Travel

The 7 most stunning rainbow beaches in the world

We all love walking along a beautiful sandy beach, but there’s something about technicolor sand that amps up the experience.

From the red beaches of Greece to the jet-black sands of Hawaii, here are the best rainbow beaches around the world!

Red Sand

Red Beach in Santorini, Greece

Located near the ancient village of Akrotiri, Santorini’s Red Beach is a major tourist attraction. The beach’s unique color is a result of the volcanic activity on the island.

Courtesy of Jouni Lehti/Flickr

Orange Sand

Ramla Bay, Malta

What a beautiful way to start your day. Ramla Bay, on the Maltese island of Gozo, gets its breathtaking golden-orange hue from the high levels of iron in the sand.

Courtesy of Jennifer Morrow/Flickr

Green Sand

Papakolea Beach, Hawaii

The beautiful stretch of beach is located on Hawaii’s Big Island. The emerald color is thanks to the presence of Olivine crystal, a volcanic mineral.

Courtesy of David J Laporte/Flickr

Black Sand

Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii

In addition to green sand, Hawaii’s Big Island also boasts a startling black beach at Punalu’u. The jet-black sand was created by lava flowing into the ocean, exploding, and then cooling.

Courtesy of Liz/Flickr

Purple Sand

Pfieffer Beach, California

Big Sur, California is known for its amazing weather, great surfing and the majestic purple sands of Pfieffer Beach.

Courtesy of Stuart L Chambers/Flickr

White Sand

Hyams Beach, Australia

The bleached sand in New South Wales, Australia is often referred to as the whitest beach in the world. Next to the crystal-clear water and perfectly blue sky, this locale is definitely postcard worthy.

Courtesy of Jonas Smith/Flickr

Pink Sand

Harbour Island, Bahamas

If you’re looking for a picturesque vacation, try the three-mile-plus stretch of pink beach in Harbour Island, Bahamas. The rose colored grains get their color from the shells of a tiny microscopic animal called foraminifera.

Courtesy of Solarnu/Flickr