Yes, you read that correctly: pink beaches—exotic, stunning coastlines that look as if they’ve come straight from a Barbie movie. While it may seem hard to believe, there are several extraordinary pink beaches around the world, just as beautiful as those with other unique colors. Among the most striking are the pink ones.
Tiny red organisms live on fragments of shells and dead coral reefs, which fall to the ocean floor and are eventually washed ashore. Sometimes, natural calcium carbonate from coral or the shells of marine creatures, such as hermit crabs, mixes with the sand. Some beaches display a more vivid pink hue, while others have pink patches. Here are 10 amazing pink beaches from around the world.
10. Elafonisi Beach, Crete – Greece
Located in southern Crete, Elafonisi is one of the Mediterranean’s hidden treasures. It offers a stunning pink sand beach that, at certain times of the year, can be reached by walking through shallow waters. This picturesque spot is perfect for children, though some parts of the beach are rocky.
9. Spiaggia Rosa of Budelli, Sardinia – Italy
Part of the Maddalena archipelago in northern Sardinia, Budelli is home to Spiaggia Rosa, or Pink Beach. This beautiful beach gets its pink hue from foraminifera and other crushed marine organisms. The soft pink sand is set against striking granite rocks, making it one of the most famous pink beaches in the world.
8. Pink Beach of Komodo – Indonesia
Known for being the habitat of the Komodo dragon, Komodo Island also boasts a magical pink-tinted beach within Komodo National Park. The beach is framed by rocky cliffs, and coral reefs are visible beneath the crystal-clear waters.
7. Horseshoe Bay Beach – Bermuda
This British Overseas Territory is known for its picturesque pink beaches, with Horseshoe Bay Beach being the most famous. The baby-pink sand is the result of coral and shell fragments being washed ashore, creating a stunning contrast with the turquoise waters.
6. Pink Beach of Great Santa Cruz Island – Philippines
Located in Zamboanga City, this rare pink beach gets its distinctive hue from red organ pipe coral mixed with the sand over centuries of erosion. It’s the only pink beach in the Philippines.
5. Pink Beaches of Barbuda – Caribbean Sea
The twin island of Antigua, Barbuda is known for its wide pink-sand beaches, with Pink Beach on the southwest coast being the most prominent. Here, delicate conch-shell pink hues are blended with white sand, creating a striking coastline.
4. Balos Lagoon Beach of Crete – Greece
Off the coast of Crete, Balos Lagoon offers an ethereal experience with its pink-tinged sand formed by crushed shells. This secluded lagoon, framed by rocks and cliffs, is perfect for relaxing in shallow, warm waters.
3. Tangsi Beach of Lombok – Indonesia
Known as Pink Beach, Tangsi Beach on the Indonesian island of Lombok stands out for its coral reef fragments that give the sand its distinct color. Being remote, it’s less crowded, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
2. Bonaire Pink Beach – Dutch Caribbean Island
Part of the ABC islands, Bonaire is known for its beautiful pink sand beach, created by crushed shells of bright pink foraminifera. This beach is perfect for water sports and adds to Bonaire’s scenic charm.
1. Pink Beach of Harbor Island – Bahamas
Perhaps the most famous pink beach in the world, Harbour Island in the Bahamas boasts three miles of perfectly pink sand. The pink hue comes from abundant foraminifera shells, creating a fairy-tale-like landscape against the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Imagine a beach where the sand isn’t golden or white but a vibrant pink. These stunning pink beaches turn that imagination into reality, creating magical landscapes across the globe.