World's best beaches for 2018
Taking the top spot is Shipwreck Beach in Zakynthos, Greece
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Your support makes all the difference.The world’s best beaches this year have been revealed – but number nine on the list is closed indefinitely.
The annual list, ranked by travel platform FlightNetwork, surveyed 1,200 travel industry professionals around the world to come up with the list of the top 50.
The best beach in the world has been voted Shipwreck Beach in Zakynthos, Greece, which scored 10/10 in the category “sheer untouched beauty” and 8/10 for its “sand and water quality”. The cove, also known as Navagio Beach, is only accessible by boat – and, true to its nickname, has the wreck of Freightliner MV Panagiotis on the shore.
In second place is Australia’s Whitehaven Beach, on the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, which is only accessible by helicopter or seaplane.
Hidden Beach on the Philippine island of El Nido took third place, best known for its towering limestone cliffs.
Beaches on Brazil’s Fernando do Noronha island; Tulum in Mexico; Turks & Caicos; Cayman Islands; and Varadero in Cuba make up the rest of the top 10.
At number nine is Maya Bay, which in October closed indefinitely to visitors following a period of intense overtourism.
The Thai beach, on the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, shot to fame when it starred in The Beach, but struggled to cope with the almost 5,000 tourists who would arrive on its shores each day. FlightNetwork ranked Maya Bay 8/10 for “sheer untouched beauty” and 9/10 for “remoteness”.
The platform also released ranked lists of the world’s best untouched beaches and top city beaches, as well as continent-specific lists.
The UK makes an appearance at number 16 on Europe’s best beaches, with Three Cliffs beach in Wales described as “wild and beautiful”. After Zakynthos’ Shipwreck Beach, Iceland’s Reynisfjara Beach, recognisable for its black volcanic sand, took second place for best beach in Europe this year.
Vestrahorn Beach, on Iceland’s south east coast, was voted the top unexplored beach, followed by Crete’s Agiofarago Beach. At number 17 is Detwah Beach on Socotra island in Yemen, described as “the ultimate paradise”. The FCO has advised against all travel to Yemen since 2011.
The world’s 10 best beaches, according to FlightNetwork
- Shipwreck Beach, Zakynthos, Greece
- Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia
- Hidden Beach, El Nido, Philippines
- Praia do Sancho, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Tulum Beach, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
- Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Anse Source D’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
- Maya Bay, Phi Phi, Thailand
- Varadero Beach, Cuba
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