The World's Beauty Secrets: Best Beaches For Surfing And Swimming

Best Beaches For Surfing And Swimming

Which is the world's best beach?
That depends on whether you're looking for for surfing, swimming or sun lounging.
Here is a selection of the finest in the world.

Ocracoke, North Carolina, USA

26 miles from the mainland, this beach is a picture of remote beauty.

Waimea beach, Hawaii

Waimea makes the list for its significance in the surfing world. Eight-time world champion Kelly Slater regards it as the yardstick by which surfing beaches are measured.

Tulum beach, Mexico

There can be fewer better backdrops than the Mayan ruins of Tulum, just a stone's throw from these flour - white sands.

Pink Sands, Harbour Island, The Bahamas

Probably the most beautiful beach in the world, Pink Sands turns salmon-coloured in the setting sun. The water quality is pristine.

Englishman's Bay, Trinidad and Tobago

Set against a backdrop of towering rainforest, this beach is referred to by locals as Tobago's jewel.

Seven Mile beach, Grand Cayman

Pedants might point out that it is actually only five and a half miles long, but they will find little else to fault on this sweep of Caribbean sand.

Gardner Bay, Galapagos Islands

Nature-lovers can soak up the sun alongside the beach's resident sea lions or venture inland in search of exotic birdlife.

Punta del Este, Uruguay

This unusual art installation is just one thing to occupy you on this Uruguayan beach - decadent parties after dark provide further distraction.

Luskentyre, Western Isles, Scotland

On the wild north-west coast of the Isle of Harris is this long stretch of brilliant sand, washed by shallow, startlingly turquoise water.

Bamburgh, Northumberland, England

Overlooked by Bamburgh Castle, this beautiful stretch of wild coastline offers clear seas and sands that stretch to Seahouses, three miles away.

Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland

Bounded at one end by low basalt cliffs and at the other by the River Bann, the two-mile-long Strand has dunes 100ft high that lend it an air of wildness and mystery.

Sagres, Algarve, Portugal

This fine undeveloped beach is backed by orange cliffs, with impressive rollers attracting surfers from around the world.

Myrtos beach, Kefalonia, Greece

Perhaps the most dramatic of all the Ionian beaches. A huge sweep of white limestone pebbles, set in a deep, wide bay.

Anse Victorin, Frégate, Seychelles

With just 16 villas on the island, privacy is a guarantee on this incredibly fine sand.

Noordhoek beach, Cape Town, South Africa

Heavy waves can make this beach a little rough for swimming, but it's four miles are ideal for riding.

Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

A description of this beach can be found in the ancient Epic Ramayana. It's still pretty impressive today.

Maya Bay, Thailand

Made famous in the film of Alex Garland's The Beach, its popularity draws big crowds but its remarkable setting - framed by limestone cliffs - is still worth a look.