Sauce Loves… Unique Beach Destinations
Always on the hunt for the travel secrets worth sharing, we’ve picked out our favourite quirky and unique beaches that you should seriously consider for your next getaway!
Sauce’s Top 4 Unique and Unusual Beaches:
#1: The Starry Beach in the Maldives
The Maldives has always been known for its stunning beaches and plentiful sea life. The beaches on Mudhdhoo Island, however, has something even more interesting to offer – glow-in-the-dark shores. This incredible sight is caused by bioluminescent phytoplankton, according to recent studies on the phenomenon. The Maldivian island’s shores glimmer with fluorescent blue lights reminiscent of a starry night sky because of the light that these tiny creatures emit for up to a minute.
The newly opened Milaidhoo Island Maldives is a beautiful five-star resort set on the small island, set in Baa Atoll’s beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a short boat ride from the starry shores of Mudhdhoo Island. This secluded 50-villa island retreat is nestled in the heart of the Maldives natural beauty, perfect for exploration via diving, snorkelling, watersports and beach lounging.
The Private Travel Company (www.caribtours.co.uk / 0207 751 0660) offers seven nights at Milaidhoo from £4,435 perperson on Half Board basis, including return flights, transfers and the use of a UK airport lounge.
#2: California’s Infamous Glass Beach
The famed coastline of California brings pictures of beautiful sandy beaches, holiday shacks and surfers – but here at Sauce, we are intrigued by one of California’s more unusual and rather controversial beach destinations – Glass Beach, located in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg. Glass Beach is formed from an abundance of sea glass after years of rubbish being dumped by Fort Bragg residents. The beach was an official water dump site from 1906 to 1967, yet Glass Beach lives to show the traces of this site. After years of being washed by the coastline, the remaining glass and pottery has been broken down into smooth, small and colourful pieces that covers Glass Beach. The interesting dump-site-turned-beach shows the damage and intrigue this site has brought to the area, and is a great opportunity to learn about the local conservation and restoration efforts that have been made by the property owners, local community and the California Coastal Conservancy.
Relais & Châteaux property Hotel Les Mars, an exquisite boutique hotel situated in the small town of Healdsburg, California, is the perfect location to start off a road trip to explore the wonderful and interesting sights that the West Coast has to offer, from the traditional Venice Beach to the intrigue of Glass Beach. www.relaischateaux.com/gb
#3: Hawaiian volcanic black sand beach
Punalu’u Beach between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu on the Big Island of Hawaii boasts incredible black sands and stunning views. This famous Black Sand Beach has sand made of basalt, created after lava from nearby volcanic action explodes as it flows into the ocean and rapidly cools. Its black sands aren’t the only incredible sight to see on this famous beach – it is also home to endangered hawksbill turtles! Punalu’u is perfect for swimming, snorkelling, camping, picnics, short coastal hikes and the opportunities to snap the most incredible travel shots.
Hotel Wailea, located on a nearby island, is a short boat ride from Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, and offers excellent activities for further exploration, from PADI scuba diving to whale watching, ziplining, surfing and canoeing. The hotel’s ideal location 300 feet above the ocean offers breath-taking views of the seas and nearby Hawaiian islands, and its surrounding 15 acres of beaches and lush greenery are perfect for secluded relaxation. www.relaischateaux.com/gb
#4: Mexico’s hidden beach with a hidden past
A gaping hole in the surface of Marieta Island’s lush greenery opens up to a secluded, shaded beach. Playa del Amor, more commonly known as Mexico’s Hidden Beach, looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel – its perfect sandy beach and crytal-clear waters from the Pacific Ocean rushing in makes it seem like a curious natural phenomenon. However, it is rumoured that the hole was created deliberately by the Mexican government, when the uninhabited island was once used as bomb target practice in the early 1900s. Instead of the expected image of ruins and devastation that normally equates to bombings, instead the island is a peacefully deserted and secluded beach, ideal for the most unique and awe-inspiring beach getaway.