What makes a beach day exciting depends on the person packing the bag. One traveller wants a long walk, another wants a lively promenade and someone else is happiest watching the light change across the water.

These six coastal settings offer different pleasures. Choose the activity first, then make sure the place and conditions support it. A beautiful view does not automatically mean suitable swimming.

An aerial view of Le Morne and the apparent underwater-waterfall pattern in Mauritius
An aerial view of Le Morne and the apparent underwater-waterfall pattern in Mauritius.

1. Whitehaven Beach, Australia: watch the meeting of sand and water

Whitehaven Beach and nearby Hill Inlet are part of the Whitsunday Islands setting in Queensland. The widely photographed swirls come from the changing relationship between pale sand and tidal water.

Pale sand and tidal channels around Hill Inlet near Whitehaven Beach
Pale sand and tidal channels around Hill Inlet near Whitehaven Beach. Original image credit: Mitchell Burns.

The Queensland Parks visitor guide helps distinguish beach time from walking and lookout options. Compare boat itineraries carefully: a photograph of Hill Inlet does not mean every excursion includes the same landing or viewpoint.

Best for: travellers who enjoy a landscape that changes with the tide, with enough time to look rather than hurry through a photo stop.

2. Le Morne, Mauritius: understand an aerial illusion

The apparent underwater waterfall near Le Morne is a visual effect created by the seabed, sand and water seen from above. It is not a waterfall pouring down an open hole in the ocean.

Our Mauritius underwater-waterfall article explains the effect. Enjoy the coastal setting on its own terms, and if you consider a sightseeing flight, compare the actual route and conditions instead of expecting the view from every point on the shore.

Best for: people interested in how perspective changes a familiar landscape.

3. Luskentyre, Scotland: make room for a long look

Luskentyre on Harris offers a broad coastal landscape with sand, channels and distant hills. The local tourism description explains how low tide opens out the view.

Bring the clothing for the weather you have, not the tropical holiday suggested by a turquoise photograph. A walk and a warm drink afterwards can be the perfect plan. Keep vehicles in appropriate parking areas and protect the dunes and neighbouring land.

Best for: a spacious, unhurried outing within an island journey.

4. Myrtos, Greece: enjoy the view and assess the sea separately

Myrtos on Kefalonia is striking from above, where the pale beach curves beneath steep slopes. The experience at water level depends on the day’s wind and sea conditions.

Use our Myrtos planning guide to understand the approach and the difference between a viewpoint stop and time on the beach. If swimming conditions are unsuitable, the visit can still be worthwhile without entering the water.

Best for: travellers who want a dramatic coastal setting and can keep their plans flexible.

5. Copacabana, Brazil: a beach within a city

Copacabana offers an urban beach experience, with the promenade and surrounding neighbourhood forming part of the day. It belongs in a different category from an isolated cove reached by boat.

Combine beach time with a considered city itinerary using our Rio de Janeiro guide. Carry only what you need for the outing and choose a convenient meeting point if travelling with others.

Best for: visitors who enjoy the energy of a city alongside the sea.

6. La Digue, Seychelles: take pleasure in the granite landscape

The granite boulders along La Digue’s coast give individual stretches of shore their own shape and character. Explore without assuming every appealing cove has the same access or water conditions.

Our clear-water beach comparison offers more context for matching a beach to your plans. Leave space for the small pleasures too: shade, a slow walk and time to notice the coast beyond the most familiar photograph.