TripAdvisor picks: World’s best beaches

Marnie Hunter, CNN
2 minute read
Published 5:41 AM EDT, Tue March 18, 2014
Baia do Sancho in remote Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, takes the top spot in TripAdvisor's 2014 Travelers' Choice best beaches list. Located on a volcanic archipelago, the beach jumped to the top spot from No. 4 last year.
1. Baia do Sancho, Brazil —
Baia do Sancho in remote Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, takes the top spot in TripAdvisor's 2014 Travelers' Choice best beaches list. Located on a volcanic archipelago, the beach jumped to the top spot from No. 4 last year.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, held on to its No. 2 ranking for the second year.
2. Grace Bay, Providenciales —
Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, held on to its No. 2 ranking for the second year.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, jumped two spots from No. 5 to No. 3.
3. Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico —
Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, jumped two spots from No. 5 to No. 3.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Last year's top-ranked spot, Rabbit Beach on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, dropped to No. 4 this year.
4. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy —
Last year's top-ranked spot, Rabbit Beach on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, dropped to No. 4 this year.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Whitehaven Beach on Australia's Whitsunday Island dropped from No. 3 last year to this year's No. 5 spot.
5. Whitehaven Beach, Australia —
Whitehaven Beach on Australia's Whitsunday Island dropped from No. 3 last year to this year's No. 5 spot.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Playa de ses Illetes on Formentera in Spain's Balearic Islands broke into the top 10 this year, jumping from No. 12 to No. 6.
6. Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain —
Playa de ses Illetes on Formentera in Spain's Balearic Islands broke into the top 10 this year, jumping from No. 12 to No. 6.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island in the Seychelles jumped 10 spots, from No. 17 last year to No. 7.
7. Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles —
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island in the Seychelles jumped 10 spots, from No. 17 last year to No. 7.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Lanikai Beach in Kailua on Oahu broke into the world's top 10 this year. Last year, the Hawaii beach was No. 5 in the United States, but it didn't make the global list.<br />
8. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii —
Lanikai Beach in Kailua on Oahu broke into the world's top 10 this year. Last year, the Hawaii beach was No. 5 in the United States, but it didn't make the global list.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Rhossili Bay in Swansea, Wales, moved up to No. 9 from last year's No. 10 spot. While certainly not the warmest of the world's spectacular beaches, the rugged landscape and sweeping views are undeniably lovely.
9. Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales —
Rhossili Bay in Swansea, Wales, moved up to No. 9 from last year's No. 10 spot. While certainly not the warmest of the world's spectacular beaches, the rugged landscape and sweeping views are undeniably lovely.
Courtesy TripAdvisor
Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, jumped from No. 14 to No. 10 this year.
10. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico —
Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, jumped from No. 14 to No. 10 this year.
Matt Logan/Flickr Open/Getty Images
Best beaches: TripAdvisor travelers' picks

Story highlights

TripAdvisor announces its second annual best beaches awards

A remote Brazilian beach ranks No. 1

Rankings are based on TripAdvisor user reviews over 12 months

CNN  — 

Flip-flop weather must be right around the corner. While nearly any sun-soaked stretch of sand sounds perfect just now, some beaches clearly take the sand and surf prerequisites to a higher level.

The pinnacle for beach-goers? Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Brazil.

This pristine Brazilian beach takes top honors on TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice best beaches list, released Tuesday.

The beach rankings, in their second year, are determined by analyzing the quality and quantity of a year’s worth of TripAdvisor user reviews of beaches across the globe. Baia do Sancho moved up from a No. 4 ranking last year.

Click through the gallery above to see the top 10 beaches around the world.

Overall, the best beaches awards include 322 beaches and lists of the most highly ranked beaches for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific and the United States.

Here’s how TripAdvisor ranks U.S. beaches:

1. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
2. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
3. Siesta Key Public Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
4. Hanalei Beach, Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii
5. Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hana, Maui, Hawaii
6. Wailea Beach, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
7. Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort, South Carolina
8. Manini’owali Beach (Kua Bay), Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
9. Saint Pete Beach, Saint Pete Beach, Florida
10. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

MORE: 11 best ways to experience Hawaii

MORE: 29 beach photos that will make you drool

MORE: World’s 100 best beaches