Top secret beaches

United States
Sandspur Beach
Bahia Honda Key, Florida
Surprisingly, the Florida Keys don’t have many beaches, but Bahia Honda is an exception. Within the Bahia Honda State Park, Sandspur Beach is long (about two miles), clean (other than some seaweed) and in close proximity to two other beaches (Calusa and Loggerhead), so spend the day beach hopping.

Cuyler Harbor
San Miguel, Channel Islands, California
Kayaking is a choice way to explore the Channel Islands, experiencing their dramatic natural beauty up close. The westernmost island, San Miguel — with two 800-foot hills covered in lupine, coastal sagebrush and poppies — is a four-hour ferry ride from Ventura. Cuyler Harbor, San Miguel’s 1.5-mile-long beach, is the perfect place to rest your paddle-weary arms.

Church’s Beach
Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts
Hitch a ride on a golf cart to the Cuttyhunk Yacht Club and then follow the sand road (pick a few wildflowers along the way) to Church’s beach. This west-facing strand is great for late-day rays and sunsets. Gentle waves make for good swimming. Build a castle from the golden sand and embellish the turrets with wildflowers.

Asia
Loh Samah Bay
Phi Phi Le, Thailand
Off the Malay Peninsula’s west coast, in the Andaman Sea, you’ll find the island chain of Ko Phi Phi. Best known is the inhabited island of Phi Phi Don, but we recommend uninhabited Phi Phi Le, which has bays dotted by limestone karsts. Loh Samah Bay, ticked into the south coast, is often overlooked.

Mayraira Point
Luzon, Philippines
At the northernmost point of Luzon island in the northern Philippines is Mayraira Point, where you’ll find a small, secluded cove of the same name. It’s also known as the Blue Lagoon for its stunningly blue pools of water.

Pasir Putih
Bali, Indonesia
This quarter-mile crescent of white sand on Bali’s east coast (near the town of Candidasa) is a peaceful respite from the tourist-packed and vendor-frequented sands of Kuta. There are only a couple of small shacks run by locals who sell fresh drinks and nasi goreng (fried rice).

Pulau Sulug
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Malaysian Boreo
A couple miles off Sarawak’s north coast is the five-island marine park of Tunku Abdul Rahman, chock-full of deserted beaches and patches of coral reef. The smallest of the five islands is Pulau Sulug, nothing more than a 20-acre mass of hilly land, rocky shoreline and a spit of white sand that juts east. Get to the park by a 20-minute boat ride from the Central Market Harbour jetty in north-coast Kota Kinabalu.

Australia/New Zealand
Balding Bay
Magnetic Islands, Australia
Magnetic Island, off northern Queensland’s east coast, has 15 miles of walking tracks that lead through forests of hoop pine or eucalyptus (the island is two-thirds national park) to secluded bays. Walk along one of these or rent a Mini-Moke (beach buggy) to get to Balding Bay, a crescent-shaped beach surrounded by pines on Magnetic’s east coast.

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Te Werahi Beach
North Island, New Zealand
According to Maori legend, the demo-god Maui pulled a giant fish out of the sea, and that fish became New Zealand’s North Island. If this is true, Cape Reinga, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the island’s northern tip, would be the fish’s tail. The cape is edged by the dunes of Te Werahi. Get to the beach by following the Te Werahi Gate/Twilight hiking trail down from Cape Reinga Road.

Each issue of ISLANDS Magazine explores the most beautiful island destinations in the world, from tropical island outposts to the sophisticated gems of the Mediterranean. Our top-rate photographers and writers discover the quiet beaches, boutique hotels, and unique cultural experiences that make island travel unique.

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