SEA SHORE DISTANCING
Beach holidays don’t have to be crowded if you know where to look, says PAUL COLE
PHOTOS of crowded beaches during the Covid-19 crisis have shown frustrated sun-seekers ignoring social distancing. So, as travel slowly taxis down the runway to take off once more, it’s time to make tracks to destinations where you can have the place to yourself.
That’s where some of the world’s more remote beaches come into their own – and they’re not all as far away as you might imagine.
Here are four of the best. Just don’t tell anyone about them!
MARIETAS ISLANDS RIVIERA NAYARIT
LOCATED in the UNESCOrecognised Marietas Islands National Park in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, you’ll find the ultimate bucketlist destination.
It’s a hidden beach formed by volcanic activity and accessed only via swimming through a tunnel.
Exclusivity is guaranteed with access to the “hidden beach” restricted to 117 people per day, which means visitors will need a prior reservation.
The first step to access the beach is to hop on a boat to Marietas Islands National Park, a 45-minute ride from Punta Mita, in the south of Riviera Nayarit.
Once there, visitors are asked to jump off the boat and swim close to the entrance. As the beach is hidden underground, visitors will need to swim through a tunnel before arriving at the beach.
Even though social distancing between humans is guaranteed, social distancing with the wildlife is not. Marietas Islands are a wildlife sanctuary, home to many endangered bird species as well as rare coral reefs.
The fauna that calls this paradise home is made up of turtles, barber butterflies, humpback parrots, various species of fish, dolphins, and humpback whales.
Among these species, the peculiar blue-footed booby stands out – it which can only be found in two parts of the planet: the Marietas and the Galapagos Islands.
How: Tui offers a seven-night stay in Puerto Vallarta, just a 30-minute drive to Punta Mita, staying at the Canto del Sol on an all-inclusive basis from £980 per person, including return flights from Gatwick. See tui.co.uk
SHELL BEACH Herm Island
HERE’S a little-known gem in the British Isles which offers a taste of the Caribbean with fine white sand and a vibrant blue sea.
Called Shell Beach because of the millions of tiny shells washed up by the Gulf Stream, it is a great spot for kayaking or paddleboarding.
Meanwhile, the well-stocked beach café nearby offers ice creams and all the essentials for a day in the sun. At low tide rock pools and boulder strewn islets are revealed to delight explorers of all ages.
Herm Island is a 20-minute ferry ride from Guernsey’s St Peter Port. Self-catering cottages are dotted around the island to give a sense of having the island to one’s own. Cottages are priced from £455 per week (based on a cottage sleeping up to three people).
How: For availability and rates see visitguernsey.com
SAMANA PENINSULA Dominican Republic
LOCATED near the south coast border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the beaches of the Pedernales and Barahona offer a wild and remote beachscape – with practically no shops, hotels, or restaurants.
Bahia De Las Aguilas is regularly cited as the Dominican Republic’s most beautiful beach.
Part of the Jaragua National Park, its five miles of diamond-white sands are lapped with crystal-clear turquoise waters and it boasts a spectacular rocky karst backdrop.
On the north coast of the Dominican Republic, the Samana peninsula is ideal for those wanting to get away from it all and features a number of isolated beaches.
The hard to reach Playa Rincon – accessed either by an off-road drive or a boat from nearby Las Galeras – is beautiful, with uncrowded sands, clear waters, and virgin coconut forest. While around the bay and flanked by towering bluffs, and dotted with fishermen canoes, the undeveloped Playa El Valle is a great spot to get away from the crowds.
Enjoy a seafood lunch on the beach, then take a long hike amid this rugged landscape and watch the fishermen bring in their catch or head out to sea.
How: On The Beach Holidays offers a seven-night stay in Samana, staying at the Grand Paradise Samana, on an all-inclusive basis, from £888 per person. The offer includes return flights from Gatwick. See onthebeach.co.uk
PLAYA MIGJORN Formentera
THE smallest of the Balearic Islands, Formentera, is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets with Caribbean-style white sandy beaches and sleepy villages and white-washed houses, all surrounded by turquoise waters.
Visitors to Formentera can challenge themselves to explore the entire length of 12 miles by foot or bicycle, or opt for a relaxing visit to the Ses Salines Natural Park which is home to more than 200 different species of birds that stretches from south-east Ibiza to the Island of Formentera.
Formentera itself boasts a laid-back hippy charm, making it the ideal spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and recharge their batteries.
Head for Playa Migjorn located on the southern coast of the island. Despite being Formentera’s longest beach, it offers many isolated corners and coves surrounded by sand dunes and pine trees.
In slightly more popular areas of the long stretch of beach, there are also seaside chiringuitos (beach bars) where visitors can enjoy the sea breeze with a cocktail in hand after a long walk across the island.
How: Insotel Hotel Formentera Playa is situated right on Playa Migjorn, and prices start from £167 per night for a standard double bedroom based on two adults sharing. See illesbalears.travel/en