Beaches come in all sorts of shapes and sizes beyond the typical Caribbean postcard.
As such, National Geographic’s new list of the Top 21 Beaches in the World includes a diverse mix of shorelines around the globe, from those picture-perfect Caribbean numbers to a black-sand beauty in Iceland to a shell-covered spot on the Austral coast. Highlights include:
Lazy Beach, Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia
Photograph by Frank Heuer/laif
Things are simpler on Lazy Beach, where porch swings and quaint huts await. Get there fast, before other travelers discover the magic too.
Playa del Amor, Marietas Islands, Mexico
Photograph by Miguel Naranjo
This hidden paradise is actually a giant hole in Mexico's verdant Marietas Islands, off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
Shell Beach, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Photograph by Nature Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo
This UNESCO world heritage site is a wonderland of tiny shells, which reach about 32 feet deep in some spots.
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Piscinas Beach, Arbus, Sardinia
Photograph by Riky Deiana
Nat Geo recommends these dunes on the Mediterranean's most magical island as an excellent spot for beach walks. The sunsets aren't too shabby, either.
Cas Abao Beach, Curaçao
Photograph by Turtle Ray Productions Curacao
Don't spend all your time in the teeming coral reefs, spectacular as they are: The small but perfect island of Curaçao has some wonders up on land, too.
Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Photograph by Ivan Pedretti
Black sand and towering sea stacks are just two more mind-boggling features of this spot in one of the most stunning countries on Earth.
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Noordwijk Beach, The Netherlands
Photograph by Shutterstock
Head over to National Geographic for the rest of the top 21 beaches in the world.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified a photo as Lazy Beach. The photo has been replaced, and the title has been updated to reflect that Lazy Beach is on the island of Koh Rong Samloem, not Koh Rong.
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