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 10 hotels next to some of the clearest blue waters found anywhere on Earth
1 Shipwreck Beach, Zakynthos, Greece
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
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
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
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 Palmar, Mauritius
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.
6 Rio Celeste, Costa Rica
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.
7 Ponta da Piedade, 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.
8 The Anambas Islands, Indonesia
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.
9 Folegandros, Greece
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.
10 Havelock Island, the Andaman Islands
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: The Jalakara is an intimate, boho-chic hideaway with stylish suites and a villa, steeped in a lush jungle landscape, with some of the best views on the island.