Unique 27 beautiful beaches around the world

By Saba Murtaz and Julius Choudhury

Whether you're looking for a quick weekend getaway, the ultimate surf, or planning the trip of a lifetime, a beach vacation is always a good idea. If you’re not sure where you want to head, we’ve rounded up some of the most unique beautiful beaches around the world for a bit of inspiration. To get you inspired, here are some of the world's most unique 27 beautiful beaches from Mexico to the Maldives.

Papakōlea Beach, Hawaii, US

Also known as Mahana Beach, Papakōlea is a green sand beach located near South Point in Kaū district's Big Island. The reason for its distinctive green-colored sand is the presence of olivine crystals, a silicate material rich in iron and magnesium that is found in Hawaiian lava. The beach is accessible only by foot and requires an additional climb down the volcanic cinder cone that half-circles the beach. See also: Exploring the sea cliffs and sad stories of Molokai.

Singing Beach, Massachusetts, US

A mile from the center of the Essex County town Manchester-by-the-Sea is a beach where the sand produces a unique squeaky sound when walked on. While the exact scientific reason behind this phenomenon is not known, it is believed that the sound is produced when the surface of sand grains rubs against the layer beneath. Sand on the dry side above the normal high tide lines is best to experience the melody. See also: From where you can See the Boston Skyline.

Ramla Bay beach, Malta

Located on the island of Gozo, the beach is famous for its orange sand and also offers visitors a rare chance of stumbling on ancient Roman objects believed to be buried under it. The Maltese name of the place is Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra, meaning "red sandy beach," which is due to the presence of high levels of iron. It is located at the bottom of a fertile valley and can be accessed by foot and by bus. See also: 6 Reasons to Visit Malta, the Mediterranean’s Secret Gem.

Shell Beach, Australia

Located in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia, this beach has a 23-33-foot-thick (7-10 meters) layer of cockle shells and stretches over 43.5 miles (70 km). Due to the high salinity of the water, the cockles proliferated in the absence of its natural predators, who cannot survive in this harsh environment. See also: Exploring the colours of Australia.

Rockaway Beach, California, US

Located a few miles from San Francisco, Rockaway Beach has an interesting chocolate brown shade of sand. The color is due to the eroded bluish-grey limestone, which mixes with volcanic greenstone from the hillsides surrounding the beach. It is popular with locals and tourists alike for its scenic beauty and for the presence of several restaurants and shops. See also: The 20 Best Mountain Towns in America.

Tunnel Beach, New Zealand

Located south of the St Clair suburb of Dunedin, the Tunnel Beach is known for its sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and caves with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The beach draws its name from a passage which was hand carved in the 1870s to allow access to a secluded and sheltered beach located at the base of the cliffs. In addition to shell fragments, you are also likely to find plant species such as spleenwort. See also: Cape Reinga: The Northernmost Tip of New Zealand.

Glass Beach, Hawaii, US

The sand at Kauai's Glass Beach is full of millions of tiny sea glass pebbles that have washed ashore. The brown, aqua, blue and clear sea glass pebbles are from discarded old bottles, flasks, windshields and windows smoothened by the ocean water and other natural forces. See also: Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer.

Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach, Hawaii, US

Located on Kaihalulu Bay in Maui, the beach is partially sheltered from the rough ocean by an offshore reef. The cinder cone that rises behind the beach is rich in iron, and constant erosion of its surface replenishes the beach with red-black-colored sand. The dramatic-looking beach is accessible only by trekking. See also: Gorgeous Pink Sand Beaches in the World.

Hidden Beach, Mexico

This stunning beach at the Islas Marietas, off the coast of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s western side, owes its origin to the 1900s when the Mexican government used it as a military testing site, blasting a huge hole on the canopy of the grotto. Officially called Playa De Amor, or Beach of Love, it is accessible only through a long water tunnel that links the beach to the Pacific Ocean. See also: Mexico’s 7 Most Glamorous Vacation Spots.

Pfeiffer Beach, California, US

Located in Big Sur, the Pfeiffer Beach is a well-known tourist attraction due to its purple color. Manganese garnet present in the background hills gets eroded by natural forces and reaches the beach, giving it the purple color, which is most noticeable after winter storms. Amethyst hued pebbles and sand grains are scattered throughout the beach, creating a marbled effect. See also: The 9 Most Gorgeous, Secluded and Totally Hidden Beaches in the US.

Rainbow Beach, Australia

The beach in Queensland got its name from the rainbow-colored sand dunes. According to legends, the dunes were colored when a spirit represented by a rainbow plunged into the cliffs in a battle with an evil tribesman. As many as 72 different colored sands are found in the area, their colors stemming from the presence of minerals like rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite. See also: The 5 Best Australian Workout Vacations.

Pink sand beach, Bahamas

Harbour Island's beaches with sands of soft pink hue are a hit with tourists. The pink color of the sand comes from microscopic shelled animals called foraminifera, which live on the undersides of the reefs lining the shore. They are continuously washed up ashore by the wave, where their tiny shells impart the pink color to the sand. See also: What Are the Most Popular Summer Destinations?

Hyams Beach, Australia

Located in New South Wales, the seaside village named Hyams Beach is surrounded by three white sand beaches. It has a place in the Guinness Book of Records for having the whitest sand in the world. Bordered by Jervis Bay National Park to the north, Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens to the south, Hyams Beach has abundance of native plants and wildlife. See also: The Best Places to Visit When Exploring Australia Solo.

Punaluʻu Beach, Hawaii, US

The Punaluʻu Beach on Big Island has black sand, which was created when lava flowing into the ocean cooled down rapidly when coming in contact with cold water. The cooled down magma contained basalt, which was deposited on the beach over centuries by rolling waves, creating a black sand beach. This beach is frequented by hawksbill and green turtles. See also: 5 Small Towns to Visit on Maui.

Bioluminescent Beach, Maldives

The beach in Mudhdhoo Island (also called Vaadhoo Island) is famous for being 'glow-in-the-dark.' Resembling a sci-fi event or fairy tale, its bioluminescence is a spectacle when millions of planktons group together by the edge of the water, creating a magical glowing effect. The tiny organisms produce the light using a chemical called luciferin to ward off predators. The best time to spot the plankton is mid-summer through winter. See also: How to Take Your Dream Trip to the Maldives on a Budget.

Lençóis Maranhenses Beach, Brazil

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Maranhão sees a series of rare turquoise lagoons taking shape in its white sand after continuous rainfall floods the desert dunes, at the beginning of every year. Upon a closer look at the water, one can find myriad fish swimming around, which is due to the adaptation through the periodic drying and flooding of the desert oasis. See also: How to Spend the Ultimate Long Weekend in Rio de Janeiro.

Boiler Bay, Virgin Islands

This beach in St. Croix is protected to provide nesting locations for endangered sea turtles. The turtle populations are protected and monitored each year from July to December during nesting season. This location is also as far east as you can go in any part of the United States and its territories, if you're measuring by direction of travel.See also: U.S. Virgin Islands' Most Celebrated and Secret Beaches.

Cannon Beach, Oregon, US

Sea stacks like these are found in many spots along the Oregon coast. Many stacks were formed by lava flowing to the sea. Once cooled, the lava became hardened basalt that was buried for millions of years. As the sea level receded, the rocks were revealed and parts were worn away by wind and water. See also: Why Portland, OR, Is the Coolest City in the US.

Playa Roja, Peru

The red sands of this beach in Peru's Paracas National Reserve get their color when waves crash against the nearby cliffs of Punta Santa Maria and pick up fragments of the red rock that makes up the cliff.See also: The Cheapest South American Countries For Backpackers.

Legzira Beach, Morocco

Though this beach in Morocco is windy and rocky, it has been an attraction because of its to huge stone arches. In late 2016 one of the arches collapsed, leaving only the one pictured standing. The sea will wear away at the sandstone from which this arch is formed, and it will eventually collapse as well.See also: 11 Things to Do in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Camps Bay, South Africa

Just 10 minutes from Cape Town, beach lovers flock here for  white sand beaches and dozens of hiking trails. The Twelve Apostles Mountain Range forms the beach's dramatic background. See also: 10 Epic Travel Destinations for the Young and Adventurous.

Coffee Bay, South Africa

Legend has it that Coffee Bay got its name because of a ship wreck that lost its cargo of coffee beans off the coast. The beans germinated, and the name stuck (though none of the trees have survived). See also: How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Safari.

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

The pink-sand beach at Horseshoe Bay is the most popular in Bermuda, and Horseshoe Bay Cove (pictured here) is a shallow pool that's popular with families. See also: 8 Reasons to Go to Bermuda.

Neill Island, India

Neill Island is one of India’s Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal. At only a little over 5 square miles, Neil Island is small and considered quite laid-back, but it packs in a lot of splendor, including the Howrah Natural Bridge (pictured).See also: 5 Enthralling Things to Do in and Around Manali This Summer.

Dead Sea, Israel

To reach this sea, head to the lowest point of elevation on Earth. The lake’s high salinity makes it easy to float in the water, which has been a big draw for Dead Sea tourism. And many locals and visitors claim the mineral-rich mud from the salty lake helps relieve symptoms of a various ailments like psoriasis, sinus infections, and arthritis. See also: Israel Is a Wellness Lover's Dream Destination.

Giant's Causeway Beach, Ireland

This interesting formation occurred over 50 million years ago when basalt lava rose to the surface. After it cooled, it began to crack into the amazing columns and formations you see today. See also: The Best Honeymoon Destinations in Ireland.

Cannon Beach, Oregon, US