White sand beaches are a dime a dozen, but rare stretches of green, red, and black shoreline? Colored sand beaches deserve a coveted spot on your feed. From Iceland to Hawaii, these seven beaches come in a rainbow of stunning sand colors. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Black Sand: Diamond Beach, Jokulsarlon, Iceland
You’ll need boots, not a bikini, to visit many otherworldly beaches in Iceland. Reynisfjara, on the island’s southern coast, is one of the country’s most famous black-sand beaches (recognize it from “Game of Thrones“?).
But Diamond Beach is the most impressive, thanks to the massive, boulder-sized chunks of ice that break off from the nearby glacier, float ashore, and sparkle like gemstones on the intensely inky volcanic sand. This southern coast beach is a must-see.
Violet Sand: Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California
At this (not so well-kept) secret beach along the California coast, deposits of quartz and manganese garnet erode and wash down from surrounding rocks, causing violet striations on the sand. Visit after a storm to see the purple at its most vibrant.
The beach’s main landmark, Keyhole Rock, is particular fodder for the ‘Gram, especially when, for a few weeks each winter, the sunset aligns with the opening in the rock to create a perfect photo op.
Chocolate-Brown Sand: Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California
Rich, chocolate-brown sand is the trademark of this Northern California beach, not far from San Francisco.
Easy access from Highway 1 and a scenic outlook make Rockaway a popular stop for tourists, but it’s also big with advanced surfers who seek out this strip of coast for its strong rips and big swells.
Green Sand: Papakōlea Beach, the Big Island, Hawaii
The rarest of the Hawaiian islands’ rainbow of colored-sand beaches (red Kaihalulu Beach on Maui, black Punaluu Beach on the Big Island, and yellow-orange Papohaku Beach on Molokai), Papakōlea Beach is one of only four known green-sand beaches in the world.
This hidden gem is accessible only on foot, and getting there is a commitment — it’s a vigorous two-mile trek with a steep descent to the shore, so exercise caution if you go. The mossy-colored sand, which comes from olivine crystals from a nearby 49,000-year-old cinder cone, is worth the journey.
Pink Sand: Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Dreamy, blush-colored, satiny sand beside gentle turquoise waves gives total relaxation vibes.
When you’ve had enough of the cotton-candy-hued sand at this Bahamas pink beach destination, the water is gentle enough for swimming and snorkeling, courtesy of the outlying reefs.
Orange Sand: Ramla Bay, Gozo, Malta
Its full Maltese name, Ramla il-Hamra, means “red sands,” but this popular beach on the island of Gozo is actually a vivid, sunny orange thanks to the high iron concentration.
A day of sunbathing along the Mediterranean isn’t Ramla Bay’s only attraction: Nearby, find ruins of 18th-century coastal fortifications and the famed Calypso’s Cave, rumored to be the same one Homer wrote about in “The Odyssey.”
Red Sand: Kokkini Beach, Santorini, Greece
Famous for its whitewashed buildings, blue domes, and stunning sunsets over its volcanic caldera, Santorini has no shortage of destination-worthy beaches.
But perhaps its most photogenic shore is Kokkini, about a mile from the Akrotiri archaeological site, and often dubbed “Red Beach” thanks to its rust-colored volcanic cliffs and sand. The striped umbrellas and small canteens dotting the beach make it easy to while away a day along the Aegean (portions of it are also clothing optional).
Related Articles
