Bluer-Than-Blue: Your bumper beach bucket list

58,000 members in our Facebook Community were asked a simple question: Where in the world have you been that had the clearest, most blue waters?

Of course, one member replied, “I’d tell you, but I want it to remain clear and blue.” 

Classic. We can’t fault you really.

But luckily, dozens of others folded. Skipping the typical travel brochures and heavily filtered Instagram reels, you’ve let us in on freezing tectonic cracks in Iceland and hidden South American paradises. 

Here are the real-world travel spots you’re dreaming of: 

Euro-Vision

Sardinia, Italy: 

This was the undisputed champion of the thread. Members Kerry and Debora, among countless others, flagged the northern side of the island for having water so clear you can see into the future. 

Kind of nerdy, but the reason for Sardinia’s liquid clarity is down to the lack of rivers to dump muddy sediment, and the vast underwater meadows of Posidonia grass acting as a filter for the sea. 

Porquerolles, France:

Phillipa recommends this idyllic island off the coast of France. And after reading this writer’s spellbinding account, we’re already packing our swimsuits. The croissant-shaped coast of Plage Notre Dame regularly ranks as one of the best beaches in Europe, often likened to the Caribbean. 

Croatia:

Gillian, Daniel, and Han all voted for Croatia. Much of the coastline is smooth pebbles rather than fine sand, which means zero floating particles, making the water perfectly transparent. While mass tourism fills up the city beaches near Dubrovnik or Split, there are still plenty of underrated spots where it’s just you and the deep blue. Beritnica Beach on the island of Pag feels as if you’ve landed on Mars.

Graham also suggested the cascading pools of Plitvice with pics for proof:

Honorable mentions: Lefkada and Halkidiki in Greece and Formentera and La Graciosa, Spain. 

The “Holy-Moly” Tropical Haven

Maldives:

A beach roundup without mentioning the Maldives? Impossible. 

It received the most votes by far, but it also sparked the biggest division between you. 

While members like Shelly called its beaches “absolutely stunning,” with Phil backing that statement “100%,” traveler Susan dropped a massive reality check from her visit:

“I was very underwhelmed with the Maldives - litter in many places."

It’s clear member Gary felt otherwise:

Our advice?  Give a read of our members top Maldives tips when it comes to choosing a place to base yourself.

Exuma, Bahamas:

Member Paula said one word along with this impossibly gorgeous photo: “Exuma.”

Home to the famous swimming pigs and pirate history, its cyan coast is by no means under the radar but rather a popular tropical paradise worth the praise. 

With incredibly shallow water sitting on a bed of white sand, the glowing, electric teal stands out from space. No, really. 

Whitsunday Islands, Australia:

Flagged by Linda, Kirsty, and Shirley, Whitehaven Beach is renowned for two things: bougie beachgoers and its 98% pure silica sand. 

That means it doesn’t retain heat, so even on a sweltering day, you can walk comfortably along its ethereal shoreline before diving headfirst into the Great Barrier Reef.

Philippines:

With over 7,000 tropical islands, the odds of finding a slice of clear-blue paradise are in your favour and the consensus is: Philippines over Thai beaches any day. 

And while paradise is Palawan for members like Amna, some of you, like Christian, preferred the islands around Coron. 

Siquijor’s spellbinding sands got a special mention from Alfreda. And we can’t help but wonder: are the turquoise hues here pure geography or the work of sorcery? 

Balicasag Island, one of the best dive sites in the country, is a fave of member Nicola, who submitted absolutely stunning proof: 

Zanzibar, Tanzania:

Zanzibar was voted as having some of the bluest waters more times than Fiji, believe it or not. Just take a look at member Holly’s snap!

The famous island off the coast of Tanzania is renowned for its epic tidal shifts. High tide envelops you into a shimmering pool, and at low tide, the ocean drains out, leaving behind miles of ankle-deep glassy flats. Just promise you won’t leave before learning to kitesurf at Paje! 

Tip: In 2023, seven of Jack’s staff bagged a stupidly low error fare to Tanzania. Have a read at their helpful guide to visiting. 

Honorable mentions: Turks & Caicos, Tobago, and Barbados received much applause for their clear waters from community members Nancy, Morna, Lisa, and Liam, to name a few.

The “If-You-Know-You-Know”

Cook Islands: 

Kris and Jamie know what’s up. If you ever want to ruin any future beach vacations by comparison, they suggest putting the Cook Islands on your map. 

In fact, member John went so far as to declare it, “The best place I’ve ever been!”

The secluded oasis of Aitutaki was specifically mentioned. Being one of the most picturesque islands in the Pacific, it’s super popular for honeymooners. 

Inside Aitutaki’s knee-high lagoon and a 30-minute boat ride from the main villages, Jamie recommends the dreamy One Foot Island. Here you’ll not only find water so blue it belongs in a bottle of Gatorade but also the world’s smallest, most remote post office! Visitors often make a special trip to this tiny hut to have their passport stamped with a tropical memento… 

Malindi, Kenya:

120 km north of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean, you'll find a stretch of coast that’s unlike any other place in Kenya. 

Member Daniel dropped this suggestion along with a blurry photo taken in the '90s (no water, but we bet it’s the reason for his grin…). 

“It was 1998; we paid £450, including flights, all-inclusive each for 12 nights in Lawfords Hotel (now called The Lawford). Would love to go back; still one of my best holidays, really friendly people, the safari in Tsavo East and West was amazing. I've actually been eyeing up deals that TUI has from Amsterdam; very reasonable.”

After doing a little digging, we were surprised to learn that it’s not Swahili carried by the sea breeze here but Italian. Along with a hint of Biryani spice, of course. 

Since the 1960s, Malindi has earned the nickname “Little Italy” thanks to a large influx of Italian engineers and scientists who came to establish the Broglio Space Centre. 

Word soon spread about the town’s pristine shoreline and deep-sea fishing, and before you know it, everybody and their nonna immigrated here. Being double parked with fresh coconut water and espresso in the Indian Ocean wasn’t exactly on our radar until now, but you’ve convinced us, Daniel!

Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela:

If you make it to Los Roques, Andreina and Lynne both promise water so clear it’s like empty air. Of course, traveling to Venezuela right now is not recommended, but we’re putting it on the back burner for a time when the political climate is more stable. 

To get to this protected national park, you can’t just book a commercial flight. You'll have to fly into Caracas and pretty much talk your way onto a tiny prop plane. With no wifi, electricity, or luxurious resorts, it's a total off-grid tropical experience with water so transparent you’ll have no trouble spotting a starfish a mile away. 

White Island, Grenada:

Just off the tip of Carriacou, member Liz has fond memories of spending time on the island’s swirling white sands:

“We used to get a boat across to there or Saline Island to hang out, fish and BBQ our catch. One of my favourite things to do whenever we went to Carriacou.”

Its 10 acres are intentionally undeveloped with no permanent inhabitants except for virgin coral reef and shoals of tropical fish — and, once upon a time, the Italian fashion designer Salvatore Ferragamo. We heard he jumped ship because the humidity wreaked havoc on his shoes…

Cayo Guillermo, Cuba:

Another for the “some-day-soon” list. Member Gaynor’s pic has us utterly enchanted, hoping we can visit when Cuba’s tourism industry recovers from its devastating collapse. 

This particular island is part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago, once a personal favourite of Ernest Hemingway, who fell so deeply in love with its blindingly blue waters he wrote it into his novels. 

The star of the show is Playa Pilar (named after Hemingway’s yacht), where, thanks to its massive dunes, the sand feels like talcum powder beneath your feet. As with most on this list, getting here is an adventure in itself — a 7-hour road trip from Havana. 

Biak/Raja Ampat/ Kei Islands, Indonesia:

Bali? Don’t know her. 

Don’t get us wrong; I’m sure you’ll still find some splendid sights on the island. But if you’d rather a place that flies under the radar, Andy suggests the island of Biak off the northern coast of Papua. 

This island played a massive role in WWII, and before the tourism boom in Bali, it was an international transit hub. Nowadays, crystalline mangroves stand frozen in time. 

Raja Ampat, nominated by Dorthe, completely shatters the traditional “pretty beach” postcard. This jigsaw puzzle of 1,500 limestone islands is basically the real-life version of Pandora. 

During peak season, the water clarity plunges past 30 meters, meaning 75% of the world’s coral species sit right beyond the edge of your boat. 

Tony swears that Gili Meno, the quietest of the three Gili islands, has the sparkliest waters he’s laid eyes on, but Julia’s intrepid adventure in the Kei Islands may just have his beat. 

Fakarava, French Polynesia:

We know, French Polynesia doesn’t exactly scream "underrated". But hear member David out. 

For every manicured luxury bungalow cliché Bora Bora is, Fakarava is delightfully not. The ocean, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is absurdly clear thanks to a government ban on mega-resorts and cruise ships. 

Instead, you’ll find family-run beachfront lodges and guesthouses. Hardcore scuba divers and marine biologists know this island well for “The Wall of Sharks”...

Guna Yala, Panama:

Formerly known as the San Blas Islands, this archipelago floats lazily in the Caribbean and is nothing short of breathtaking. Member Paul promises it’s even better than his picture:

The islands belong to an indigenous community, one of several in Panama, and your visit goes directly to their economy and preservation of the islands.

Getting here from Panama City requires a 3-hour drive to the port before hopping on a 40-minute boat ride. Jack's Traveller Katherine vows its transparent waters are worth the trip.

Honorable mentions: San Andrés & Providencia, Colombia, were nominated by member Fiona.

The Cold-Water Curveballs

The Silfra Fissure, Iceland:

Some people fly-and-flop to Magaluf and call it a day. Not member Slava. He wins this round for his detailed geography lesson and experience diving between two continental plates in the Sifra Fissure: 

“At the junction of the North American and Eurasian plates, tectonically separating the continents (that is why Reagan and Gorbachev met in Reykjavik), a crack formed in some places up to 30 m deep and 1.5-2 m wide. For 50 years, a drop of meltwater from volcanic mountain glaciers has seeped into the Silfra crack to form this reservoir of unusually pure water, superior in quality to all bottled Evian and San Pellegrin.

At a temperature of +2°C, visibility on the 30-meter bottom is ideal, and the colors are like in Full HD. Only the face, unprotected by a thermal suit, is cramped from the cold.

I took this photo in 2019. On the right is Europe, and on the left is America.”

The Hebrides & Highlands, Scotland:

What if we told you that Caribbean clarity can be found closer to home? Members Hannah and Lindsay all boldly ranked Scotland’s beaches alongside the Maldives’ neon blues.

Tim shared this serene snap from a beach in Berneray, Outer Hebrides. 

One place I can personally vouch for is Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris; back in 2018 I visited with relatives, and my drone’s camera roll looked like this:

And back on the mainland, down a narrow country road off the North Coast 500, you’ll find a sweep of soft sand known as Achmelvich Beach, often ranked one of the most beautiful in the United Kingdom. Our Scottish Queen, The Detour Editor Katy, recommends venturing off the beaten path: 

“There’s lots of great hills and trails to hike in the area too, with lochs, waterfalls, and castles nearby. It really pays to get off the main road and ready yourself for a ramble.”

Isles of Scilly, England:

Janette and June know a thing or two about seeking the UK’s most underrated beaches. Off the coast of Cornwall (another member fav) is England’s only archipelago, with over 140 islands featuring some of the most snow-white sand and turquoise waters this side of the Atlantic. 

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, subtropical plants and palm trees flourish in this microclimate. Don’t let the palms fool you, though; the water temps are, in fact, British!

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA:

Nominated by member Carol for its astounding glacial-fed milky blue lakes, Glacier National Park holds much allure. Cracker Lake, Lake McDonald, and Grinnell Lake hold the most Instagram-worthy vivid hues. And if you were wondering how on earth these lakes look just as impressive in real life, the answer, my friends, is Glacial Flour. 

Tip: Before your visit, take a look at Navigator Olivia’s guide to Glacier National Park. It’s packed with handy hints. 

Lofoten Islands, Norway: 

This one comes from member Bruce, and with this bird's-eye view proof, he isn't lying!

Don’t let those golden sands fool you though; it’s an Arctic-lover's paradise, with bracing waters around 11°C in the height of summer! It’s a fair trade for the chance to hike the island’s jagged peaks in the midnight sun. For all we know, Bruce could’ve snapped this masterpiece at 3am… 

Honorable Mentions: Lake Superior, CA/USA, Donegal, Ireland, Lake Louise, Canada and Torch Lake, Michigan.

If you ever wondered how to turn your colleagues blue with envy while sharing your travel snaps, now you know. Didn't see your bluer-than-blue waters here? Tell us about your aquamarine adventures in the comments below :-)