabrians on summer weekends, when colorful umbrellas dot the pebbled shoreline. Since it’s located right in town, this beach is within walking distance of several restaurants where you can dine on the local speciality, swordfish, served in sandwiches and atop pasta.
DON’T MISS
Castello Ruffo, a fortress that has acted as both a lighthouse and a monastery, is visible from the beach and about a 10-minute walk away. (Selfguided tours cost two euros and take less than an hour.)
Nyang Nyang Beach
Uluwatu, Bali
In 2010, when Bali starred alongside Julia Roberts in Eat Pray Love, the island’s beach-shoot location, Padang Padang, became a big-time tourist attraction. Just down the road, the equally lovely Nyang Nyang Beach remains a hidden gem set below forested cliffs, complete with surfable waves and warungs (family-run shops) where you can rent loungers and buy drinks. Getting there — a steep scooter ride to the parking lot followed by a 20-minute walk — is well worth the effort.
DON’T MISS
Walk east on the beach at low tide for just over a mile and you’ll come to neighboring Nunggalan Beach, which features a half-buried graffiti’d shipwreck.
Windmill Beach
Simon’s Town, South Africa
Boulders Beach is a must-see near Cape Town thanks to the distinct granite boulders that stud its shore and the colony of African penguins that calls it home. But this means it can also be crowded — and smelly. For a similar view without the tuxedoed birds, head to nearby Windmill Beach. Its rock formations are just as impressive and the calm, crystal-clear water is great for diving, snorkeling and kayaking.
DON’T MISS
Miller’s Point Tidal Pool is a 10-minute drive away and kids will love slipping down its small waterslide into the shallow waters.
