Croatian gem named on World’s Top 20 Best Beaches list

World’s Top 20 Best Beaches unveiled by Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet, the tourist guide extraordinaire, has unveiled its list of the “20 Best Beaches” in the world. 

Featured are popular spots like Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro and Ao Maya in Thailand, as well as secluded paradises like Mnemba Island in Zanzibar and a Croatian gem. 

“From legendary golden bays to lesser-known coves, no shell was left unturned during our quest for the world’s best beaches. We sent our writers far and wide in search of sublime shores ripe for surfing and remote corners of elusive paradise for Lonely Planet’s new book ‘Best Beaches in the World.’ From Albania to Yemen and everywhere in between, our team swam, dived, sipped cocktails, and trekked through jungles to create the ultimate bible,” Lonely Planet said in its introduction. 

The sole Croatian beach to make the list was Punta Rata in Brela on the Dalmatian coast. 

“The dreamy Punta Rata stretches 400 meters around a cape protected by a natural reserve in a magical place where Aleppo pine forests meet the cool, pristine Adriatic Sea. One of the most beautiful beaches on the Croatian coast, fragrant pine groves provide shade while the deep blue sea offers ideal temperatures above 20°C from June to October for swimming, diving, kayaking, or paddle-boarding, Lonely Planet writes, before continuing. 

Punta Rata (Photo credit: Josip-Pino Žamić/CC BY-SA 4.0)

“This beach is pure bliss. Stay on the nearby promenade to catch magnificent sunsets, when the sky glows with deep orange-red and neon pink hues as the sun sets beneath the pines rising above the sea. The beach is located on the northwest edge of Brela (easily accessible by foot or bike), about 50 km southeast of Split on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Split has an international airport and good bus connections to Brela (1 hour).”

World’s Top 20 Best Beaches

1. The Pass, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
2. Ipanema Beach, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
3. Ao Maya, Ko Phi-Phi, Krabi, Thailand
4. Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
5. Sarakiniko, Milos Cyclades, Greece
6. Chesterman Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
7. Cabo San Juan del Guía, Tayrona National Nature Park, Colombia
8. Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
9. Balandra Beach, La Paz BCS, Mexico
10. Punta Paloma, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain
11. Punta Rata Beach, Brela, Makarska Riviera, Croatia
12. West Beach, Berneray, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
13. Rauðasandur, Westfjords, Iceland
14. Pink Beach, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia
15. Dueodde, Nexø, Bornholm, Denmark
16. Keem Bay Beach, Keel, County Mayo, Ireland
17. Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
18. Stanhope Beach, Prince Edward Island National Park, PEI, Canada
19. Radhanagar, Swaraj Dweep, Andaman Islands, India
20. Pacific Beach, Siargao, Surigao Del Norte, Philippines

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