The sight is striking: incredibly white, almost unreal sand, and a steep cliff dotted with coconut trees rising towards the sky. If paradise had copyright, the Filipino beach of Entalula in El Nido, a gem of Palawan Island, would be striking gold... much more than the boatmen who command the bangka (as the local catamarans are called in this Southeast Asian country), the only way to approach this wonder of the world. And that's it. But nothing else is needed to be the number one in the ranking for dreamers that is making the most noise in the world of tourism today, The 50 Best.
According to their latest list, Entalula is followed by Fteri (Greece) in the second position of the best beaches on the planet and Wharton (Australia) in third place. Completing the top five are Nosy Iranja (Madagascar) and East Beach on Vomo Island (Fiji). Five movie-like beaches that we love not only for their spectacular scenery but also for offering tranquility and immersion in the landscape. Let's say the concept of paradise has evolved. White sand and turquoise waters are no longer enough; today, true luxury lies in exclusivity, authenticity, and connection with nature.
The ranking, compiled by experts dedicated to the enviable task of exploring the most spectacular coasts on the planet, includes European representation, of course. Our Spanish coastline is rewarded with two beaches that have nothing to envy to Entalula: one is the Menorcan Cala Macarella (no. 12), a Balearic icon. The second is Cofete Beach (no. 39) in Fuerteventura, one of the wildest corners of the Canary Islands.
Greece, another global beach power, stands out with three beaches. In addition to Fteri, the aforementioned number two this year, located in Cephalonia, the list includes Porto Katsiki (no. 34) on the island of Lefkada, also flanked by imposing cliffs, and one more, Porto Timoni (no. 46) in Corfu: two half-moons separated by a narrow strip of land. Italy, on the other hand, contributes to this catalog with Cala dei Gabbiani (no. 18) and La Pelosa (no. 48). Both can be found in Sardinia, where else. The Mediterranean saga continues in France with Santa Giulia (no. 35), south of Corsica, and with a Turkish beauty: Kaputas (no. 29) located at the foot of a deep canyon, where the freshwater running through the gorge meets the sea.
In addition to our Cofete, two more beaches with an Atlantic passport run through this coveted list: Praia de Falesia in the Algarve of Portugal, which always ranks at the top of all rankings, and Keem Beach, the Irish beach that closes the top 50.
However, just navigate through this list of saltwater and atolls to realize that the epicenter of paradise is between Asia and the Pacific. If there is a region that clearly dominates the 2026 ranking, it is Southeast Asia and the tropical belt of the Pacific : the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Cambodia reinforce a beach hegemony thanks to their exoticism and natural exuberance. Beyond, destinations like Fiji or French Polynesia are established as definitive territories of the most exclusive luxury: the remote and unattainable are in vogue. And as it has always been, it is only for a few.
Despite the Asian boom, the Caribbean retains its magnetism intact. From Turks & Caicos to the Dominican Republic, passing through Anguilla, Grenada, or Curaçao, the region accumulates some of the most iconic images in the collective imagination.