The World's Clearest Waters
AlamyBonito, Brazil
Thanks to the high concentration of underground limestone—which acts as a natural filter—the rivers surrounding the Brazilian municipality of Bonito are exceptionally clear and vividly blue. (So blue that the region has been dubbed “Caribe do Centro-Oeste,” the Caribbean of the Central-West). Rio da Prata is one of the most dramatically blue rivers in the region, and is popular with snorkelers thanks to its water clarity and plentiful marine life.
GettyLampedusa, Sicily, Italy
Lampedusa is the largest and most stunning of the Italian Pelagie islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and so far south that it’s actually closer to Tunisia than mainland Italy. All of those are very valid reasons to pay a visit—but what you’re really here for is that famous water: shimmering, crystalline, and electric-blue. Rabbit Beach is the island’s most popular swimming spot, offering blissful shallows to splash around in, framed by gently sloping limestone cliffs.
GettyLake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand
The largest of three near-parallel alpine lakes on New Zealand’s South Island, Lake Pukaki is such an unearthly shade of blue that it looks like a scene out of a movie. (And it is: the lake was a backdrop for major scenes in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies). But that frosty, Gatorade-level blue is no special effect: the lake derives its hue from glacial flour—a fine silt of pulverized rock suspended in the water that reflects blue light and give the lake its luminous appearance.
GettyThere are few things on earth as impressive as seeing the Great Barrier Reef—the world’s largest coral reef system—from the air. Its 900 islands are scattered across a shimmering, monochromatic blanket of blue, with shades ranging from pale Tiffany blue to the deepest indigo. At Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, you can take a dip in Australia’s most famous waters, fringed by some of the whitest sand in the world.
GettyMaldives
A roundup of the world’s bluest waters would be incomplete without the Maldives, home of turquoise-blue waters so vibrant they seem surreal. In fact, Maldivian waters are so translucent, it often appears as if the boats sailing around the islands are floating in mid-air. As as if the water weren’t already luminous enough, travelers on the Maldivian island of Vaadhoo have recently been witnessing water that literally glows blue as a result of a chemical reaction called bioluminescence—allowing you to marvel its beauty, even in the dark.
GettyNavagio Bay, Zakynthos, Greece
It seems as if all the Greek islands are framed by that killer shade of emerald blue, but there’s something about the waters at Navagio Bay on the tiny island of Zakynthos that makes your heart skip a beat. Perhaps its the sheer seclusion and protected location (it’s sheltered on either side by soaring cliffs) that keeps its aquamarine waters so perfect and pure. For the ultimate vantage point, follow the signs to the Agios Gergio Kremnao monastery, which has a viewing platform overlooking the entire length of the beach.
GettyExuma, Bahamas
The waters that surround Exuma's 365 islands are so supernaturally blue and clear it feels as if you’re in an infinity pool, whether you’re swimming alongside adorable piglets on Big Major Cay or wading in the calm shallows of Small Hope Bay. Beautiful hue aside, Bahamian waters are calm and warm all year round—rarely dipping below 72 degrees Fahrenheit—which means you can swim comfortably even in the cooler winter months (December through February).
GettyMoraine Lake, Canada
If Moraine Lake looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it before: the lake is so picture-perfect, it’s used as the default backdrop for Windows, Blackberry and Palm softwares, many Android products, and even the old Canadian $20 bill. Located in Alberta’s Banff National Park, the lake’s startling shade of cyan is thanks to the glacier sediment deposited by melt-water from the surrounding glaciers. Though Moraine is often overshadowed by the larger and more touristed Lake Louise, we think it’s just as pretty (and infinitely more peaceful).
GettyBoracay Island, Philippines
Palawan may have recently been voted the world’s most beautiful island by our readers, but when it comes to the water, Boracay remains king. The shallow, glassy water surrounding Boracay has the level of clarity you'd expect from a hotel pool and boasts a shade of turquoise so striking and ethereal it’ll stop you dead in your tracks. Insider tip: skip touristy White Beach for the more secluded Diniwid Beach, where you can have Boracay’s beautiful waters all to yourself.