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The Top 25 Beaches in the World, According to TripAdvisor

Brendan DorseyContributor
Born and raised in Northern California, schooled in our Nation's capital, and currently working in the greatest city in the world - NYC. I was instantly hooked to traveling the second I stepped foot in Europe. The addiction only grew once I found out I could do it for free, all on points and miles. I could also eat bagels for every meal.

March 3, 2017 • 4 min read

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TripAdvisor recently released its list of the best beaches in the world, part of its 2017 Travelers' Choice Awards. Unlike other travel websites, where similar lists are curated by a team of editors and travel experts, these rankings were based strictly on the reviews and ratings of TripAdvisor's users.

While the top 25 beaches were located all around the world, many of them were in the Caribbean. Here's a handy Google Map so you can get a better idea of where to find them:

TripAdvisors chose Baía do Sancho as the #1 beach in the world — it's located 220 miles off the coast of Brazil on the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. The beach is also historically significant because it's where the Portuguese explorers first landed in the 1500s. The island limits visitors to just 500 a day, helping to keep this UNESCO World Heritage Site calm, secluded and preserved.

Baía do Sancho was ranked by Tripadvisor as the best beach in the world.

Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos came in second place, with its crystal clear waters and white sand helping this beach rank high.

This beach scene at Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos looks amazing right now.

Aruba's Eagle Beach came in third, with reviewers saying the soft sand and lack of crowds made this particular spot of sand extra special.

Eagle Beach in Aruba was ranked the third best beach in the world.

Now that Cuba is open to American travelers, you'll have the chance to visit Playa Pariso, which took the #4 spot. The beach is located on the small island of Cayo Largo just off Cuba's southern coast, which is accessible by plane or boat.

Siesta Beach — located in Siesta Key, Florida, just south of Sarasota along the Gulf Coast — came in at #5 and is currently the highest ranking beach in the US according to TripAdvisor users. What did travelers say was one of the best things about this beach? White sand that stays cool and doesn't burn your feet.

Tripadvisor users say Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida, is the #5 beach in the world and #1 in the US.

You can see Tripadvisor's full list here, but here's a look at the Top 25:

Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Playa Paraiso Beach, Cayo Largo, Cuba
Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
Playa de La Concha, San Sebastián, Spain
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India
Elafonissi Beach, Elafonissi, Greece
Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Anse Lazio Beach, Praslin Island, Seychelles
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Bávaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica
Anakena Beach, Easter Island, Chile
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
La Cote des Basques, Biarritz, France
Fig Tree Bay, Protaras, Cyprus
West Bay Beach, West Bay, Honduras
Camps Bay Beach, Camps Bay, South Africa
Praia de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Cape Verde
Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
White Beach, Boracay, Philippines
Ngapali Beach, Myanmar

Which of these beaches have you been to? Are there any you think should have been on this list? Let us know in the comments, below.

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While the top 25 beaches were located all around the world, many of them were in the Caribbean. Here's a handy Google Map so you can get a better idea of where to find them:

Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos came in second place, with its crystal clear waters and white sand helping this beach rank high.

Aruba's Eagle Beach came in third, with reviewers saying the soft sand and lack of crowds made this particular spot of sand extra special.

You can see Tripadvisor's full list here, but here's a look at the Top 25:

Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Playa Paraiso Beach, Cayo Largo, Cuba
Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
Playa de La Concha, San Sebastián, Spain
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India
Elafonissi Beach, Elafonissi, Greece
Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Anse Lazio Beach, Praslin Island, Seychelles
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Bávaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica
Anakena Beach, Easter Island, Chile
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
La Cote des Basques, Biarritz, France
Fig Tree Bay, Protaras, Cyprus
West Bay Beach, West Bay, Honduras
Camps Bay Beach, Camps Bay, South Africa
Praia de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Cape Verde
Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
White Beach, Boracay, Philippines
Ngapali Beach, Myanmar

Which of these beaches have you been to? Are there any you think should have been on this list? Let us know in the comments, below.

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Recommended credit

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American Express® Gold Card

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American Express® Gold Card

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