12 of the World’s Most Colorful Beaches

Kathleen Corrigan | April 14, 2017

We’ll take a beach vacation any way we can get it; but if it also happens to be at a place that’s rare and beautiful, that’s even better. If you’re tired of plain old brown sand, feast your eyes on the red, pink, purple, and even multi-colored beaches that can be found in some of the world’s most beautiful locales. Here are 12 colorful beaches that are just waiting for you to visit.

Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Hawaii

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Papakolea is one of only two beaches in the United States with green sand and among only a handful in the world. Its interesting color comes from the glassy green olivine crystals mixed in with the sand that are also known as “Hawaiian diamonds.” These olivine crystals were formed nearly 50,000 years ago from olivine-rich volcanic lava that got trapped on the rocks rather than being washed out to sea. However, if you want to see this gorgeous green sand for yourself, you’re in for a bit of a journey; Papakolea is located at the southernmost tip of the island and is a 2.5-mile walk away from the nearest road.

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