Introducing the World Beach Map

Where are the Best Beaches in the World, and how do you find them? Welcome to our site which not only chooses the top three beaches at vacation destinations all over the globe, but we pride ourselves in giving you relevant data and pictures from people just like you; not the flashy tourism brochures which can crop and paint over reality. We love beaches, and have been fortunate to visit hundreds in our travels. And people have been gracious enough to send us their favorites and tell us why they think that the beaches are worth a visit.

You will notice that we give conditions of the beach, along with things we found you can do at the beach, and if we recommend you spend the time to visit. There are many beaches that are just off the beaten path or only known by locals that are out of this world. Many never hear of them because they are secluded, or near any commerce. But we found them and now you can, too!

Start by clicking on the map below where you want to visit. We're bound to have what you are looking for. You'll find comments from other visitors as well. Explore now and welcome to Three Best Beaches!


Click on an area of the map above and wander off into the wonderland of the World's Best Beaches. We did the work - you can do the choosing. And if we don't have your beach, we've made it easy to send us a message asking for it to be included.

In fact, if you own or operate a resort or bed and breakfast anywhere in the world near a beach, we'd love to hear from you as our readers enjoy the many stories we already have in the pages of Three Best Beaches of hidden paradises around the globe.

It all started with Three Best Beaches. We flew to the vacation beach destination and then did exhaustive homework from photos to restaurants to must see attractions. We graded, and still grade sand conditions, drive to the beach, parking, and best times to go.

For example - this awesome beach in Brazil is hidden away down a semi-steep trail. You'd never know it was there unless you asked the locals, as we did. With a dozen other beaches in the area, this one was our hands down favorite. You can read more about it, here. These are the gems that keep our readers coming back.

From three beaches, we expanded, by demand, to ALL the best beaches at the location. And as we grew, we had to depend on local reports until we get our team out to check. But you have the opportunity to report as well. Any beach you have been to, simply comment about it at the bottom of the page and that will be added to the material on that beach.

We also have a great feature - the Beach List! When you're on the Beach List, you're notified of great deals we come across, plus any security items we learn. Travel in confidence and save money by subscribing right now to the Beach List. You'll find the link to the left under the heading Suggest a Beach.

Our travels have taken us to Kauai, Hawaii, where we enjoyed some of the most breath- taking beaches in the world. And one thing is nice about Hawaii; it's relatively safe. We found it clean and the water simply sparkling. Read more about that, and a complete spread on every beach in Maui, here.

We've been featured on TV, most recently, on BBC's World Service. Their program "Click" gave us a full review sending viewers to check out some of the top beaches of the world. And they made a nice comment about the many, many videos we feature on the website. Make sure you check them out when you view the beach you want to visit.

Our visit to Aruba took us back to the island fifteen times where we ventured to almost every inch of shoreline. This tiny island in the Caribbean is huge with contrasts. On our first visit, we were in awe how cactus could grow in the tropics. One shore of Aruba is shallow, pristine white sand beaches, while the other side is rocky, deep and rough seas that open to the Caribbean Sea. Yet on this rocky north shore, we found an area rich in elk horn coral so large and beautiful it seemed we were in a fantasy land.

In the Maldives, we enjoyed every minute of the wonderful peacefulness of a group of islands that are literally in the middle of nowhere. And each island is home to a resort - at least the small islands. Talk about feeling isolate and remote! But God has had His handiwork in these island that are a must-see if you are a beach lover. Take a look at Maldives, here.

And Zanzibar has everyone talking. We can't stop our chatter about how fascinating this island of spices is home to both extreme wealth and old fishing villages that date back hundreds of years. The people here are just charming and make for a delightful experience if you are ever privileged to go. The beach area is very close to old parts of Zanzibar and you'll get to see first hand the people and the way they live. Visit those beaches, here.

We're expanding Australia. Many beaches and flavors in the land down under. In fact, we get requests all the time to review beaches that are off the beaten path. Australia is home to one of the longest beaches in the world. So put on your Vitamin A Swimwear and come visit this paradise..... Beaches Down Under - what everyone is talking about.

If you'd like more information about Three Best Beaches, or about a beach in particular, just write us - in the Suggest a Beach area - and we'll reply. And thanks for joining our community here. We appreciate you!

Here are a few of the TOP beaches we've reported on. Start with South Beach, Miami.

Best Beaches of Puerto Rico

Based on a recommendation by one of our readers, we ventured to the islands that make up Puerto Rico and came back with some of the most astonishing beaches! Yes, even next to our arrival airport - San Juan International, there's a community beach that's hard to beat.

As we followed the 272 miles of dramatic coast, we stop at each of the best beaches in the area. There are beaches for bird watchers; beaches for swimming; beaches for sailing; surfing, diving, snorkeling, kiteboarding, windsurfing, boogie boarding - one for each passion!

Taino Indians called these beaches home when Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492. But Spanish explorers made them extinct in little time when they exploited them and brought disease the Tainos had no defense against.

With the Spanish-American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a possession of the United States. Citizens became American Citizens. Nonetheless, a battle for autonomy runs warm throughout much of the land. Many are divided because they want what American citizenship gives them, yet they desire autonomy as well.

Politics aside, the people we found in Puerto Rico were so hospitable - it reminded us of our journey to Buzios, Brazil. And, truthfully, the beaches are very similar. Here, you'll find beach vendors. These are people who sell goods right on the beach. We found all types of delicious Caribbean food, from seafood to chicken - most cooked right on the beach over hibachis. Aren't hibachis from Asia? Multi-culture exists here, but the main form is born and bred Puerto Rican. They are proud and not hard to find. And they have a ton of excellent beaches to experience as well.

Other vendors sell sarongs and towels, suntan lotion, and souvenirs. A few stay at posts near the entrances to the beaches, and a few wander the beaches. This is customary here. Some of the balneareos - beach areas - had a few dollar access fee. And they use the American dollar here - so no exchange.

Speaking of that - American citizens can fly down here on nothing more than ID and an airline ticket. You don't need a passport. That's convenient and simple - so you have no excuse not to check out some of these beaches soon.

We found the beaches well kept and five of them are world class Blue Flag beaches - an honor very hard to acquire. Come venture with us as this month we take a close look at the many Beaches of Puerto Rico! >>

Palm Beach - Aruba

When decisions must be made about where to travel to this vacation, Aruba might be the best choice for you. We found reliable, near perfect weather. So when we knew we had to make the best of a week away from home, Aruba guaranteed us 7 days of ideal tanning conditions: clear, sunny skies (just look at these pictures), Caribbean warm temperatures, and at night - oh my goodness - cool breezes.

Located on the southwest coast of the island, where constant trade winds keep you cool, is Palm Beach, Aruba's "Best Fun Beach", home of High-Rise hotels.

Attorneys and lawyers of all types have camped on Aruba over the past year; and yet the case of a missing teen here has never been solved. The attorneys and lawyers are gone, but the mystery remains.

What a beach! Palm Beach is brilliant white and the perfect place for people-watching. Palm Beach sits south of Hadicurari, and is always buzzing with sailing, swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and everyone's favorite: sunbathing. The sand here is so great, that hotels that border it have crews that sift it every morning to clean it of shells, debris.

Because Palm Beach is centrally located, it can get busy. There are two piers and a variety of water sports operators here. This beach is more agitated than any other beach on Aruba. The best spots seem to be between the Holiday Inn and the Marriott to the north. Look for a nice area near the Divi Phoenix to the south as well.

You can spend over an hour walking from one end of Palm Beach to the other. Now, what's fun about this is that you'll be able to stop at the high rise hotels for refreshments. Each resort opens their property to the beach and have everything from snack bars to open bars. A few have beautiful gardens and waterfalls complete with animals.

Tip: Hotels are pretty full, even during the off-season (from mid-April until mid-December), but you can save up to 50%!

What to wear: Dress is casual. Shorts, nice shirts, blouses. Some restaurants are "elegant casual"; long pants, sundresses. Reservations are appreciated.

Palm Beach - Aruba - BEACH INDEX:

• Sand - medium grain white powder, soft, very clean, groomed daily
• Facilities - lies along the major hotel and resort strip
• Shade - mature palm trees
• Sports - all water sports
• Notes - can get crowded around major hotels

They are singing and dancing the Samba at our next World Beach, but we caution you to watch yourself at this jewel of South America - Ferradurinha Beach in Buzios is Next! >>