Beaches in the Americas

Zipolite and the surrounding beaches are an interesting mix of old school hippies, sun-soaked locals and backpackers who are trying to escape the bigger, over-grown crowds of Alcapulco and Cabo San Lucas. The drug laws are more relaxed in this area of the country and it is not uncommon to hear Bob Marley or The Doors blasting out of the beach side restaurants at night. The coastline is home to number of whales and turtles and up until 1990, a slaughterhouse was still operational, it has now been turned into a wildlife sanctuary and museum. With the beach facing directly west, the surf and the currents can become quite treacherous during some months of the year. But this does not stop visitors to this famously nudist beach baring there all and casually walking up and down the sand, letting it all hang out. San Agustinillo and Mazunte are great beaches further down the road with a less liberal attitude to nudity if that’s what you’re looking for.

San Juan del Sur is Nicaragua's best bet for a cool beach vibe. It is a place for surfers - and people who wish they were. Surf beaches like Playa Madera and Playa Marsella can be found further north and the surf is equal to that in Costa Rica, minus the overcrowding. If you get sick of just sitting around the beach, there is a nature reserve 30 minutes to the north that has great wildlife and a forest restoration site which is good to support. If you are lucky you might get a good look at a Sloth. The town itself is located in a sheltered bay with a wide beach and calm water. Nothing much is happening here (besides looking at beautiful Nicaraguan women), but maybe that is the point.

There seems to be some universal need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday urban life, and Panama is no different. While the country offers a number of possible escapes, there are none more convenient than the tiny island of Taboga. At a mere 20 km of the coast of downtown Panama City, the island of Taboga provides an easy option for some sun, surf and fresh air. El Calypso ferry runs to and from the island a couple of times a day, making a day trip simple. For those wishing a little more time away, a few boutique hotels and restaurants provide the essentials for a romantic island getaway. With water sports, military ruins and decent beaches, Taboga is the easy urban diversion.

Picture perfect palm-filled islands are dotting the Caribbean coast in the San Blas archipelago. Swaying coconut palms on a little strip of white sand surrounded by turquoise water seems to be the recipe here. Some of the islands are inhabited by the Kuna people who will plaster an island full of their small houses, while other islands are deserted and look like something from a Bounty chocolate commercial. One of the best ways to explore this region is by boat on a the sailing tour from Panama to Colombia (or backwards), which will also solve the problem of getting around the troubled Darién Gap.

Tucked away behind the mostly private own French lowlands lies Baie Rouge. Though the overgrown coast are dotted with luxury villas with gated driveways, the setting of the beach seems very secluded with only one food shack below the small parking area. From here you can also see through the cliff arch, which rises up further to the east. The long beach declines quickly into the blue sea, so be prepared for deep water.

Right at the end of the runway of Sint Maarten's airport SXM lies narrow Maho Beach. It’s probably the most noisy beach in the world with flights landing and taking off all day long. Mostly, it’s just smaller aircraft, but when KLM’s Boeing 747 arrives, it’s a spectacle not to be missed. However, real dare devils come for the departure of the Boeing 747, when it blasts its jet engines for take off. Remember to hold on to the fence, as you otherwise can be blown into the sea (or die from getting knocked over - at least one tourist has).

Set behind the golf course, this long secluded beach with white sand and crystal clear water is a favorite for visitors and locals alike. There are simple snack shacks, and plenty of shade under the trees at the west end, otherwise beach chairs and umbrellas can be rented.

Orient Bay, or Baie Orientale in French, is many vacationers’ dream of a Caribbean holiday. A long pretty beach with azure blue water, never ending rows of sun chairs under shady umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants, and lots of water sports (jet ski, water jetpack, paragliding, you name it). It’s by far the most famous beach on St. Martin - maybe the nude section in front of Club Orient has something to do with that. However, don’t have too high expectation about getting a glimpse of gorgeous naked people, there rarely are - but there are plenty of skimpy dressed ones on the regular one.

Compared to other Caribbean islands, tourism isn't very developed on St Kitts and Nevis, particularly not Nevis. It's mostly smaller luxury resorts and villas which dot the coast. But since all beaches on St Kitts and Nevis are public, you are always welcome to enjoy Mother Nature's own luxury for free, like at Hamilton Beach.

Though St Kitts and Nevis are not blessed with beaches like neighbouring Antigua, they do have a handful on each island. Some are natural, which might sound appealing, but that often means dense vegetation all the way down to the water edge. So for a postcard perfect beach, go for a groomed one. One of the prettiest on Nevis is Nisbet Beach. In front of the resort Nisbet Plantation Inn the beach is clean with soft grey sand and tall coconuts palms. Elsewhere, it's overgrown with rocky patches. The outer reef makes sure the waves never get too crazy.