WANDERLUST NEWS
The World’s 50 Best Beaches have been announced The World’s 50 Best Beaches have been announced
A beach in the US Virgin Islands has been named number one globally in the official World’s 50 Best Beaches for 2024.
More than 1,000 travel experts voted Trunk Bay to the top of the rankings.
Thanks to the Virgin Island National Park as its luscious natural backdrop, and its sheltered position creating calm, clear waters idyllic for swimming, it’s the protected nature that has distinguished this Caribbean beach from other paradise hot spots.
The bay was named after the local population of leatherback turtles (known as ‘trunks’) who can be found swimming among the nearby reefs, which visitors can snorkel.
Coming in at a close second in the World’s 50 Best Beaches ranking is Cala Mariolu, located on Sardinia’s eastern coastline, followed by Meads Bay in Anguilla in third – both beaches again commended for their natural beauty and lack of crowds.
The USA has two more mentions. Hawaiian paradises of Lanikai (#14) and Kapalua Bay (#40) joined Trunk Bay on the list.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, destinations such as Italy, the Philippines, Australia and Greece had multiple sandy bays featured, whereas some of the first-time entries are lesser-known for their beaches, including Palawan, Japan and Venezuela.
The UK even just made the cut, with Kynance Cove in Cornwall polling at #48. The beach was praised for its turquoise waters and rugged beauty and was said to stand out ‘considering its northern location’.
Tine Holst, Co-Founder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches said: “Our list will help inspire travellers to leave the beaten path behind and enjoy the most stunning and relaxing beaches on earth.”
Beaches were ranked on eight different criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched, soundtrack of nature, easy to enter the water, often calm water, not too crowded and frequency of idyllic conditions.
Check out the full results for the World’s 50 Best Beaches below.
1. Trunk Bay, US Virgin Islands
2. Cala Mariolu, Sardinia, Italy
3. Meads Bay, Anguilla
4. Entalula Beach, Philippines
5. Voutoumi Beach, Greece
6. Turquoise Bay, Australia
7. Pink Beach, Indonesia
8. Anse Georgette, Seychelles
9. Green Lagoon, French Polynesia
10. Horse Shoe Island, Myanmar
And the rest…
11. Calo Des Moro, Spain
12. Le Morne Beach, Mauritius
13. Aharen Beach, Japan
14. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
15. One Foot Island, Cook Islands
16. Playa Balandra, Mexico
17. Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
18. Puinn Sand Beach, Norway
19. Cala Goloritze, Italy
20. Anchor Bay Beach, Australia
21. Gardner Bay, Ecuador
22. Anse Source D’argent, Seychelles
23. Freedom Beach, Thailand
24. Cayo de Agua, Venezuela
25. Praia Da Marinha, Portugal
26. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
27. Grote Knip, Curacao
28. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
29. Fteri Beach, Greece
30. Maundays Bay, Anguilla
31. Cayo Zapatilla, Panama
31. Boulders Beach, South Africa
33. Wharton Beach, Australia
34. Grand Anse, Grenada
35. Baia Do Sancho, Brazil
36. Kelebekler Vadisi Beach, Turkey
37. Colombier Beach, St Barth
38. Playa Xpu Ha, Mexico
39. Kelingking Beach, Indonesia
40. Kapalua Bay beach, Hawaii
41. Diamond Beach, Iceland
42. Pipe Creek Sandbar, Bahamas
43. Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic
44. Henderson Beach, Florida
45. Bon Bon Beach, Philippines
46. Cathedral Cove Beach, New Zealand
47. Varadero Beach, Cuba
48. Kynance Cove, UK
49. Eagle Beach, Aruba
50. Rabbit Beach, Italy
Learn more at worlds50beaches.com
