Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

By Jake Hamilton

Imagine waking up, opening the curtains and seeing the bluest waters in the world waiting on your doorstep. Only it’s not a dream! We’ve found 12 hotels next to some of the clearest blue waters found anywhere on Earth


 Shipwreck Beach, Zakynthos, Greece

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

You’ve seen the pictures, but nothing prepares you for Shipwreck Beach. A near-perfect bay of azure waters shielded by vertical cliffs and a smuggler’s ship plonked right on the beach as if by Zeus himself.

Zakynthos’ world-famous beach is everything and more. As you approach it by boat (because there’s no other way) you’ll realise you’re sailing in some of the clearest blue waters on the planet.

Stay: Zante Beach Villas
has 3 sea-facing villas (sleeping 2-5) on a small private cove in eastern Zakynthos. It’s just 35 minutes by car to Shipwreck Beach.

 

 

2 Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Beaches are 2 a penny in Jamaica, but Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is a 7th heaven for travellers in search of the brightest blue waters. Simply rock up, soak in the vibes, and choose the ‘mile’ that suits you best. Then float away on crystal-clear bliss.

Stay: The Caves is set on a clifftop just outside Negril and has gorgeous rooms, plus an exceptional restaurant and rum bar. It’s perfect for couples.

 

3 Baa Atoll, the Maldives

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Baa Atoll is unlike anywhere in the world for one simple reason: it’s where you can swim with hundreds of manta rays and whale sharks. Visit from June-November to experience these gentle giants in the clearest blue waters imaginable. The visibility is practically bottomless.

Stay: Soneva Fushi is an escapist’s dream resort of unquestionable service and luxury privacy, with a brilliant commitment to preserving Baa Atoll’s unique biosphere.

 

4  Cala Macarelleta, Menorca

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Menorca / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Of all the bays in beautiful Menorca, none can match the wonder of Cala Macarelleta. Located on the southern coast, and accessible only by walking trail or boat, its diamond-clear shores attract snorkellers, swimmers and sun-worshippers in droves (plus a few nudists).

Stay: Hotel Ses Sucreres is a bohemian village hotel with just 6 rooms and suites. It’s a breezy 10-minute cycle to Cala Macarelleta.

 

5  Pentle Bay, Isles of Scilly

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Pentle Bay / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Wild, pristine and crowd-free even in high summer, Tresco’s Pentle Bay regularly lays claim to Britain’s most beautiful beach. But the real revelation is an unnamed stretch of sand just beyond Pentle – we like to call it ‘Blockhouse Bay’ – which boasts the clearest blue waters this side of the Caribbean. Remember to pinch yourself.

Stay: Sea Garden Cottages has stylish beach pads (sleeping 2-10) with a restaurant, sailing school and indoor pool.

 

6  Palmar, Mauritius

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Salt of Palmar, Mauritius / The i-escape blog

The palm-fringed shore of Palmar beach, on Mauritius’ east coast, is lapped by glittering turquoise sea that truly dazzles – it’s heaven for snokelling and swimming. There are heaps of other watersports on offer here, plus chalky white sand for reclining on, and some effortlessly cool beach bars for drinking in the bluest of views.

Stay: Salt of Palmar features jazzy, psychedelic rooms set bang on the beach. The food is fabulous, the pool is divine, and sustainability is at the heart of everything.

 

7  Rio Celeste, Costa Rica

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Costa Rica / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Hidden in the northwest mountains, Rio Celeste is one of those wonders of the world that Mother Nature bestows on humanity to remind us who’s boss. These spellbinding waters are created by volcanic minerals in the riverbed, which turn the river’s surface a striking, otherworldly turquoise. Visit in the dry season (December-April).

Stay: Nayara Hotel Spa & Garden is an elegant boutique hotel with beautiful casitas, only a 90-minute scenic drive to Rio Celeste.

 


8
  Ponta da Piedade,
Portugal

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog / Portugal

The dramatic cliff-topped western Algarve is home to some of the most spectacular coastlines in Europe, but its crowning glory is the Ponta da Piedade. A labyrinth of caves and hidden bays, you’ll find empty shorelines with the clearest blue waters you’ve ever seen. And it’s all yours.

Stay: OceanBlue is an activity-based hilltop retreat with 4 self-catering apartments (sleeping 2-4), just 20 minutes away by car. Superb value for money.

 

  The Anambas Islands, Indonesia

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Bawah / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

The barely-known Anambas Islands are one of the last untouched paradises on earth. Located deep in the South China Sea, on the extreme northern border of Indonesia, these miraculous idylls are dotted with azure lagoons, magnificent reefs and pristine sandy beaches which have never seen a human footprint.

Stay: Bawah Reserve is an all-inclusive private-island luxury retreat with that rarest of modern commodities: blissful isolation.

 

 

10  Folegandros, Greece

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Greece / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Quieter than Mykonos, cheaper than Santorini, tiny Folegandros is the island Greeks speak about in hushed tones – few tourists get wind of its wonders. Gorgeous Agali Beach, in the south, has some of the clearest blue waters in the Aegean. More hidden beaches await down the coast.

Stay: Blue Sand Boutique Hotel & Suites is a little beachside hotel with 15 rooms. It has a lovely laid-back vibe and stunning views of Agali.

 

 

11  Blue Lagoon, Iceland

12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Blue Lagoon Iceland / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

This astonishing geothermal pool in the heart of Iceland’s volcanic south peninsula is a one-of-a-kind experience. Float in the warm, milky-blue waters while nourishing your hair and skin, thanks to its nutrient-rich minerals. Locals swear by its healing powers.

Stay: 101 Hotel is a hip design hideaway in the heart of Reykjavik with fabulously comfy beds. Blue Lagoon is just 40 minutes by car.

 

12  Havelock Island, the Andaman Islands
12 hotels with the clearest blue waters in the world / Andaman Islands / Jake Hamilton / The i-escape blog

Havelock’s location in the far-flung Andaman Islands is truly a godsend. Being so remote, its stunning beaches and electric blue waters will (hopefully) never be discovered by mass tourism. But for divers and snorkellers, this is blue nirvana.

Stay: Barefoot at Havelock is a blissful hideaway with gorgeous tropical cottages next to Radhanagar Beach – often called ‘Asia’s best beach’.