Pink Sand Beach

The Ultimate Pink Sand Beaches

Pink Sand Beach Morning
Pink Sand Beach in the Morning

Top Pink Sand Beaches
from around the world.

The most highly rated and reviewed beaches from respected travel sources and guides:

  • Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece
  • Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
  • Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, The Bahamas
  • Pink Beach of Komodo, Indonesia
  • Spiaggia Rosa, Isola Budelli, Italy
  • Balos Bay, Crete, Greece
  • Les Sables Roses on Rangiroa, French Polynesia
  • Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
  • Pink Beaches of Barbuda, Caribbean Sea
  • Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California
  • Tangsi Beach, Indonesia
  • Pink Beaches of Tikehau, French Polynesia
  • Crane Beach, Barbado

Harbour Island Pink Sand Beach!

Known as “Briland” by many, is most renowned and legendary for its pale pink sand beach. The beach measures some 3 plus miles and 50 to 100 feet wide. The beach is considered one of the most famous pink sand beaches in the world. Testament to that is the large number of wealthy and famous people that have homes on the island. The pink sand is a composition of bits of coral, broken shells, minute rocks and calcium carbonate from tiny marine invertebrates. Packed so very nicely and perfect to walk or jog on. It has a most luxurious look and pristine feel to it.

Pink Sand
Pink Benthic Foraminifera

Why Is The Sand On The Beach Pink?

The pink color comes from tiny microscopic shelled animals known as Benthic Foraminifera. This animal has a bright pink or red shell full of holes through which it extends a footing, called “pseudopodia” which it uses to attach itself and feed.

Pseudopodia, also known as “Pseudopods”, is a temporary footing used by the foraminifera for movement. The word actually means “false foot”.

Pink sand castle on the beach.
Pink Sand Castles

Where Does Foraminifera Come From?

These single-celled animals, also known as “protozoa”, live on the underside of the reefs, on the sea floors, beneath rocks and in caves. They are washed up on shore as a result of waves or fish who knock them loose as they feed on them.

Foraminifera are among the most abundant organisms in the ocean and play a significant role in the environment.

Foraminifera serve as useful indicators for the environment past and present. The shells can be tested and provide a “fossil record”.

Fine powder pink sand beach.
Very Fine Powder Pink Sand

What Makes Harbour Island's Pink Sand Beach So Unique?

Snorkeling and swimming are made safe and easy by the outlying reefs. These reefs provide large areas of relatively calm and shallow waters where the pink sand can accumulate in abundance.

The sand is silky smooth to the touch and nicely packed making walking and running along the shoreline a memorable experience. It is Harbour Island's Beach that makes you want to come back again and again.

Check out our Harbour Island photo gallery to see more pink sand beach photos.

Pink sand beach on Harbour Island, Bahamas.
Harbour Island Bahamas Expansive Pink Sand Beach

Pink Beach Preservation

Maintaining Harbour Island's pink sand beach is still done the old fashion way by using hand rakes. This maintains the beach's plush powder pink texture.

Early morning is always an excellent time to admire the pink hue of the sand before the noon day sun washes it out. There are short periods of time in the morning and evening where the sand takes on a purplish hue.

At least one early morning walk on Harbour Island's Beach is highly recommended. It is truly a sight to behold and you will learn why this beach is so famous.

Grooming the pink sand beach in the morning.
Grooming Pink Sand in the Morning