This summer, pictures of tourists squished together like sardines on some of the world’s most popular beaches in Spain, Greece and Italy have filled the news. For those looking to avoid the chaos, and the people, a new study from Betway has revealed the most secluded beaches in the world.
They analysed 100 beaches based on metrics including the number of online reviews, Instagram posts and nearby amenities – with fewer being better, as this points to the beach being more secluded and undiscovered.
Some of the destinations come as no surprise, including Portugal, Australia, Hawaii and the Bahamas, while others are more obscure. One thing is for sure with this list – you will not need to fight for a space to place your towel.
In 10th place is Playa Mina in Costa Rica. It has 45 TripAdvisor reviews and 1,120 Instagram posts.
While there are no amenities within a mile of the beach, there are however 15 roads – the most in the top 10.
Located near the more well-known Playa Conchal, Playa Mina is a secluded beach tucked away from the busy towns of Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province.
While the trek to the shore involves a bit of an off-road adventure, you will be rewarded with the whole place to yourself.
With soft sands, clear water, and plenty of trees, it is also a popular nesting site for sea turtles. One can spend all day in the water if so desired, with average temperatures of 28.4C – the highest of the top 10.
(Image: Getty)
Located on the west shore of Molokai, Kaupoa Beach is made up of two beaches shaped like cresent moons, with white sands, crystal clear waters and dark lava rocks. The two beaches are divided by a rocky outcrop in the centre.
The beaches are known for their excellent swimming and snorkelling conditions, especially in the summer months when the waters are at their calmest. The average water temperature sits at 25.5C.
There are only five TripAdvisor reviews about Kaupoa Beach and 78 Instagram posts. There is also only one amenity and seven roads within a mile of the beach.
One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: “This beach is all but empty all the time. To get there you park at Dixie Maru beach and hike about a mile and a half. The beach is still very nice and the sheltered.”
(Image: Getty)
Anapai Bay in New Zealand takes eighth place. It is located on the Cook Strait, part of the Pacific Ocean and is situated among mountains and surrounded by cliffs. Its water temperatures sit at 15.6C
It is described as one of the best spots in the Abel Tasman National Park, ana area of New Zealand that is already over-endowed with beautiful spots.
According to Betway, it only has 45 TripAdvisor reviews and 216 Instagram posts. It also has no roads or amenities within a mile, accessed only by foot or boat on the Waiharakeke to Whariwharangi section of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.
(Image: Getty)
Milolii Beach in Hawaii, USA, takes seventh place, with 77 Tripadvisor reviews and 79 Instagram posts.
There are no amenities with a mile, but there are three roads. Its water averages at temperatures of 25.5C.
Found on the NaPali Coast, this gorgeous stretch of white sand is protected by a long barrier reef. It is only accessible by kayak in the summer months when the ocean conditions are calmer, but there is a small channel through the reef that one must pass through in order to land on the beach.
The beach is a popular place for monk seals and sea turtles, with young seal pups coming to relax and play in the shallow pools inside the reef. Their barks can be heard off the over 760-metre cliffs that rise dramatically at the back end of the beach.
(Image: Getty)