By Mariana Araújo
Sancho Bay, in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, is the most beautiful beach in the world, according to the 2023 edition of the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award – which points out the “best of the best” on the planet in the opinion of travelers who use the Tripadvisor platform.
In the ranking released this Tuesday (28), the Brazilian “majestic cliffs” were considered “breathtaking.”
“It is a beautiful remote beach that is only accessible by descending stairs and floors of rocks,” noted Tripadvisor, which stressed the diversity of local fauna as one of its strong points.
“Travelers who venture into the warm, translucent waters may be lucky to encounter sea turtles, stingrays, dolphins, and sharks. Escorted by forest-covered cliffs, this unspoiled spot is also famous for crabs that stroll along its coastline,” justified Travelers’ Choice regarding the victory of the Brazilian beach.
In fact, getting to Sancho is not an easy mission – which relatively preserves it from predatory tourism.
If you don’t want to face the rocky road, it is only possible to reach its coast by boat, at times authorized by the ICMBio that manages the Fernando de Noronha National Park, a protected area.
Located 545 km from Recife, it is mainly visited by fans of diving in its crystalline and sometimes rough waters – which guarantees the interest of surfers in its “swells”, with waves up to four meters high.
The prestige of Sancho Bay is not new.
Traveler’s Choice had already placed the beach at the top of the list in 2017, in second place in 2018, and again in first in 2019 and 2020.
However, in 2021 and 2022, it lost positions: it was third and then seventh in last year’s awards.
It was also considered the favorite beach for Brazilian travelers in another local ranking in 2022.
Of the more than 8,500 reviews that gave Sancho the top ranking in Traveler’s Choice, more than 90% are five stars.
The British newspaper Daily Mail pointed out how the Brazilian beach seems to be an eternal favorite of travelers, as this is its sixth win since Tripadvisor’s award was created.
Here are the other finalists in the ranking, including another Brazilian: Ipanema, in Rio de Janeiro, in 19th place.
2ND: EAGLE BEACH: PALM-EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA
Aruba’s largest beach is famous for its white sands, stunning blue sea, and Fofoti trees – among the most instagrammed trees in the Caribbean.
Beach bars and water sports attract visitors to resorts and hotels on the sand.
Another attraction is the sea turtles: four species choose Eagle Beach to lay their eggs.
3RD: CABLE BEACH, BROOME, AUSTRALIA
The turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the fine sand gave the beach the bronze medal in Tripadvisor’s election.
It is 22 kilometers of white sand with a sunset considered one of the most beautiful in Australia – especially if observed during the camel ride by the sea, one of the local attractions.
4ª: REYNISFJARA, VIK, ICELAND
This black sand beach will look familiar if you are a “Game of Thrones” fan.
The most famous in the country, it was set in the series: towering cliffs and rock formations in the ocean mark Reynisfjara.
It is a perfect place for great pictures and should be on your itinerary in the Nordic country.
5TH: GRACE BAY BEACH: GRACE BAY, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
It has already been voted the most beautiful in the world by Tripadvisor travelers in 2015.
Not for nothing: its 8 kilometers of white sand, bathed by a mesmerizing blue sea, make up an undeniably passionate scenario.
Between cooling off in the resorts’ pools and a quiet walk along the shore, the livelier ones can venture into quiet snorkeling – where they will certainly see turtles – or even parasail flights and fishing in speedboats, chasing fish from deep waters, which are just a few kilometers from the coast.
6TH: FALÉSIA BEACH, OLHOS DE ÁGUA, PORTUGAL
Praia da Falésia is in the municipality of Albufeira in the Algarve, southern Portugal.
With a length of 5,500 meters, it has cliff sections and places where the sand is reddish.
It has already been considered the best beach in Portugal by winning the Travellers Choice.
There is a park and services in its area, such as parking.
On top of the cliffs, there is also a pine forest worth visiting.
7TH: RADHANAGAR BEACH: HAVELOCK ISLAND, INDIA
Havelock Island is one of the largest in the Ritchie archipelago and has a population of 6,351.
Radhanagar beach has already become a regular feature in lists of the world’s best beaches.
In 2004, it was elected by Time magazine as the best in Asia.
The beach’s fame came from its combination of calm and clear seas with white sand and dense vegetation around it.
8TH: SPIAGGIA DEI CONIGLI: LAMPEDUSA, ITALY
Spiaggia dei Conigli was already voted in 2018 as the most beautiful beach in Europe.
The islet has already hosted several famous people attracted mainly by its landscape: rocky walls and clear water.
The destination is also a favorite of divers and boat trippers, who visit the other beaches in the region.
9TH: VARADERO BEACH: VARADERO, CUBA
Clear waters, fine white sand, the classic Caribbean combination. Varadero is part of the narrow Hicacos Peninsula, a 20-kilometer strip of land that juts off the island into the Atlantic Ocean.
It is an area dominated by hotel complexes, all-inclusive resorts, and golf courses.
10TH: KA’ANAPALI BEACH, MAUI, HAWAII, USA
One of the most famous destinations in Hawaii, Ka’anapali Beach has a narrow strip of fluffy sand and is a favorite to enjoy in Maui amidst the hotel complex.
One of the local attractions is Pu’u Keka’a, where torches are lit at dusk, and divers go to the sea.
The following beaches were also well-rated:
11th: Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida, USA
12th: Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, USA
13th: Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia
14th: Seven Mile Beach, Ilha Grande Cayman
15th: La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain
16th: Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
17th Playa de Muro, Playa de Muro, Spain
18th: Playa Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
19th: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
20th: Nungwi Beach, Nungwi, Tanzania
21st: Falassarna Beach, Falassarna, Greece
22nd: Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
23th Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
24th: Magens Bay, St. Thomas
25th Balos Lagoon, Kissamos, Greece
With information from UOL