TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
Copacabana,
Brazil
Simply put, Copacabana
beach is one of the greatest
vacation getaways in the
world. It’s a breathtaking
2.5-mile stretch of bright
sand that’s fi lled with
people luxuriating in the
sun and soaking up the
atmosphere. Lying on the
borderline of a tropical
refuge and the vivid world
metropolis of Rio de
Janeiro, no other beach in
the world compares–so my
apologies to Maui, South
Beach, and Santa Monica,
this one’s just got you beat.CLOCKWISE: JAG IMAGES/GETTYIMAGES; DREAMSTIME; SHUTTERSTOCK; DAVID CLAPP/GETTYIMAGESLocatedontheAtlanticside
of St Thomas is a protected
white-sand beach that
stretches for nearly three-
quarters of a mile. Often cited
as one of the best beaches in
the world thanks to its pristine
sand and calm waters, visitors
can spend the day at Magens
Bay for just US$4 per person.
Legend also has it that
Sir Francis Drake used Magens
Bay as an anchorage site while
waiting for ships to plunder.RED BEACH,
GREECE
Santorini has long been
called the diamond
of the Greek Islands.
Its white sculptured
villages are nestled
atop steep volcanic
cliffs that fall sharply to
the deep blue Aegean
Sea. The most famous
beach here is Red Beach
because of the slabs of
red and black volcanic
rocks. Most people just
come to admire the
steep cliffs and never
make it down to the hot
sand. Those who do are
treated to a picturesque
ambience of sunbathers
and natural beauty
rarely seen anywhere
else in the world.Moorea, French Polynesia
Lesser known (and less expensive) than its sister island
Bora Bora, Moorea is just as beautiful with as many (or
as little) activities as you can jam into a day. Although
the best thing to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the
gentle breeze, beautiful sunsets, and island hospitality!MAGENS BAY, UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
Little Feet on Sand
When Baywatch becomes baby watch, you need to think of beaches that are safe for kids, clean as a whistle,
and in the ‘not-to’ list of party-goers. This is our secret list of family-friendly beaches that fi t that category.
FAMILY TRAVEL
Boulders Beach, South Africa
Travelling to Africa usually conjures
visions of safari. But this Cape Town beach
is unmissable—it combines wildlife and
sand. Typically in Cape Town, you could
fi nd beaches that range from secluded
bays to long, open stretches of sand and
surf. The west side of the Cape Peninsula,
on the Atlantic Ocean, is where the more
fashionable set go to see and be seen. The
east side of the peninsula, on the warmer
Indian Ocean, is generally more laid-back and
not as frenetic as the Atlantic coastline. But
for a different seaside experience, Boulders
Beach forms part of a conservation area that
is home to the African penguin, and wooden
walkways have been constructed to view the
penguins in their natural habitat.