If you are looking for picturesque tropical beach front property set in a small remote fishing village that offers pristine white sand beaches and lots of privacy maybe you should be considering Punta de Chame, Panama. Think of every postcard picture you’ve seen of beach front paradise and this is Punta Chame.

After leaving Panama City on the Pan-American Highway, Punta Chame is located at Km 78. A small sign on the left of the Pan-American Highway in the town of Chame points the way to Punta Chame. Punta Chame is located about an hours drive from the highway. After you pass the town of Lebanon throughout the rest of the drive you will see the shrimp farms and mangroves of Chame Bay located along the road to Punta Chame. When arriving at the city limits there is a sign that says “END” and “CHAME”, it’s not hard to know you’ve arrived.

The town of Punta Chame mainly consists of fisherman, and has approximately 400 residents (375 according to the census of the 2000). Punta Chame is a small town with a school, police station, hardware store, a basic food supply store, a hotel, orchid nursery, and a landing strip. Years ago it was more like an island as it was only possible get there by boat. Now everything is much easier with the road, although currently the road is in desperate need of repair. Some small vehicles may become lost in the potholes that pepper the way to Punta Chame. In fact it is a reasonable guess that the travel time to Punta Chame could be reduced by as much as 15 to 20 minutes if road repairs were completed. But for some this adds to the charm and remoteness of the area.

The Punta Chame is a peninsula that is comprised of about 22 miles of white sand beaches, and the beaches here are pristine and relatively deserted, especially during the week. However, this area is fast becoming a real estate hotspot for beachfront weekend and retirement homes.

There are beaches to both sides of the peninsula: one side towards inland makes the Chame Bay and the other side faces the open sea (or the Gulf of Panama). The north beach, the one that faces inwards to the Chame Bay, has a unique view to the hills of Chame and Campana. A little beyond that you can see Isla Taborcillo in this area the sea is calm and it is where a lot of people choose to swim and spend time on the beach. The south beach is less visited due to the sea being rougher. The sand on the south beach is very white. This is where Kite boarding and Wind surfing events and practices take place in the dry season. There is a Kite boarding school that takes up residency in the Punta Chame hotel during the dry season and as annual completion is held there.

Due to the north beaches direction it is the only beach of the Pacific (mainland) where it is possible to bask in the sun in afternoon. From the north beach location boats are taken to Isla Taborcillo, an island once owned by John Wayne.

John Wayne liked Panama and bought the island of Taborcillo as a retreat. The island has a little town with a sheriff station that doubles as a post office and the theme on the island is the American Cowboy. Taborcillo, also goes by the name of John Wayne Island.

Punta Chame’s beaches are supplied with sand from the great sleeping volcano of El Valle De Antón, by its rivers comes the sands that become beaches on this side of the Pacific. The main rivers that supply these beaches are: Chame, Lajas, Teta, Corona, Agallal, Las Guias, Platanal, Majagua, and Hato.

In the City of Panama you see many enormous buildings under construction, in fact a record numbers of new towers are going up in the next two years. In order to make these buildings sand is needed; lots of sand. The interior and exterior walls of these high rises are constructed of concrete. Before sand was taken directly from tourist beaches, then in the mid 90’s the government prohibited the removal of sand from these beaches. Now there is equipment that takes the sand from the sea bottoms in the front of Punta Chame. The sea has a way of replacing the sand that is being removed from it and it appears to be replacing the sand by taking it from Punta Chame’s beaches, one high rise at a time. It seems as if daily the beaches of Punta Chame become narrower.

The last thing to mention about Punta Chame is the sand flies, or midges. During the dry summer months the wind blows briskly enough to keep the sand flies from landing and biting. The dry summer months are roughly from December to the end of March or first of April. But during the rainy winter season the winds stop and the rains start. This coupled with the abundant mangroves and shrimp farms make for a perfect breeding environment for the sand fly. If you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a sand fly let me introduce you. They are small in size and fast, think mosquito. As long as you are in motion moving across the beach you minimize your chances of getting bit. But pause to pick up a sea shell or piece of driftwood and you’re likely to experience the unpleasant bite of the sand fly. The bite can leave a welt and be enduring in discomfort, it can also possible lead to a secondary infection.

Even with the unpleasantness of the seasonal sand fly and arduous drive some of the wealthiest residents of Panama have weekend homes at Punta Chame. More than likely this is due to the remoteness and privacy this area has to offer coupled with its unsurpassed beauty.

Rumors about Chame:

• The country of Spain has purchased a large area of land in Punta de Chame.

• Because of Spain’s land purchase the President of Panama has stated he will repair the road out to Punta de Chame.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.panamaexpertos.com

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/forum/punta-de-chame-ct9.html

Jean Bouttet
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/punta-de-chame-94479.html

So you are ready to say “I do” but you aren’t sure where you want to spend your honeymoon? There’s no need to worry because you can find a wonderful honeymoon in the most exotic of all romantic places. Plan to see beautiful Hawaii. Vacation where the best is yet to be seen every day you are in the tropical Islands!

When planning a getaway, you probably just decide where you want to go and regardless of the reason behind it, you simply make the reservation and go. However, when you marry your true love, there’s something special about the wedding day and the event. It is far more important to make plans for eternity and begin the first week or weeks of your life together in a special place. Welcome to your honeymoon — the ultimate of all honeymoon locations—your Hawaii vacation honeymoon!

A honeymoon in Hawaii is the ideal spot to rest and relax after a hectic sprint toward the alter. The parties are behind you, the search for the perfect dress, the never-ending parade of floral arrangements and catering decisions to be made, and the wedding day. However, the honeymoon begins when you are able to board the plane and kick back for some much needed time to collect your thoughts and begin a romantic getaway. Sounds like the Hawaiian vacation is perfect indeed!

While the all-inclusive resorts such as those found in Jamaica or the Caribbean aren’t as wide spread in the Hawaiian Islands, there are some wonderful accommodation choices. From private homes and condos to extraordinary resorts, whatever you want to find in guest room accommodations is readily available.

In addition to the wonderful places to stay, there are great romantic restaurants to savor while you are visiting the Hawaiian Islands. You can also attend one of the traditional luaus and learn how to hula dance and have a few laughs as you do. Additionally, some of the Polynesian feasts by an open fire can lead into a very lovely evening Oceanside with show traditions from long ago. These performances are a combination of dancing, acrobatics, showmanship, and much more. Have a tropical cocktail and sit back and enjoy the local fare of the Hawaiian Island you choose.

If you are staying on The Big Island, you’ll likely find more to do in the form of traditional nightlife with night clubs and other activities for the young couple looking for the night on the town. However, regardless of the Island you choose, you will be able to enjoy romantic walks by moonlight and sit from the comfort of your room and watch the sun rise or set in one of the most serene settings on earth. This is a Hawaiian vacation the way it is supposed to be. It may not be your vacation of a lifetime but it is probably going to be your honeymoon of a lifetime. Make it one to remember and go on a Hawaiian Island honeymoon vacation and begin your lives together in paradise.

For more information about Hawaii vacations visit http://hawaii-vacations.eu/.

Marc Crohn
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/why-a-hawaiian-vacation-is-the-perfect-honeymoon-80859.html

So you want to visit Kauai, Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places on the earth, but it just doesn’t seem possible financially. I’ve been there and it is certainly worth the visit, so it is just a matter of figuring out how to make it happen.

As you plan your getaway to Kauai, Hawaii, it would be wise to think about the best times of year to travel. I’m not talking about the weather; I’m talking about traveling during the least expensive time of the year. Numerous people dream of taking a vacation in Hawaii, and while the location of the islands makes it a gorgeous spot all year, there are periods of the year to vacation that are significantly less costly than others. If you know when to travel and different opportunities to save money, you should be able to have an incredible Hawaiian getaway on a budget.

Here are some examples. During the fall, when school has just gone back, is a great moment to travel because typically, airfares and hotel is less expensive. The low-season in Kauai is mid September through mid December and January through May. During the high-season air, car rental and hotel tend to go up, especially in the summer months. Many times this period of time can be full months in advance. Because of this, you should getaway during the low-season when you can get a bigger savings. What are some of the other benefits of traveling “off-season”? Well, consider not having to share the small island with as many people or the exceptional weather that they have in Kauai year round. Seeing as Hawaii is one of the best locales for sunshine and vacation activities all year, there is not a compelling rationale not to visit in the off-season.

Beyond the considerable savings on your accommodations and airfare, here are a few other opportunities to keep the cash in your wallet.

More Ways to Save in Kauai

Rent a vacation home rental

Most people choose hotels in Kauai to enjoy for their vacation getaway. However, this is a more costly route and they don’t present the same comforts and privacy that a villa or condo could offer. In additional, hotels in Kauai are extremely costly, considerably more so than an equivalent cost of renting a condo or home for a week or more. There are a tremendous amount of villas, homes and condos to rent on Kauai with amenities like ocean front view, tons of extra’s, luxury kitchens, and so much more. in addition, there are villas, cottages and homes you could rent with anywhere from one to 8 bedrooms or more, accomadating just about any size group that you can bring with you.

Should you have an interest in renting a Kauai vacation home or villa, there are many places online that you can search to find a tremendous amount of options offered. This will allow you to locate the options that are the perfect size, with all the options you would like, without destroying that pocketbook. Don’t forget that when you take your vacation will be key in how expensive, or inexpensive, it will be. Try to figure out a time to visit in the off-season when it will cost less than if you go in the middle of the primary travel season for Kauai.

Finally, consider other options while preparing and taking you Kauai vacation. Don’t eat out every meal if you don’t have it in the budget as that can get expensive. When you get to the island, visit the grocery store, pick up the items that you need to help keep you and the family fed for however long you are going to be on the island. Eating out 3 times a day gets expensive. The beauty of a vacation home rental is that you typically have a kitchen and a full size refrigerator. Eating out only one time every one to two days can save you hundreds of dollars over a week’s time. Other ideas for cost savings are searching the web for travel discounts, being careful not to get the shopping bug while on the island and maybe just find a few keepsakes of your vacation.

If you put these things into practice for your Kauai getaway, it can potentially save you thousands of dollars over just a 7-14 day trip.

Kent Krueger
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-to-have-a-kauai-getaway-on-a-budget-65180.html

After months of debate and hours of research, you have finally settled on the perfect vacation destination for you and your family. Spending your week-long getaway on the beautiful Hilton Head Island off the coast of South Carolina is a decision that you certainly will not regret once you step foot on the scenic and breathtaking shores of this vacation paradise. So pack your bags and get ready for a trip full of rest, relaxation, and activities that are bound to delight every member of your family.

Although you have determined where you want to spend your vacation, your dream trip cannot get underway until you have decided what kind of lodging would be ideal for your family. Hotels may be the first consideration, but you think back to your last vacation when the kids complained for hours about being bored when it was raining and how you felt like you were always rushing out the door when it was sunny. After much research and thought, you decide to look into vacation home rentals for this vacation.

Stumbling upon home after home, it is becoming abundantly clear that the amenities many vacation rentals offer are exactly what you need for the most relaxing trip you have ever experienced. There are plenty of bedrooms so everyone can have their own room, avoiding the sibling space conflicts that always seem to arise, and there are extras that can provide entertainment during down times. You can find homes that have numerous TVs and DVD players, game rooms, fully-stocked book shelves, and kitchens that would please a gourmet chef. Forget about the time before bed when everyone is complaining about nothing to do, instead you will have peace and quiet as your family enjoys the amenities of your vacation home.

While having extras inside the home for those times when outdoor activities are impossible is a great option, it is certainly more important that you stay near the pristine sand beaches and the warm ocean water to experience the vacation you imagined. You can find a variety of oceanfront homes, condos, and villas that offer the most spectacular views of the ocean throughout the house and on their decks and patios. Simply step out onto your patio and slide into one of the lounge chairs to soak in the breathtaking sights and calming sounds of the water.

Dozing off to the sounds of the waves crashing ashore is the perfect way to rest after a long day at the beach, but spending your afternoon at the beach is bound to be a more pleasing experience for the kids. In your vacation rental, you can avoid the stress of packing everything up, rushing out the door so you don’t miss out on any of the prime spots, and lugging everything to the beach. Since your vacation rental is just steps away from the one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island, you can make your way down to the water at your own leisure. And if you happen to forget any essential items, one individual can head back to the rental to pick it up, all the while remaining in constant sight of the other family members.

Views of the ocean and marshland, amenities such as wireless internet and a pool table, and easy access to the attractions you want to visit are just some of the features you will enjoy with Hilton Head vacation rentals. Sit back and enjoy the gorgeous scenery or head out for a round at one of the numerous golf courses sprinkled throughout the Island. Everything you need for an exciting adventure is at your fingertips, so take advantage of all this amazing Island has to offer by choosing accommodations that make it easy to experience the Hilton Head vacation you have been planning and imagining for months.

Jen W.
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hilton-head-vacation-rentals-52138.html

Property in the Cayman Islands can run the gamut from single family homes that are situated inland to million dollar, ultra luxurious beachfront properties. Whether you are seeking a single bedroom apartment or a sumptuous estate located right on the ocean front, Cayman Islands real estate has something for you.

The real estate landscape is varied and diversified, offering properties that can accommodate nearly any budget. Since the devastation of Hurricane Ivan, there was initially a drop in property values as investors shied away from what they felt could be a potential money pit. But the Cayman Islands has rebounded, property values are back on the rise and there is even a building boom in some areas.

An investor’s paradise

Cayman Islands real estate has much to offer the serious investor. Cayman Island properties can command substantial gains over your investment in a relatively short time. A few years can yield impressive returns, especially if Cayman Islands real estate values continue their upward trend of increasing in value with each passing year.

Yet even with the continuously rising values of real estate, there are still some great bargains – as long as you know where to look. A seasoned real estate agent can direct you to properties that are sensible purchases now, but show to be promising investment prospects. You want to get in touch with a real estate agent who is familiar with the local market and can use their knowledge to direct in you making informed purchasing decisions.

Competition on the market front

Cayman Island real estate firms that are local have to compete with international firms with local representation. This means that the market is highly competitive. Additionally, a multi listing system allows sellers vast exposure for their properties. It also allows buyers to have freer and broader access to more properties.

One of the market’s greatest appeals is that it has not, traditionally, experienced many of the highs and lows that define a majority of other property markets. On the contrary, the Cayman Island real estate market has enjoyed a somewhat steady growth in development and value.

This growth has almost directly paralleled the development of the basis of the Cayman’s economy – tourism and financial entities. It was this steady course of growth and development that led to the stabilization of the Cayman’s real estate market just months after Hurricane Ivan.

A choice for every realty taste

Cayman Islands real estate has something to satisfy every taste. Choose from sprawling beach front estates, luxurious canal front properties, or go inland. Choose from condos or houses; purchase permanent residences, rentals or time-shares.

You can find equally appealing commercial property in addition to the abundant residential properties available. Purchase an existing unit, a “fixer upper” or even make a pre-construction investment. Your options in this market are limited only by your creativity, imagination and desire. And, according to the experts, the best is yet to come. Property values in the Cayman Islands have yet to peak

Seth Willis Jr.
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/cayman-islands-real-estate-127969.html

Online gaming for kids, and tweens have long been thought of as a "danger zone" with many loop holes and vulnerabilities where your child’s information could become fresh for the taking, but a lot has changed in the virtual world of kids games and it’s time you take notice to the great opportunities that exist online today.

With the addition of the United States Federal Trade Commission’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act "COPPA", and the Privo Privacy Assurance Program, children’s online gaming has taken major leaps and bounds towards children safety online. Kids online games are safer than every before and offer unique tools to help educate, interact, and grown in both the virtual and real life worlds we live in.

Two popular games today offer great education experiences as well as being rated amongst the safest online games for kids today. Those games are Dizzywood and Elf Island. Both are relatively new to the online gaming world, but as of recently, are experiencing an increasing number of users and popularity.

Dizzywood is an online adventure where you can play free games, meet new friends, enjoy unique missions, and discover new and exciting locations within Dizzywood. You have the ability to gather coins, which you can use to purchase new clothing, upgrade features or simple collect and share. Dizzywood is for children ages 8-12 and allows your child to express their creativity by creating their own adventures, cooperating with other players, and having fun while they learn.

Elf Island is fast becoming a leader in the "Gaming For Good" category where children can weave real world, nonprofit projects into their virtual Elf Island World. They do so, by entertaining game play, social interaction and story telling which empowers children to bring the Gaming For Good, to the real world. For example, planting trees in Elf Island, causes real living trees to be planted on earth. Building a home in Elf Island, causes real homes to be built in the real world. Kids become inspired by the results and want to continue doing Good Quest. These Good Quests are updated every few weeks and introduce new and exciting challenges that will continue to help our real life environment.

For more information on Dizzywood, and to learn secrets, codes, and detailed walkthroughs of the virtual world, visit Dizzywood Land.

To discover more about Elf Island and stay up-to-date on new adventures, vist ElfIslandworld.com

Drozinc
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/safe-online-games-for-kids-688634.html

Many vacationers prefer a vacation rental home to staying in a hotel or motel. Folly Beach, South Carolina is a great vacation destination with an abundant selection of vacation rental properties. A Folly Beach rental can give you and your family fond memories that will last a lifetime.

Folly Beach entices vacationers with its pleasant temperatures, sandy beaches, southern hospitality, delicious Lowcountry cuisine and laid-back atmosphere. Folly Beach, affectionately called “The Edge of America”, offers those on vacation lots of outdoor recreation; swimming, surfing, boating, fishing or just relaxing on the beach in the sun. Many vacation rental owners remark that they have the same visitors return year after year.

Some vacationers wonder if there is enough to do on Folly Beach for a full week because of its small size. Even though Folly has only about 2,000 permanent residents and is located on a 6 mile barrier island, there are plenty of things to do to keep you busy.

Attractions of Folly Beach and the surrounding area:

* Swimming

* Surfing

* Deep sea fishing charters

* Public boat landing

* The remarkable Folly Beach Fishing pier – 1,045 feet long, 25 feet wide and 23 feet above sea level

* Excellent golf courses

* Jet ski rentals

* 600 acre county park

* The South Carolina Aquarium

* Charleston Riverdogs baseball

* Unique shops and restaurants

* Only 8 miles from historic downtown Charleston

A Folly Beach rental can fit just about any size family or budget. You can choose from oceanfront homes, villas, cottages or condos. Most vacation rentals are by the week, however, some are available for weekends or for long-term rentals during the off-season. The prime season for Folly Beach vacation rentals is May through September.

If you live in a major metropolitan area, you’ll find Folly Beach a wonderful escape from the noise, traffic and congestion you face on a daily basis. Folly has that sleepy, small town southern charm that makes for a relaxing vacation. Isn’t relaxation what you’re on vacation for in the first place? Put your toes in the sand, enjoy your favorite beverage and watch the pelicans soar overhead.

A Folly Beach rental allows you to enjoy all the creature comforts of home while on vacation. No housekeeping crew waking you up much too early and no loud partier on the other side of the wall keeping you up at night.

Finding the right Folly Beach rental is easy. There is a number of vacation rental property management companies located on Folly beach. An even better way to find a great rental is the internet. There are several property management companies on the web, along with many private individuals advertising their vacation rentals. Most sites offer pictures and detailed descriptions of the property to help make your decision even easier.

Folly Beach is a wonderful place for a vacation. Check out a Folly Beach rental and see for yourself.

Chuck Jaymes
http://www.articlesbase.com/vacation-rentals-articles/looking-for-a-great-place-to-vacation-try-a-folly-beach-rental-112716.html

Australia is home to the world famous kangaroo. Nowhere in the world can you find as many as those roaming around in the Australian outback. Kangaroo is almost synonymous to Australia because when you talk about kangaroo, Australia would readily come in mind. Although countries like New Zealand, New Guinea and the pacific island US state Hawaii have become homes to some species of kangaroos, Australia kangaroos are truly different and unique.

Their strong back legs that they use for mobility—hopping, commonly identify Australia kangaroos. Kangaroos are classified in two families, the Macropodidae and Potoroidae. The Macropodidae, other than kangaroos, has wallabies, tree-kangaroos. It also has wallaroos and pademelons. The potoroidae have different kinds like potoroos, bettongs and the rat-kangaroos. All these species are exclusively found in Australia and thrive in different habitats.

The red and gray kangaroos are the two most common and best-known types of Australia kangaroos. Although the red one is considered as the largest marsupial. On the one hand a male red kangaroo can stand as high as two meters and can be as heavy as 90 kilograms. It survives in dry land areas of Australia like the dessert and grassland. They are also found living along mallee areas and mulga country. They can even survive without water for a prolonged period for as long as it can feed on green grass. On the other hand a gray kangaroo, which has two types, eastern and western, is very common in areas where there is considerable frequency of rainfall.

Australia kangaroos or any kangaroos for that matter are famous for their pouch. A newly born or young kangaroo is carried by the mother inside the pouch while being attached to one of the teats. The baby kangaroo stay inside the pouch until such time that it is strong and able enough to hop on its own.

The kangaroos in Australia are facing threats of extinction because of the heavy improvement on some areas where kangaroos live. Modernization is one of the archenemies of kangaroos. It destroys their natural habitat thus they go on quandary in looking for food for their survival. Other predators like fox and wild cats, changing climates that lead to forest fires, transformation of grassland into grazing lands also pose grave threats to kangaroos survival.

The Australian government has spearheaded measures in protecting Australia kangaroos through legislation. It also assisted in research endeavors to better the living conditions of kangaroos. Kangaroos are now being protected from hunting activities. Some areas are now protected in favor of these kangaroos.

Kangaroos will always be a part of Australian pride. But for how long will it take for any Australian to hold on to that pride if the kangaroos are becoming extinct. Actually there are many things that can be done to help preserve the kangaroos. Let us do our share.

T J Madigan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/not-your-typical-pet-australia-kangaroos-101524.html

Ten Off-The-Beaten-Sand Beaches

1. Konkan coast, Maharashtra, India

Pure white sand, backed by thick, lush forest, characterizes a string of gorgeous beaches running along a 370-km stretch of coast between Vasai and Vengurla. Hedvi, Velneshvar, Takarli, Harihareshwar and Ganpatipule, with its wonderful, red wooden 400-year-old temple, are among the delightful beaches awaiting the traveler ready to go the extra mile to find them. You can get to the coast from Mumbai by train or by air from Goa.

2. Nicoya peninsula, Costa Rica

Reef snorkelling, horseriding, jungle trekking and viewing the forest canopy from a zip-wire, along with the usual beach activities such as surfing, are treats on offer in this fairly remote, far northern region of Costa Rica. The wildlife is extraordinary: half a million turtles lay their eggs on the sand at Ostional beach, every two or three weeks from August to November, and the forests are full of howler monkeys, anteaters, coatis, armadillos and an array of spectacular birds, including the Resplendent Quetzal, with its shimmering green plumage, scarlet belly, white tail feathers and green tail, the rare and rapacious Harpy Eagle and over 50 species of hummingbirds and 75 different flycatchers.

3. Koh Mak, Thailand

Palm trees and the clearest of waters along a stretch of shore 25km long, as well as peace and quiet away from the crowds, are what you can expect on Thailand’s so-called ‘family island’. Set in the Gulf of Thailand, a little less than 50 km from the Cambodian coast, it’s reachable by boat from Trat on the mainland. You can stay here in a bamboo hut, a guesthouse, a thatch and rattan cottage or a good, but budget-priced hotel, and with luck you’ll see no one on the bit of beach you choose.

4. Obzor, Bulgaria

The Black Sea coast of Bulgaria has taken off lately as a destination for beach tourists, and nice and clean the beaches are too. Crowded during high season, however, they may not appeal to those who want something more secluded, who may instead look to Obzor, roughly halfway between Bourgas and Varna, where the E87 highway emerges from forested hills into a brief, open coastal stretch. Despite its convenient location and 6-km-long sandy beach (the largest between Golden Sands and Sunny Beach), this remarkably pleasant spot can be almost yours for the taking, even during peak season.

5. Vik, Iceland

Not a place for sunlovers, the remarkable, 10-km-long, black-sand beach at Vik was named one of the ten most beautiful beaches on Earth by Islands magazine in 1991. It is no less beautiful now, with its setting on the crisp-coloured south coast of Iceland, its bird visitors from a nearby colony and the Reynisdrangar, black lava columns sculpted by the sea, nicknamed The Three Trolls. The sea off this coast is rather wild and stormy: even in summer, it feels cold, it looks cold, it even sounds cold! But it is a marvel and a place of glorious seclusion.

6. Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar

Ile Sainte Marie is a granite island 57 km long and lies 8 km off the eastern coast of mainland Madagascar. Frequented by pirates between the 17th and 18th centuries, it is now a tourist destination, with enchanting beaches, bordered by coconut palms and backed by rainforest. A long, white beach at Pointe des Cocotiers features a marvelous tropical garden and a 20-bungalow hotel. On the eastern coast’s peninsula of Amphanihy are more beautiful beaches. Between July and September, the island is a fabulous place for viewing humpback whales, which pass through the channel that separates the island from the mainland between July and September. Go later in the year, October to December, and you can enjoy scuba diving near two wrecks. This tropical paradise has one significant drawback: it rains a lot, even in the ‘dry’ season.

7. Wild Coast, South Africa

Relatively untouched, the Wild Coast of Eastern Cape is a well-named wild and rocky, typically African haven, where waterfalls tumble into the sea along a stretch of nearly 100km. Its beaches, open spaces and pristine forest areas provide an opportunity for the adventure traveller to discover a variety of leisure options, including fishing, abseiling, snorkelling, diving and trekking in the hinterland. Tourist accommodation is sparse but intimate, which helps to guarantee a memorable holiday there.

8. Angra dos Reis, Brazil

Tourism is highly developed here, but then with a mainland coastline and 365 islands to choose from, you are always bound to find a wonderful beach to yourself, with pristine waters perfect for swimming – among rainbow-coloured fish, if you like – or scuba diving. The town is 151 km from Rio de Janeiro, from where you can take a coach day tour. Better still, stay in the town and do your own exploring of the 2000 beaches. If you can’t find one to suit you, you’re not looking.

9. Hilton Dahab Resort Beach, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

OK, you won’t be the first to discover it, but if you want nothing more than a beautiful beach at a comfortable resort with a quiet, remote, end-of-the-world atmosphere, this beach may be the place for you. The mountains of Arabia face you across the water, and the beach itself offers good opportunities for swimming and snorkelling.

10. Cote de Massa, Morocco

A 90-km strip of golden beaches between Agadir and Tiznit, this coast is still almost untouched, with just one recently opened hotel, sited on the dunes that rise away from the sea. To the far right of the beach at Sidi Moussa d’Aglou, there are three prehistoric fishermen’s cave dwellings, but you need to be pretty hardy to visit them. Beware: strong currents make swimming hazardous. The wetland reserves of Souss-Massa National are within near reach.

Harish Kohli
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/ten-offthebeatensand-beaches-115128.html