Beaches
Pink, black and green sand beaches: 10 beaches in other colours
Sand that turns from pink to white as the waves pull back, black beaches made of lava and a green beach at the end of the world. These are the beaches that look like no others, and where to stay.
The best known pink sand beaches are Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, the pink beaches of Bermuda, Elafonisi in Crete and Pink Beach in Komodo. Black sand beaches are found where there are volcanoes, such as Reynisfjara in Iceland, Perissa in Santorini and Playa Jardín in Tenerife. The green sand beach Papakōlea and the red Kaihalulu are in Hawaii.
The colour comes from nature itself. Pink sand is mixed with crushed shells from tiny red organisms that live on the coral reefs. Black sand is lava that the sea has ground down over thousands of years, and the green beach in Hawaii owes its colour to the mineral olivine.
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How we chose the beaches
The sand is clearly a different colour from ordinary golden or white sand.
The beach is open to visitors, and we include safety advice where it matters.
We found a hotel nearby where Hotels.com has a good option.
Pink sand beaches: when the sand turns pink at sunset
Harbour Island
Pink Sands Beach runs along the east side of Harbour Island.
Bahamas: Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island
Best time: December to May. Colour: pale pink, strongest in morning and evening light.
Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island runs for about three miles, and the sand has a clear pink tone from shell fragments from the reef offshore. The island is small enough to explore by golf cart, and Pink Sands Resort sits right on the beach.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Pink Sands Resort
Bermuda
The Loren sits on the south shore of Bermuda, home to the pink beaches.
Bermuda: the pink beaches of the south shore
Best time: May to October. Colour: pink tones in the wet sand at the water's edge.
The south shore of Bermuda is known for pink sand, with Horseshoe Bay the most famous beach. The Loren at Pink Beach sits on the south shore with its own beach, and from here you can take the bus or a scooter along the coast between the beaches.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at The Loren at Pink Beach
Crete, Greece: Elafonisi
Best time: May to October. Colour: pink streaks in the sand, strongest at the water's edge.
Elafonisi in the south west of Crete has a shallow, turquoise lagoon and pink sand where the waves wash in. The beach is a protected nature area, so take the shells and sand home only in your memory. We suggest staying in Chania and making it a day trip. See our best hotels in Crete.
Komodo
Labuan Bajo on Flores is the starting point for boat trips to Komodo National Park.
Indonesia: Pink Beach, Komodo
Best time: April to December. Colour: clearly pink, among the strongest in the world.
Pink Beach lies in Komodo National Park and is reached by boat from Labuan Bajo on Flores. The snorkelling offshore is among the best in Indonesia, and the same trip often stops for the Komodo dragons on Komodo or Rinca. AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach in Labuan Bajo makes a good base.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach
Black sand beaches: where lava meets the sea
Vík
Hotel Katla sits near Vík and the black beach on Iceland's south coast.
Iceland: Reynisfjara near Vík
Best time: all year, most daylight from May to August. Colour: jet black, with basalt columns.
Reynisfjara near Vík has black sand, basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks standing offshore. The waves here are dangerous and can surge far up the beach without warning, so keep well back from the water. Hotel Katla is close by.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Hotel Katla by Keahotels
Santorini
Perissa and Perivolos form one long black beach in the south of Santorini.
Santorini, Greece: Perissa and Perivolos
Best time: May to October. Colour: black and dark grey volcanic sand.
Perissa and Perivolos in the south of Santorini make up one long black beach with beach bars and clear water. The sand gets hot in the middle of the day, so bring sandals. Santo Miramare Resort sits at Perivolos, and Red Beach near Akrotiri is a short drive away if you want to see a red beach too.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Santo Miramare Resort
Tenerife
The hotel sits by the botanical garden in Puerto de la Cruz.
Tenerife, Spain: Playa Jardín, Puerto de la Cruz
Best time: all year. Colour: black volcanic sand.
Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife is a black beach with gardens and paths designed by the artist César Manrique. Hotel Botanico sits by the botanical garden in town, and suits travellers who want winter sun with greener nature than the south of the island. See also our best hotels in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden
Green and red sand: Hawaii
Hilo
Hilo on the east side of the Big Island is a good base for the volcanoes and the black beaches.
Hawaii: Papakōlea green sand beach and Punaluʻu on the Big Island
Best time: April to October. Colour: olive green at Papakōlea, black at Punaluʻu.
Papakōlea near South Point is one of very few green sand beaches in the world, reached by a long walk along the coast. On the way lies Punaluʻu, a black beach where sea turtles often rest on the sand. Keep your distance from the turtles. Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo is a practical base for the volcanoes and the south coast.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
Hana
Hana sits at the end of the famous coast road on the east side of Maui.
Hawaii: Kaihalulu, the red sand beach on Maui
Best time: April to October. Colour: deep red from iron rich volcanic cinder.
Kaihalulu in Hana on Maui is a red beach in a cove surrounded by cliffs. The path down is steep and slippery, and access is closed at times, so check local advice before you go. Hana-Maui Resort sits in Hana and is the natural place to stay after the drive along the Hana Highway.
Stay by the beach: See rooms at Hana-Maui Resort
Tips before you visit a coloured sand beach
Do not take sand or shells home. Several of these beaches are protected, and the colour fades when people take the sand.
Go early or late. The pink colour is strongest in low sunlight and wet sand.
Respect the safety advice. Reynisfjara and Kaihalulu can be dangerous.
Prefer the classic white beaches? Read the world's most famous beaches.
Frequently asked questions about pink and black sand beaches
Why are some beaches pink?
Pink sand beaches get their colour from crushed shells of tiny red organisms called foraminifera, which live on coral reefs. When the shell fragments mix with white sand, the beach takes on a pink tone, strongest in wet sand and low sunlight.
Where are the pink sand beaches?
The best known pink sand beaches are Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, Horseshoe Bay and the south shore of Bermuda, Elafonisi in Crete and Pink Beach in Komodo National Park in Indonesia. There are also pink beaches in Sardinia and Barbuda.
Where can you find black sand beaches?
Black sand beaches are found where there are volcanoes, such as Reynisfjara in Iceland, Perissa and Perivolos in Santorini, Playa Jardín in Tenerife and Punaluʻu in Hawaii. The sand is lava ground down by the sea.
Are there green sand beaches?
Yes, but they are rare. The best known is Papakōlea near South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii, where the sand is green from the mineral olivine. There is also green sand in Guam and the Galápagos.
Is Reynisfjara dangerous?
Yes, Reynisfjara in Iceland has powerful sneaker waves that can surge far up the beach without warning. Keep well back from the water, never turn your back on the sea and follow the signs at the beach.