This Remote Caribbean Beach Was Named One of the Best in the World—and It Has Crystal-clear Water, Shoreline Snorkeling, and No Passport Required

To be considered among the best beaches in the world , a destination usually has to have a few things going for it: pristine blue waters, soft sand, and room to lounge, among them. Puerto Rico's Flamenco Beach checks all three boxes (plus a few more), earning it high marks in a new ranking from Beach.com . 

To put together their Global Beach Index 2026, the Beach.com team reviewed hundreds of submissions and expert nominations, thousands of user reviews, and NASA water color and clarity data, and selected 25 of the best beaches in the world. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data placed Flamenco Beach at No. 4, just below Trunk Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Elafonissi Beach in Greece, and Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos. 

"[Flamenco Beach] earns its top spot by receiving very positive praise from travelers using strong language that sets it apart from most beaches in our analysis … It also receives broad approval from most visitors, making it one of the most loved and well-rounded beaches in the study," the ranking stated. 

Located on Culebra Island , Flamenco Beach is relatively remote; to access its sandy shores, you'll need to book a ferry or flight to Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX) from mainland Puerto Rico. But for U.S. citizens, getting there comes with one major convenience: no passport is required to visit Puerto Rico. That means, according to Beach.com , the island (and Flamenco), "receives a fraction of the tourism of Vieques or the Puerto Rican mainland." If you do make the effort to visit, however, you'll be rewarded with amazing views and plenty of things to do. 

The Essential Guide to Culebra Island

"Flamenco is the dictionary definition of a perfect Caribbean beach," travel writer Sophie-Claire Hoeller told Travel + Leisure . "It has silky soft white sand, practically transparent water, and is both shallow and calm. Two abandoned U.S. Navy tanks from the 1900s, decorated in ever-changing colorful graffiti, make for a popular Instagram opp, and public bathrooms, showers, and food and drink kiosks (get a Bushwhacker cocktail!) add to its appeal." 

Another bonus: You can snorkel directly from the shore (no boat ride required), so pack your gear to get closer to parrotfish, angelfish, blue tang, and sea turtles. Beach.com editors also recommend visiting during the shoulder season of April to June, after the North American tourist season has ended and before peak hurricane season begins. 

A few other U.S. beaches appeared in the Beach.com ranking: Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in the USVI came in at No. 7; Gulf Shores Public Beach in Alabama at No. 11; Huntington Beach in California at No. 15; and Magens Bay Beach in the USVI at No. 17; and South Beach Park in Vero Beach, Florida, at No. 22.

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