Secluded Beaches Around the World

Perhaps you want to find a getaway from the dread of winter, or perhaps you are planning next year's summer vacation. Whatever your reasons, you are looking for a warm, sunny, and sandy place to enjoy.

However, you don't want to share this little piece of paradise with thousands of others. You want to remember the colors of the water, the feel of the sand, the breeze from the ocean and not the multicolored umbrellas, the incessant sand flying around as people walk, or the breeze coming from someone shaking the towel.

What options do you have?

It all depends on what type of beach you want. If you look for a location that has all the amenities and luxuries of a resort, then you will need to head one direction. If, however, you are the hardy kind of individual, the Robinson Crusoe kind of person, then you will need to head the opposite way.

Either way... unless that secluded spot is very hard to reach, it will not stay secluded for long. So, you need to pack your bags and head that direction soon.

Let's explore together some of the secluded beaches around the world.

The descriptions of the beaches, accommodation, and how to get there have been taken from travel, country, and vacationer's websites. Clicking the links will yield more information on the location or other nearby beaches.

North America

1. Saline Beach - Saint-Barthélemy (St. Bart's)

According to the Travel Channel, "Saline Beach, on the southern coast, is the island's most beautiful and secluded slice of paradise. The horseshoe-shaped swath of sand is located a couple miles from Gustavia (St. Bart's' main village). From the parking lot, you'll have to hike 10 minutes over a dune to reach the beach here, but it's worth the effort."

For the best oceanfront lodging, splurge on a bungalow suite or villa at the Hotel St.-Barth Isle de France on Flamands Beach.

St. Bart's has its own airport. It is located on the northwestern side of the island. Once there you can rent a vehicle and reach Saline beach, south central part of the island.

Note: based on comments found about the island, it seems that these beaches are known among naturalists.

2. Bradenton Beach - Florida

Following a suggestion on ezine articles, if you like to escape to a secluded getaway, your choice can be a Bradenton beach vacation rental on Lido Key. Here you'll find tiny, private North Lido Beach as well as the spectacular setting of South Lido Beach, nestled in acres of Australian pines with trails and walkways meandering through them.

The official site for the city of Bradenton Beach tells us the beach is located at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. The Island is located at the southern entrance to Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Access to Anna Maria Island can be achieved from the mainland (Bradenton) via bridges on Cortez Road or Manatee Avenue or from Longboat Key to the south via the bridge over Longboat Pass.

According to the Best Beaches site, there are numerous vacation rentals on Lido Key. You can choose luxurious resort hotels, rental condominiums, apartment efficiencies or motel rooms. Most have views of the Gulf of Mexico, private beaches or beach access.

South America

3. Cabo Frio - Brazil

The ESL Teachers Board relates the following: Cabo Frio, located some 90 miles north of Rio, offers even more seclusion than São Conrado. The beach here is practically deserted and is adjacent to a 17th-century convent and forts, which lend a gothic sense of drama to the experience.

The Brazil's tourism website tells us there are several beaches in Cabo Frio, some more secluded than others. Majority of them are great for surfers and fishing aficionados.

According to the Brazil Travel information site, Cabo Frio is 156 km from Rio and can be reached quite easily in a few hours by the Via Lagos toll road. The drive is quite lovely, especially the view from the Rio-Niteroi Bridge. There is also an airport, which serves the Regiao dos Lagos region.

Hotels are plentiful in Cabo Frio. Hotel Acapulco has beautiful views of the sand dunes and luxury rooms. La Plage Hotel is right on Pero Beach and with a gorgeous view of the ocean. Close to Forte Beach and the city center is the quaint and rustic Pousada Leandro.

4. Cabo Polonio - Uruguay

CNN reports of Cabo Polonio, "This remote outpost surrounded by miles of secluded windswept sand dunes was second to none...The beach is endless, isolated and everywhere. You can walk down this wide beach for miles or just sit alone on top of a sand dune and contemplate the beauty."

"There are shacks or "cabanas" scattered around the dunes. There is a simple hotel, cabanas for rent, a few restaurants and stalls selling local art."

The following has been taken from gonomad.com.
To reach Cabo Polonio, travelers have three options: walk, ride a horse, or climb on board a monster 4 x 4. Most choose the truck and its bumpy, 30-minute ride. Entering by horseback, however, offers a different perspective. While the truck ride bounes along spraying sand in all directions, an hour trek through the sand on horse will give any rider pause. The dunes are quiet, boundless and deep.

Europe

5. Damnoni Beach - Crete

On Completely Crete we read of this beach: Damnoni is located on the southern coast just a few kilometres west of the village of Plakias. The beach of Damnoni is considered one of the best secluded beaches in Crete. With an unspoilt feel to it and appealing to those who prefer a quieter secluded stretch to enjoy. Damnoni offers deserted bays and coves with soft sand and incredibly clean emerald green waters.
The nearest village to Damnoni Beach is Plakias.

We Love Crete.com reports that the beach is located in the southern west coast of Crete, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. To reach it, you can fly into Athens and then into one of the three Crete's airports or, you can take the ferry from Athens into one of the two ports in Crete.

Any time of the year is a good time to visit Crete. "Crete has 300 days of sunshine on average every year, so it makes beach going very high on our list of things to do. With swimming from April to November, Crete has one of the longest seasons in the region.

According to Interkriti.net, the Thalassa House Apartments in Plakiasare an accommodation option if you choose to visit Damnoni Beach. "Thalassa House" is a modern building which has a wonderful view of the bay of Plakias and the Libyan Sea. It is next to "Horizon Hotel" and next to the sea.

6. Kolocep Beaches - Croatia

http://www.croatia-beaches.com/hidden/kolocep_beach.htm
There are fourteen islands in the Elafiti group. Only three of them are inhabited (Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan).
Car-free island of Kolocep is the largest in the archipelago and it has some of the loveliest, secluded beaches in Europe.

The islands, opposite Dubrovnik at the southern end of the country, with the beautiful, sandy beaches, are approx. 20 minutes from Dubrovnik, which is just 7km away and offers daily boat service.

Hidden Croatia.com gives us description of the only hotel that can be found on the island. Hotel Villas Koločep offers comfortable accommodation in a number of 'villas' set together into the hillside overlooking the Donje Čelo bay.

Africa

7. Rocktail Bay - South Africa

http://www.travel-media.co.uk/press/naturetrekpress.htm
To the east, on the Indian Ocean coast lies Rocktail Bay in the Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve... one of the most secluded beaches in South Africa... Fine snorkeling on the coral reefs and excellent swimming in the bay's clear waters are further highlights.

Safari Adventure gives us the following informatin: if you choose this secluded beach, you can stay at the Rocktail Beach Camp. "Rocktail Beach Camp is set back in and shaded by the sanctuary of the lush Maputaland Coastal Forest covering the ancient dunes that make up the edge of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal coast."

The location can be reached by car and by air. The closest airport is Nelspruit, about one hour away. However, the two major airports are Durban, about 1 hour and 30 minutes away, and Johannesburg, about 1 hour 50 minutes away.

8. Poetize Beach - South Africa

If you are looking for a romantic and secluded gateway, the resort located on this beach will do the trick.

http://www.wheretogonext.com/release.html?releaseID=125243
Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa has opened Pezula Castle on Poetize Beach. Situated on one of the most secluded beaches in South Africa, the castle offers breathtaking panoramic views of the beach and Indian Ocean. Visit http://www.pezularesorthotel.com/

http://www.pezularesorthotel.com/destination/index.html
The resort is only about 10 minutes from Knysna, which is about 40 minutes' flight from Cape Town.

Specific information on the beach is not available. I guess this area is so secluded that the only way you will be able to find out about its beauty is by going there yourself.

Australia

9. Cape Leveque - Western Australia

http://www.discoverwest.com.au/western_australia/cape_leveque.html
Cape Leveque, situated 220kms north of Broome on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, is an oasis in the white sands, red earth and thick bush.
Scenic flights are also available across the Archipelago from Broome, Derby or Kooljaman. Take a trip out to the tip of the Dampier Peninsula and visit the Cape Leveque Lighthouse for the fabulous coastal and cliff views.

Searching for accommodations, the only one that I came across was the Kooljaman at CapeLeveque.

On Discover West.com we are given the description for the Kooljaman.
Located 220kms north of Broome and accessible only by air or 4WD, the Kooljaman at Cape Leveque is an Aboriginal owned wilderness camp on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula; experience culture and adventure at this beautiful coastal remote retreat.Cape Leveque Safari Tents Accommodation. Coastal location in CapeLeveque.

http://www.discoverwest.com.au/western_australia/cape_leveque.html

Cape Leveque can be accessed by self-drive 4WD some four hours or by air. A large 4WD is strongly recommended when traveling this area; sandy sections and corrugations require great care. The roads may be closed during the wet season late Sept to late May.

10. Mission Beach - Cairns, Australia

http://tools.cairns.com.au/cairns-attractions/cairns-beach-attractions.php#beaches
Mission Beach offers the best of both worlds; it is secluded but still has a range of accommodation, restaurants and shopping.

Halfway between Cairns and Townsville, Mission Beach offers 14km of sandy beaches backed by rainforest and the Family Group of islands - including Dunk and Bedarra islands - are just off the coast.

The village offers a wide variety of accommodation but can become packed during school holidays and during the Christmas period so it is worth booking before-hand.

The beaches in this region stretch from Bingil Bay south to Tully Heads including Clump Point, Wongalinga Beach, South Mission Beach and Hull Heads.

Cairns beaches hold a particular danger during the stinger season. Visitors need to remember that between November and May, swimming is unsafe at beaches in the Cairns region due to dangerous jellyfish (stingers) that migrate to the Tropical North Queensland coast.

http://tools.cairns.com.au/about-cairns/getting-around-cairns.php
Almost all visitors will have to enter the country via a major capital city, usually Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. About half of all visitors enter via Sydney's Kingsford-Smith International Airport.
There are direct flights to Cairns from major Asian cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. However direct flights can be quite expensive so most visitors travel via Sydney, Melbourne or Perth and Darwin.

If you want to find more secluded beaches, the best way to locate them is to search for beaches in a specific country or continent (i.e. beaches in Italy, best beaches in Europe, etc.). Then search the different links for secluded/private beaches. Once you find them, you can search by the specific name of the location.

It takes a bit of time, but if you are truly searching for something special, the search will be rewarding.