The Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by Boatsetter Team
From white-sand beaches to volcanic shores, from tropical islands to tucked-away coves, the world is full of extraordinary coastlines waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re dreaming of a beach staycation or a far-flung escape, the most unforgettable spots often can’t be reached by car or found on a map. They’re the kind of places only local Captains know how to find.
Here are some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world.
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Cable Beach, Nassau, Bahamas
Just outside Nassau’s bustling hotels and casinos lies Cable Beach—a wide ribbon of soft white sand and turquoise calm that feels a world away when approached by boat. It’s no surprise that Nassau was the top international destination booked by U.S. travelers during Travel Tuesday last year. Skip the crowded resorts and drop anchor offshore, where you can float in warm waters, sip something cold, and let your crew handle a fresh island lunch on deck. With a private boat, this iconic stretch becomes your playground or better yet, head out to a secluded cay and have paradise all to yourself.
Pillory Beach, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
Serene and stunning, Pillory Beach is a whisper-quiet escape on Grand Turk—far from the bustle of Providenciales. Think sugar-white sands, translucent water, and not a soul in sight. Charter a Boatsetter catamaran to drift offshore while the crew serves conch ceviche or tropical cocktails. Here, time slows, and the horizon feels infinite.
Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
This beach is often named one of the best beaches in the U.S. and it only takes one step on to the shore to understand why. The sand here is almost otherworldly: powdery, cool to the touch, and bright white thanks to its rare composition of 99% pure quartz from the Appalachian Mountains. Looking to capture that Euro summer feeling without the long flight? Siesta Beach offers the kind of slow, sun-drenched days that bring the vibe home. Here’s how to recreate your own Euro-inspired getaway stateside.
Lover’s Beach, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Tucked at the edge of the Baja Peninsula, Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor) is a place of cinematic beauty where towering rock formations rise from the sea at Land’s End, and the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Only accessible by water, this cove feels utterly secluded when you approach on a private yacht. Just around the corner: El Arco, the dramatic stone arch that marks Cabo’s rugged southern tip, and nearby Divorce Beach, offering a wilder contrast. Looking for a family-friendly way to explore Cabo by water? Here’s a full-day itinerary to inspire your charter.
Playa Los Muertos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
In the heart of Puerto Vallarta, Playa Los Muertos is known for its energy and local color—but from a boat, the perspective changes. Drop anchor just past the famous pier and watch the city’s heartbeat from afar. Onboard, with mezcal in hand and ceviche on ice, you’re still part of the action—just comfortably removed.
Colomitos Cove, Near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Only a short boat ride south of the city lies Colomitos Cove, one of the smallest and most enchanting beaches on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Surrounded by jungle and cliffs, its emerald water and golden sand are untouched by roads. You’ll need a boat—and a savvy Captain—to get here. The reward? Absolute seclusion, snorkeling in clear water, and the chance to stay longer than the hiking crowd ever could.
Playa Bahía de las Águilas, Jaragua National Park, Dominican Republic
While most travelers flock to Punta Cana for its resorts and nightlife, the true hidden gem of the Dominican Republic lies on the country’s southwestern edge. Playa Bahía de las Águilas, tucked inside Jaragua National Park, is a breathtaking, untouched stretch of sand—seven miles of pure white coastline backed by dry forest and limestone cliffs. It’s completely undeveloped, incredibly remote, and best accessed by boat from the nearby village of La Cueva. Chartering here offers something Punta Cana never could: total silence, translucent water, and the sense that you’ve reached the last perfect beach on Earth.
Anse Marcel & Happy Bay, St. Martin
The French side of St. Martin holds some of the island’s best-kept secrets. Anse Marcel is a tranquil, sheltered beach ringed by green hills and accessible primarily by boat. Around the bend, Happy Bay is more rustic—no bars, no resorts, just pure Caribbean coastline. With Boatsetter, you can cruise between them, enjoying gourmet charcuterie and French rosé while your crew handles every detail.
Gouverneur Beach, St. Barths
A favorite among in-the-know visitors, Gouverneur Beach is a secluded crescent tucked below the cliffs at the southern edge of St. Barths. Though it’s technically accessible by land, the best way to arrive is by sea especially with a private Captain guiding you into the cove. Here, with waves rolling gently and sand underfoot, luxury comes not from opulence, but from privacy and presence.
Meads Bay & Little Bay, Anguilla
Anguilla is all about understated elegance, and Meads Bay is its crown jewel—a long, graceful curve of white sand and impossibly clear water backed by boutique resorts and world-class restaurants. It’s a place where the luxury is quiet, the pace unhurried, and the views uninterrupted. For a more private detour, ask your Captain to navigate to Little Bay, a secluded cove hidden between cliffs and accessible only by boat. Few know it exists. Even fewer get to stay for sunset.
Second Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
Tucked within Washington’s Olympic National Park, Second Beach is wild, moody, and stunningly cinematic—where sea stacks rise from the Pacific and mist weaves through Sitka spruce. The beach requires a short forest hike to reach, but arriving by boat gives you an unmatched perspective of the craggy coastline and driftwood-littered shore. It’s not your typical sun-and-sand escape, it’s Pacific Northwest coastal magic, raw and untamed. For boaters, the reward is anchoring just offshore and feeling like you’ve discovered a secret no one else has. Want to discover more U.S. beaches that feel like another world? Start here
Psarou Beach, Mykonos, Greece
Tucked into a protected cove just south of town, it’s known for its glamorous crowd, calm turquoise waters, and a shoreline lined with yachts so sleek they double as fashion statements. Frequently called the island’s trendiest beach, Psarou is ideal for swimming, people-watching, or docking just offshore for an onboard champagne lunch. With Boatsetter, you don’t need to be a celebrity to arrive like one—just charter your own captained vessel and sail into the scene.
Fiordo di Furore, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Tucked between towering cliffs along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Fiordo di Furore is a narrow fjord-like beach that feels like it was carved straight from myth. With a dramatic stone bridge spanning the gorge and a small pocket of sand at its base, it’s one of the coast’s most photogenic—and elusive—spots. While you can hike down, arriving by boat offers a cinematic approach: you cruise past Positano’s colorful terraces and Amalfi’s historic harbor, then pull into a hidden cove that most visitors only see from above. With a captained charter, you get the privacy, the view, and the freedom to swim beneath one of Italy’s most iconic backdrops.
Kapalua Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Framed by lava rock and palms on Maui’s northwest coast, Kapalua Beach is a calm, crescent-shaped cove known for soft sand, clear waters, and top-tier snorkeling. Its name means “arms embracing the sea,” and the sheltered bay lives up to it—perfect for spotting sea turtles, paddleboarding, or swimming in gentle surf. Often ranked among the best beaches in the U.S., Kapalua offers a slower, quieter vibe than many Maui hotspots. Arrive by boat for panoramic coastal views. Looking to experience Hawaii beyond the beach? Sail the Waikiki coast and learn about Polynesian seafaring techniques for an in-depth cultural experience.
Cala Comte, Ibiza
This isn’t just one of the most beautiful beaches in Ibiza—it’s one of the most beautiful in Europe. With glowing turquoise water, rocky outcrops, and tiny offshore islets, Cala Comte feels like a natural infinity pool carved into the coast. Arriving by boat means front-row access to its clearest coves, panoramic sunset views, and a quiet anchorage far from the packed parking lots above. It’s Ibiza at its most cinematic.
Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
Connected by a tidal sandbar, Nosy Iranja is a postcard-perfect island off the coast of Madagascar where emerald seas meet untouched coral sand. It’s remote, radiant, and reachable only by boat—a reminder that the Indian Ocean holds some of the most magical beach experiences on Earth. Boatsetter may not operate here yet, but we think about beaches like this when we dream of where to go next. Looking for more places to explore by water? Check out our guide to top international boating destinations.
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