Playa de Muro Beach, Mallorca, Spain
This nearly four-mile-long beach has calm, shallow waters, which makes it a perfect spot for families. There’s also a long pier that reaches out from the beach into the sea, and there are cafes, bars and play areas circling the beach. You can rent sun beds, umbrellas and personal lockers, plus there are also free showers. And, according to TripAdvisor, it’s one of the safest beaches in the world, with plenty of lifeguards on duty and a thorough rescue system in place.
What to do: The placid waters here are popular for parasailing and jet skiing.
Where to stay: In addition to having a prime position on Playa de Muro, Grupotel Parc Natural & Spa hotel is directly across the street from the greenery of S’Albufera Natural Park, which offers shaded paths for strolling. The hotel has a large, beautifully landscaped pool and rooms that TripAdvisor reviewers say are modern, attractive and incredibly clean.
Playa Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park—considered Costa Rica’s crown jewel—has both lush tropical rainforests and this dazzling white sand beach, not to mention three-toed sloths and white-faced Capuchin monkeys. The snow-white coastline has been called one of the most peaceful places on earth with sounds of the sea mingled with the musical sounds of the rainforest’s native fauna.
What to do: Explore the national park with a guide to get up close with monkeys, sloths, iguanas and birds.
Where to stay: Manuel Antonio’s only luxury beachfront resort, Arenas Del Mar sits tucked between a verdant rain forest and the Pacific Ocean within a private, 11-acre nature reserve, which serves as an important corridor for the area’s wildlife.
Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Although Rio may have a reputation as a frenetic city, this pristine beach in the middle of it is a world unto itself. You’ll see people sunbathing, playing beach volleyball and even dancing to samba tunes—all with views of the deep, blue sea ahead and lush green mountains in the background.
What to do: For those unafraid of heights, take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain for 360-degree views of downtown Rio, the famous Ipanema beach and the Rio-Niterói Bridge crossing Guanabara Bay.
Where to stay: The Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort sits directly on the beach and offers a tropical resort setting in busy Rio. You’ll have direct access to the sand and surf, plus access to a large pool, landscaped gardens and a range of restaurants and spa experiences to truly make you feel like you’re in a beach oasis.