Islands & Beaches
The Most Beautiful Pink Sand Beaches in the World
Get ready for a million Instagram likes.
What gives pink sand beaches their hue? Is it a million pieces of shattered coral? A trick of the eye and the light? On Harbour Island in the Bahamas—one of the most famous beaches pictured here—the pink hue comes from foraminifera, a microscopic organism that actually has a reddish-pink shell, while the sand is a mix of coral, shells, and calcium carbonate. It sounds like a science project, but in truth, it's one of the most magical things we've seen. Here, nine pink sand beaches around the world, and the best places to stay near these beaches.
This gallery was last published in August 2018. It has been updated with new information.