Beaches — Americas: 3

Fernando de Noronha

"Brazil's volcanic UNESCO marine sanctuary"

Baía do Sancho on Fernando de Noronha has been voted the world's best beach by TripAdvisor multiple times — and the moment you descend through a crack in the volcanic cliff via iron ladders, you understand why. This pristine crescent of golden sand is framed by 50-meter volcanic cliffs draped in emerald-green vegetation, with water so clear that spinner dolphins are visible from the clifftop above. Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago 350 kilometers off Brazil's northeast coast, and strict visitor limits (only 460 people allowed on the main island at a time) ensure it remains one of the most pristine marine environments on Earth. The archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage site and marine sanctuary, home to the largest concentration of resident spinner dolphins in the world — up to 1,000 gather each morning in the Baía dos Golfinhos. The diving is among the best in the South Atlantic, with visibility exceeding 40 meters and encounters with sea turtles, reef sharks, and manta rays virtually guaranteed.

From $400/night

Ipanema Beach

"Rio's legendary bossa nova beach"

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil4.7

Ipanema Beach is not just a beach — it is the beating heart of Rio de Janeiro's legendary outdoor culture. Made world-famous by the 1962 bossa nova classic 'The Girl from Ipanema,' this 2-kilometer crescent of golden sand flanked by the dramatic peaks of Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain) is where Carioca culture comes alive every day. Each section of the beach has its own personality — Posto 9 is the bohemian, fashionable crowd; Posto 8 attracts families; and the area near Arpoador Rock is where surfers and sunset worshippers gather for the daily ritual of applauding the sun as it sinks behind the mountains. The mosaic-tiled promenade designed by Roberto Burle Marx is an icon of Brazilian modernist design. The water is refreshing year-round, and the views across to the Cagarras Islands and toward Sugarloaf Mountain are among the most spectacular urban beach panoramas on Earth.

From $180/night

Camps Bay Beach

"Twelve Apostles backdrop in Cape Town"

Cape Town, South Africa4.7

Camps Bay Beach sits in one of the most dramatically beautiful urban settings on the planet — a long stretch of white sand framed by the Twelve Apostles mountain range on one side and the vast Atlantic Ocean on the other. The palm-lined beachfront promenade with its row of upscale restaurants and cocktail bars creates a scene reminiscent of the French Riviera, but with a uniquely South African energy. Behind the beach, Table Mountain's imposing flat-topped silhouette dominates the skyline — the cable car visible from the sand. The water is cold (15-20°C) due to the Benguela Current, but the beach itself is sun-drenched and the sundowners at sunset, with the sky turning shades of orange and pink behind Lion's Head, are among the most spectacular in the world. During whale season (June-November), southern right whales can often be spotted from the beach.

From $200/night