Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Hawaii — Yes, the Sand Is Actually Green

One of only four green sand beaches in the entire world, Papakolea on the Big Island of Hawaii gets its striking color from olivine crystals eroded out of the surrounding volcanic cinder cone. The hike to get there is about three miles each way across raw, wind-blasted lava terrain — but arriving at a beach where the sand looks like crushed emeralds makes every step worth it. There’s truly nowhere else on Earth quite like it.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia — Seven Miles of Pure Silica Perfection

Stretching seven kilometers through the Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach is made of 98% pure silica sand so fine and white it squeaks under your feet and stays cool even in the blazing Australian sun. The swirling tidal patterns visible from the air — where pure white sand meets electric teal and blue water — have made this one of the most iconic aerial shots on the planet. It’s the kind of place that makes you genuinely angry you didn’t visit sooner.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Iceland — The Most Dramatic Beach You’ll Ever See

Iceland’s Reynisfjara is everything a conventional tropical beach is not — jet-black volcanic sand, roaring Atlantic surf, towering hexagonal basalt columns, and sea stacks stabbing out of the ocean like something from a Norse myth. The contrast between the black shore, the dark cliffs, and the frothy white waves creates one of the most visually striking landscapes anywhere on Earth. Fair warning: the sneaker waves here are legendarily dangerous, so appreciate the beauty from a respectful distance.