Balcones del Atlántico

"The 86-villa Balcones del Atlántico opened two years ago in Las Terrenas in the mountainous Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. This is one of the most postcard-perfect spots in the northern Antilles. The remote setting is mythical. The road to get here passes through lush, wet high mountain passes carpeted with thick palm trees and massive ferns. Rumor has it that ex-CIA agents often retire to Samana to escape into hidden homes high up in the mountains. It’s the stuff of spy novels, but for real. Maybe. A perfectly idyllic natural beach extends from one end of Las Terrenas to the other, with dozens of thatch shops, restaurants and seafood purveyors lining the sand. You're more likely to see a fisherman throwing a net just offshore than a t-shirt shop. The emerald water is calm and clear, and the only sound you can hear is the tradewinds coming off the tropical Atlantic. The eco-luxe Balcones features 1- to 3-bedroom villas with gigantic balconies (hence the name), filled with plump pillows, modern Balinese-style furniture, thick hand-hewn wood tables and long fancy BBQs. 'When people want a real Dominican experience they choose Terrenas,” says GM Pedro Sanchez during our lunch at the seaside Porto restaurant. “Yet the area was built by the French, Italian, German and Dominicans who lived and worked here for decades. So it’s very multicultural, but at the same time lush and natural, so you feel very in touch with the soul of the Dominican Republic.'" [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Balcones del Atlántico

Address: El Limón 32000, Dominican Republic

 

Freddies Santai Sumurtiga

"Want secluded beaches and thatched huts perched above lapping turquoise waves on white sand beaches facing the Andaman Sea? The island of Pulau Weh, locally known as Sabang, is about a 45-minute speed ferry ride from the Banda Aceh port. Jutting toward the Indian Ocean, it is the northwesternmost island of the entire Indonesian archipelago and offers snorkeling, scuba diving, and a laid-back, relaxing getaway. The waters at Iboih and Gapang beaches on the northwest peninsula are very calm and inviting. This area is more remote and accommodations are very basic. The best place to stay is at Freddies on secluded Santai Sumurtiga facing the Andaman Sea. Sumurtiga beach is one of the only beaches where women can wear swimsuits and bikinis without drawing unwanted attention. A native South African, Freddie Rousseau is a personable and consummate host, cooking up meals himself and tailoring the music selection to his guests as they enjoy the breezy open-air dining room. Accommodations are in thatched huts with balconies perched over the beach where one can sit and daydream about legendary pirates of the south seas." [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Freddies Santai Sumurtiga

Address: Jalan Kyai Haji Agus Salim, Ie Meulee, Sukajaya, Kota Sabang, Aceh 23521, Indonesia

 

El Secreto

"A short boat ride north of San Pedro will deposit you onto a portion of Ambergris Caye that feels worlds away from any town or city. Once ensconced in a private bungalow on a private beach, there isn’t much to distract the guest from complete enjoyment of the charms of the Caribbean water, the sunshine, and the slower pace that characterizes day-to-day life in the North Islands. Massage therapists are available, as are spa services, and a full range of excursions and activities can be arranged via the concierge. Thirteen exclusive villas are available, one of which includes a steam room and private infinity pool, while other villas either feature beach access, Jacuzzi tubs, private outdoor showers, or decks that stretch over a saltwater lake. El Secreto’s full-service restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a bar is poolside in the main lodge. Rates begin around $3,000 for a three-night stay." [AFAR]

Boutique Hotel / Beach

Website: El Secreto

Address: 11 Miles North Ambergris Caye, Belize

 

Lumaha'i Beach

"With sand between your toes and frothy waves running over your tired feet, enjoying a long walk on the beach with your beau is about as romantic as life can get. Many hotels make it easy on couples, thanks to their convenient waterfront location, but Hapuna Beach on the Big Island and Honokahua Bay on Maui are two other Pacific coves that inspire hand-holding and quiet whispers. For complete intimacy, Lumahai Beach—fitted into the bay near Hanalei on Kauai—is difficult to find, but its remote coast and soft sand have been the scene of more than one knee bent into the sand for a proposal." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Lumaha'i Beach

Address: HI-560, Kapaa, HI 96746, USA

 

Cow Wreck Beach Bar & Grill

"This family-run restaurant serves up some of the best conch fritters in the Caribbean. The relaxed vibe and plastic chairs make for an unusual place for a romantic dinner, but just add a sunset and a perfectly prepared lobster, and Cow Wreck becomes the romantic setting for any BVI beach date. Also, don’t miss the chance to try their banana daiquiri!" [AFAR]

Caribbean Restaurant / Beach

Website: Cow Wreck Beach Bar & Grill

Address: Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, British Virgin Islands

 

Agios Pavlos

"Agios Pavlos, on the island of Crete, is a remote fishing village with only a couple of tavernas and guest houses. It's the type of place you'd go to spend a lazy afternoon on a tiny boat with a local fisherman, and then learn how to wrap your fish in fig leaves and lemon and grill it with his grandfather. It's rugged and unspoiled. You can hike about 20 minutes down a very steep sand dune to a completely secluded beach. Because of the hike, bring plenty of sun creme and water as there is literally nothing at the beach except for a couple of locals, who may or may not be nude. The snorkeling is amazing—crystal clear water with hundreds of fish, rocks, and caverns to explore. Agios Pavlos is probably going to stay this way for years." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Agios Pavlos

Address: Agios Vasileios 740 53, Crete, Greece

 

Isla Contoy

"An easy day trip from Cancun, Isla Contoy is a small island nature reserve with beautiful beaches and more than 100 species of birds. Bird watching tours can be arranged through travel agencies and hotels, as the island is uninhabited, and regulations limit the number of daily visitors." [AFAR]

Island / Beach

Website: Isla Contoy

Address: Isla Contoy, Quintana Roo, Mexico

 
Source: http://www.islacontoy.org/index.htm

Rialto Beach

"By far, one of the most gorgeous beaches and coastal forests I have ever seen. It's not your typical, tropical beach with palm trees, but Rialto Beach is a gorgeous Pacific Northwest beach that is stunning to visit. Seeing a beach in the Pacific Northwest was great, coming from the East Coast. Extremely photogenic, the beach's topography is laid with smoothed gray stones and weathered, petrifying trees which fell over as a result of a storm that washed them out. Definitely, go for a walk on this beach! You will feel completely remote and detached in nature. Just north is Hole-in-the-Wall, a famous arch we totally missed!! A reason to go back... We visited this beach as we were on a road trip out of Seattle along Highway 101 around the Olympic Peninsula to tour the Hoh Rain Forest, and seeing this beach came as a high recommendation by a local friend. We visited the third week in July, and Washington's weather could not have been more amazing. However, as we drove west along the town road to the beach, the fog came in and the temperature probably dropped 20 degrees. Although it was difficult to find a lot of tourist information about Rialto Beach, it was extremely easy to find and very accessible by car. Mora is another beach just south, but we heard Rialto was the better one to visit." [AFAR]

Beach / National Park

Website: Rialto Beach

Address: Mora Rd, Forks, WA 98331, USA

 

Hāmoa Beach

"Legendary travels scribes from Michener to Twain have written of the beauty of lonely Hamoa. Sandy, sheltered, and dripping in palms, this remote stretch of shoreline on the eastern tip of Maui can make a case for Maui's best beach. Nevertheless, despite the fame and the inarguable beauty, Hamoa is often more empty than full. The reason? One of the biggest mistakes of Maui visitors is rushing the famous "Road to Hana," a lush ribbon of twisting asphalt that is a struggle to accomplish in a single day. A better plan is to spend a night in Hana so you can linger with banana bread, bathe beneath waterfalls, and not have to bypass places like Hamoa. Then again, people like this stand-up paddler with the wave to himself might prefer you keep driving and simply pass it by." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Hāmoa Beach

Address: Hamoa Beach, Hana, HI 96713

 

Secret Bay

"With crystal-clear Caribbean views from its six modern tree-house-style love nests, Secret Bay Hotel – set on a lush hillside in rugged Dominica – is an unspoiled island secret that’s almost too good to share. Here, your days are spent lounging in a hammock in the private garden, swimming in caves and strolling the beach by moonlight… As if the setting alone isn't romance-inspiring enough, Villa guests can arrange for a private jazz performance on their terrace for a sexy serenade beneath the stars. Blanketed in lush jungle and diverse flora, marked by volcanic peaks and lava craters – including the second-largest thermally active lake in the world – and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, Dominica is a nature-lover's paradise. In fact, it’s known as ‘The Nature Island,’ making it a prime destination for hikers, birders, paddlers, and divers. Glide along the Indian River in a traditional Caribe boat like a true islander, or plunge into the colorful depths for some of the world's most pristine scuba diving. The concierge will arrange trips with local guides for every outdoor pursuit from horseback riding to remote hiking on the over 300 miles of trails, and from deep-sea fishing to sailing excursions." [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Secret Bay

Address: Ross Blvd., Portsmouth, Dominica

 

Otres Beach

"It sounds "too good to be true", right? No big resorts... miles of remote beaches... turquoise water... no crowds. The coastline of Cambodia is truly a tropical paradise! There are signs that things are changing, but today Otres Beach, just outside the Cambodian town of Sihanoukville, is untouched by commercial tourism. The beaches are empty and clean. Decent marijuana can be purchased legally (although the law is gray in this area as it is only legal to consume and NOT smoke!) at a number of hip bungalow bars set up along the beach. Drinks are cheap and very easy to come by, and your toes never have to leave the sand. Everything is rustic here, but there is a lot of charm in the dozen establishments along this remote stretch of beach on the Gulf of Thailand. The roads are still dirt. It's off the beaten path. Air-conditioning is pretty much nonexistent here, and even electricity is hit or miss. Some describe the vibe here like Thailand 20 years ago before tourism was that country's biggest industry. It's what all of us beachcombers are looking for, and I found it at Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia!" [AFAR]

Beach

Address: Sangkat 4, Mittakpheap, Otres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

 

Point of Sand Beach

header-beaches-pointosand[1].jpg

"While the Cayman Islands may have tons of activities and beaches perfect for families and small children, there is one off-the-beaten-path beach on Little Cayman that is extremely romantic and secluded. Point of Sand, located on the eastern tip, is also known as Lover’s Beach as it is a fantastic, uncrowded place to unwind with a loved one. Bring a blanket and a bottle of wine and slowly let the light of the moon set the mood. The beach then becomes the perfect vantage point for stargazing, as hundreds of stars become visible thanks to the remote nature and lack of light on Little Cayman." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Point of Sand Beach

Address: Point of Sand, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands

 

Pagudpud Beach

pagudpud1[1].jpg

"Travel on the large island of Luzon, in the Philippines, can be rough, to say the least, due to traffic-congested roads and roadblocks, but if you can make your way to the farthest point north on the Philippine Archipelago you will be rewarded by a true paradise called Pagudpud Beach! The sand is white like sugar and the water crystal clear. The bay is filled with a plethora of wildlife and sea creatures, and the calm waters are perfect for snorkeling right from the sandy beach. Although Pagudpud is a well-known tourist destination, I have never seen the beaches packed with tourists (my family is from a nearby village called Bacarra) and it isn't hard to find a long stretch of beach to have all to yourself. The beaches here are truly remote. Spend the entire day snorkeling and eating fresh fruit and seafood that can easily be purchased roadside. I recommend staying for the sunsets, which are magnificent over the China Sea." [AFAR]

Beach

Website: Pagudpud Beach

Address: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

 

Cabo San Juan de Guia

normal_cabo-san-juan-tayrona-banner-1[1].jpg

"After climbing and hiking in the Colombian jungle for over 10 hours, I began to have second thoughts on my Parque Tyrona adventure. But the feeling quickly dissolved as I descended the final set of boulders. As the forest trees began to grow thin, replaced by palm trees, the view cleared, and this is what I saw: the most perfect, serene, and lovely isolated paradise I've come across in my life thus far. There's a campground (tents only), a lovely restaurant that serves up fresh blended mango, pineapple and papaya juice, as well as food to reenergize after a long hike. I could have stayed here for a week, at least." [AFAR]

Beach

Address: Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia