Baia do Sancho, with its crystal clear water and soft white sand surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls, has been voted the best beach in the world by TripAdvisor users. The secluded bay on an island off the coast of Brazil tops a list of beaches in exotic destinations such as the Seychelles, Hawaii, the Turks & Caicos islands... and South Wales.
Rhossili Bay on the Gower peninsula made it to No 9 on the list. It also topped the list of the UK's best beaches, and was voted third best in Europe after beaches in Sicily and Formentera.
Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor said: "Even if you can't go to one of these stunning beaches soon, just looking at the photos will take you away for a moment."
IBTimes UK invites you to do just that.
10 Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Perfect white sand, endless warm shallow water and a relaxed, casual vibe."Dolan Halbrook9 Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales. Best time to go: July - September. TripAdvisor review: "Truly the most beautiful beach. The sheer scale and wildness of the location add to the majesty."Clive Hicks8 Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Hawaii. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Not easy to find, which makes the discovery all the better. It's like stepping into a postcard."Kanaka Menehune7 Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Picture perfect in every way. Gorgeous beach and the bluest water ever!"Tobias Alt6 Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Balearic islands. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Endless sea, fine sand, spectacular views, yachts, fancy stalls, Ibiza on the horizon."David Sim5 Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Absolutely spectacular. Nothing but pure, pristine beach. Shallow, warm, clear water."Noam Lovinsky4 Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Sicily. Best time to go: May - September. TripAdvisor review: "The sand is golden, the water is crystal clear and there are plenty of fish for snorkelling."Marco Molino3 Flamenco Beach (Playa Flamenco), Culebra, Puerto Rico. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "This beach is my 'happy place' - I dream about it."Flickr/bowiesnodgrass2 Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Powder-soft, white sand. Green water, fading to turquoise graduating to purple on the horizon. Amazing!"Windsong Resort1 Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Best time to go: Year-round. TripAdvisor review: "Truly spectacular, from the walkway on the cliff above and on the beach itself. Idyllic."Mathieu Bertrand Struck
