Not Any Ordinary Beach Getaway: Black Sand Beaches

Going to the beach is one of the most common decision for vacations, especially when people work all year long, if they can go anywhere they want to relax by the water with a drink in their hand. Beaches are amazing don’t get me wrong but sometimes going to a plain old white sand, clear blue waters beach can become a little repetitive. The best way to get a whole new experience from a beach trip is to simply go to a whole new kind of beach. Black sand beaches are some of the most beautiful landscapes you could ever set your eyes on, they are so unique in appearance and even better for pictures.

Black sand beaches are formed due to the erosion of volcanic rock, water slowly erodes volcanic rocks to over time create small sediments and after a long time of this process happening over and over, a sandy black beach is formed! Black sand beaches can also form when hot lava hits the cold ocean, resulting in glass that also over time gets eroded to over time to create the black sand. Some black sand beaches can also form from black rocks that get broken down over time. Each beach with black sand is created slightly or completely differently and each story is just as interesting as the last!

Each black sand beach are quite unique, even the sand can be completely different at each beach location. The trip there can be the easiest drive or the most difficult hike and you might not always be able to swim or even wear your favorite bathing suit. However it may be worth to trip to encounter the breathtaking view of a unique black sand beach. Here are some amazing and interesting black sand beaches from around the world that you should check out.

Stromboli, Aeolian Islands

One of the most popular black sand beaches in the world is just off the coast of Italy, a little island called Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands. Stromboli is home to an active volcano however the island is home to a pretty active volcano that has been erupting consistently for hundreds of years. This islands black sand is formed from the eruptions of the volcano. There are some small towns on this island and is a tourist hotspot. The island and towns are so small that the main things to do is go into town and enjoy the atmosphere of small town life, or enjoy the beautiful view of the beach. Other things to do on the island include visiting the unique sand beach or watching the volcano erupt from a boat on the other side of the island. If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure, there is a mountain to climb that has some beautiful views of the island and volcanoes. You can either hike the mountain on your own or get an official guide to take you up the mountain. It is suggested to get a guide to ensure you capture all the mountain and island have to offer.

Reynisfjara, Iceland

Another beautiful black sand beach, that is very familiar to fans of the series Game of Thrones, is Reynisfjara beach in Iceland. Since the series is shot here, it has made this black sand beach more popular by drawing in Game of Thrones fanatics. Unlike some of the other black sand beaches out there, this one is relatively easy to get to (not counting the plane ride), there are no tough trails to hike, no boats involved. It is only a short 3 hour drive away from the capital and also very close to a small fishing village. There is a lot of folklore behind this beach involving the tall rock towers, almost all of these legends incorporate trolls that get turned into stone.

Waianapanapa, Maui

Hawaii is known all over the world for their beautiful islands, culture, beaches, and volcanos. It’s no surprise there is a beautiful black sand beach on one of the islands. The beach is a part of the Waianapanapa State Park on the island of Maui and is called Waianapanapa black sand beach. This is one of the beaches that was created over decades of the ocean eroding lava to create black sand and now it is a popular tourist destination. Like much of Hawaii, there is also a lot of historical significance behind this beach. It is said that their queen had taken refuge in one of the coves, which is sacred to the people of the island. The waters can also be dangerous and it is important to only swim when the waters are calm or a rip currents can sweep you away very quickly. If the waters are not calm, there are many other activities to do on the beach besides enjoy the waters, there are many coves with pools of freshwater to be explored and campsites to be set up if you want to camp on park grounds.

Pavones, Costa Rica

Pavones in South Puntarenas, Costa Rica is one of the more interesting black sand beaches, the waters in this town are known for having the longest waves in the world making it popular for surfers even though the waves are not consistent year round. If surfing really is not your thing, there are dozens of different activities other than the usual beach activities we all love to do. The whole town is surrounded by a beautiful tropical rainforest with all different kinds of exotic wildlife. Bird watching is a popular activity in Pavones due to the fruit bearing trees that grow in the forest. If bird watching is not exciting enough for you, horseback riding through the forest is also a popular part time, I cannot think of a better way to explore a forest than on the back of a horse.

Monterrico, Guatemala

If you crave a getaway filled with a little bit more luxury where you do not have to hike anywhere or where you can safely enter the waters without fear of being swept away (within reason because the ocean floor does drop off after about 30 feet) with possibly a drink in hand from one of the beach front restaurants, you might love Monterrico, Guatemala. (Do not worry about the riptides too much, all beaches have them and they have lifeguards on duty here every single weekend). This town is well known for its efforts to preserve local wildlife through their wildlife reserve and help with hatching and releasing sea turtles into the water. They have hotels on the beach as well as restaurants so you can have the beautiful view no matter where you are. You can relax at this beach by making sand castles, wading in the water, and taking a walk along the coast. Aside from the beachy activities, there are many other activities that are offered. Popular activities include boat rides, horseback riding along the beach, and partaking in the daily release of turtles during turtle season every evening. This is also a very small town with not too much going on, the island living vibes are very strong here. It is a great relaxing getaway trip.

Karekare, New Zealand

As you might have noticed, many of these beautiful black sand beaches are very dangerous, but none of them are as dangerous as Karekare Beach in Auckland, New Zealand. This beach is not the most difficult to get to however there is a very narrow winding road to drive though as well as a short trek along a river to the beach. Getting to the beach and the unique sand is worth it, there are not many popular beaches that seem untouched however this one is surrounded by stunning jagged hills and is a pretty great spot for camping. The waters at this beach are pretty dangerous and lifeguards are usually only present in the summer so it is important to pay attention to where you are in the water if you do go in the water and it is always important not to go in too deep. There are not many activities offered on this beach besides enjoying the beach however fishing is very popular here as well as a small town nearby. The sights you encounter while visiting this island are like no other and will provide amazing memories to look back on.

Prince William Sound, Alaska

Not everyone gets excited about a trip to Alaska but they might if they knew it was home to one of the most unique black sand beaches called Black Sand Beach in Prince William Sound. From this beach you can not only enjoy the unique color of the sand but you can also look out and see glaciers and mountains and the most serene waters ever. Many times it is so peaceful, you can see wildlife playing on the icebergs. Activities here include kayaking, camping, hiking, climbing on the icebergs that get stuck in the sand and exploring beyond the beach when the tide is low enough. Not only can you enjoy the peace of the ocean but you can also enjoy the tranquility of being near mountains and there is no feeling similar to being by the ocean or on/near a mountain range. This spectacular beach should no doubt be on everyone’s bucket list.

Thank you so much for reading, let us know if you have ever been to a black sand beach before or if this post made you want to go someday. Safe travels!