The 15 best beaches to visit this winter

On the southern tip of the The Bahamas' Abacos Islands lies Elbow Cay, which is home to the secluded white sands of coconut tree-lined Tahiti Beach. This idyllic spot can only be reached by foot, bike or boat, making it ultra exclusive and very much off-the-grid. Laze away a few hours indulging in a cup of rum punch, swimming its shallow waters, collecting shells, starfish and sand dollars, and, at low tide, wandering along its sandbar.

Don’t just think pink — contemplate nearly five kilometres of it. Harbour Island’s famous beaches stretch along its entire eastern side, and “many clients consider them the most pristine in the world,” says Barbara Dawson, senior charter broker at Camper & Nicholsons. “Pale-pink hues, with warm, balmy breezes and crystal-clear blue waters, invite you back every time!”

One for your Caribbean bucket list, the beaches get their colour from tiny microscopic bright-pink or red-shelled animals called Foraminifera, which live on the underside of reefs, beneath rocks and on the sea floor before they get washed up on shore. The coral reef offshore adds to the area’s magnificence, creating dreamy, calm waters that are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Enjoy the hue view with conch fritters and a cocktail from Blue Bar & Restaurant at Pink Sands Resort, then rent a golf cart and explore Dunmore Town, one of the Bahamas’ oldest settlements.

About 1.5 kilometres east of Great Exuma Island’s capital George Town is Stocking Island and its bounty of beaches, including one on its eastern side that is eight kilometres long and Sand Dollar Beach and Starfish Beach on its western side. While here, snorkel the coral gardens offshore or the island’s blue hole, known as “Mystery Cave,” which drops down about 30 metres and then runs under the island out to the ocean. On land, hike an hour from St. Francis Resort to Monument Hill’s 360-degree views over the island, then pop in to Chat ‘N’ Chill beach bar and grill at The Point for a conch burger or conch salad and a Goombay Smash.

The 800 predominantly limestone islands in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago offer plenty of choices for a day in the sun; however, the approximately three kilometre beach at Labi Bay, on the southwestern end of seahorse-shaped Lampi Island is particularly enticing.

From your yacht, paddleboard or kayak to its southern end, then tender through the nearby mangrove forests, part of Lampi Marine National Park. By the time you return to the sand, your crew will have set up beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers full of icy Myanmar beer. Before you relax, though, take a long walk toward the sand spit and small islet at the beach’s northern end. The beer will taste better afterwards anyway.

On the north coast of 61 kilometre Providenciales (or Provo) is the 19 kilometre long Grace Bay Beach, gateway to Princess Alexandra Marine Park and a must-see for anyone exploring the Turks and Caicos Islands on a superyacht.

“With its powdery-soft white sand, calm turquoise waters and snorkel spots, it’s one of my favourite beaches,” says Lara-Jo Houghting, charter fleet manager at Churchill Yacht Partners. “You have views of gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, perfect for morning or evening strolls, and a wonderful private tiki for couple’s massages. And you are never far from great hospitality!”

After snorkelling Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef and engaging in a SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) yoga session, amble or tender along shore in search of a sexy cocktail — the 27 metre long Infiniti Bar at Grace Bay Club, the longest bar in the Caribbean, is a worthy choice, says Houghting.

At the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, The Baths are a series of massive granite boulders, created by volcanic activity and strewn over a beach, with sheltered rock pools between them. Hike south through the caves area — carefully climbing, crawling and wading through water — to Devil’s Bay Beach, one of the best beaches in the Caribbean and home to large boulders. It's a lovely place for a swim and snorkeling before you rejoin your yacht. Keep in mind, though, that The Baths are quite popular; avoid the crowds and arrive either very early or late — your photos will be better then, too.

“Cuba is surrounded by beautiful beaches,” says Plácido Sánchez Vega of Mega Yacht Services. And, he continues, the most interesting ones for people traveling via yacht are on the easternmost tip of Archipelago de los Canarreos, on Cayo Largo del Sur (Cayo Largo), on Cuba’s south coast.

This 23.3-square-kilometre mangrove-covered island’s white-sand beaches stretch for almost 26 kilometres along its south coast. Wander its eastern beaches to spot iguanas. For swimming, Vega recommends two of the western ones: Playa Paraiso, which is clothing optional, and busier Playa Sirena.

Following a stroll and dip, tender to nearby Cayo Largo coral reef for snorkeling or diving or, suggests Vega, embark on a sportfishing or fly-fishing excursion.

At 170.5 square kilometres, uninhabited Whitsunday Island can claim a couple of brag-worthy superlatives. It’s the largest island in the 70-plus Whitsunday group…and its southeastern side is home to Australia’s most dazzling stretch of sand: 6.4 kilometre long Whitehaven Beach.

Solway Passage to the south offers the most dramatic approach: Whitehaven’s white silica sands make a spectacular appearance, sandwiched between the Coral Sea’s seductive turquoise perimeter and the island’s forested rise.

With no restaurants or beach bars and plenty of space for avoiding day-trippers, Whitehaven is perfect for an indulgent picnic followed by a long walk. Stroll barefoot along its quartz-rich length or hike the one-and-a-half-mile-return Solway circuit, which starts on the beach and winds up to a natural rock platform with views over the passage and surrounding islands.

If you want to swim, though, you must don a full-body Lycra stinger suit between October and May, the riskiest season for tropical stingers.

If harmless reef sharks sound like a perfect beach addition to your days spent in the Raja Ampat Archipelago on a luxury yacht, head for the Wayag Islands in the northernmost section of 1,500-island Raja Ampat, off Indonesia’s West Papua province, particularly the ranger station beach in Wayag’s northeast. This white-sand beach and its clear waters offer something for the whole family, says Mark Robba, owner of traditional Indonesian luxury yacht Dunia Baru. “You can snorkel off the beach or dock, see schools of fish, giant clams, sharks. It’s the one place we always have to go when we visit Wayag.”

Courtney Robba, Dunia Baru’s operations manager, agrees, also noting another memorable Wayag beach: the slender “secret beach” in the northern reaches of Wayag’s lagoon, invisible at high tide and only accessible at mid-tide, which offers an amazing drift snorkel.

Five kilometre long Pinney’s Beach, just north of capital Charlestown, is directly west of 985 metre Nevis Peak. “On a clear day, you can see the peak [while] approaching Pinney’s Beach,” says Merry Persichetti of B&B Yacht Charters. “It’s breathtaking. Once there, find a secluded area to enjoy to yourself or join the fun at Sunshine’s Beach Bar and Grill [on the beach’s southern end],” she suggests. Daring guests should try the Killer Bee, Sunshine’s signature cocktail, which, according to the bar’s website, is a mix of “some rum, then some passion fruit juice, then some more rum.”