12 Up-and-Coming Coastal Destinations You’ll Want to Visit in 2026

Tired of the same old beach vacation spots? While there are many beautiful beaches in San Diego, Cabo, the Hawaiian Islands and other popular destinations, it might be time to consider a coastal escape where you won’t be following the herd. 

There are many options across the globe where you can enjoy fun in the sun, with idyllic stretches of sand and clear blue waters minus the big crowds. These up-and-coming coastal destinations for 2026 provide inspiration everywhere from the Americas to Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific, ensuring something for everyone. 

The small fishing village of Boca Chica is a gateway to the Gulf of Chiriquí National Marine Park along the Pacific Coast of Panama. The park’s two dozen islands and the surrounding turquoise water are teeming with wildlife, including iguanas, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, armadillos, coatis, toucans, and parrots. It’s a popular place for sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving, with the opportunity to see a huge variety of colorful fish, manta rays, eagle rays, hawksbill sea turtles, and more. From July through October, you can watch for humpback whales too. Or, just take a boat tour to visit some of the desert islands with unspoiled white sandy beaches. Some excursions include hikes through cloud forests and lunch. 

For now, Boca Chica is still considered an undiscovered gem, but with an increasing number of travelers arriving, you’ll want to visit sooner rather than later before the word gets out. 

Limón is the province spanning Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast from the border of Panama to the San Juan River, which borders Nicaragua. It’s an appealing region for visitors with the highest percentage of protected land in the country, offering lots for nature lovers and adventurers with beautiful beaches, lush forests, and abundant wildlife. There’s also a rich Afro-Caribbean culture and plenty of reggae music to provide a relaxed vibe to the stunning backdrops. 

Tortuguero National Park is one of the top spots to base yourself, with accommodation available in eco-lodges ranging from budget-friendly to luxurious. You can look forward to exploring what’s often referred to as the “Amazon of Costa Rica,” with a network of waterways and canals that wind through the dense rainforest. Guided kayak, canoe, and boat tours can bring you to spot wildlife along the banks, including macaws, toucans, caimans, crocodiles, a variety of monkeys (and, if you’re lucky, sloths). Of course, Tortuguero is especially renowned for its turtles. Loosely translating to the “Land of Turtles,” this is the Western Hemisphere’s most important nesting site for the endangered green sea turtles. Loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles can be spotted too. 

Most visitors to Barbados head to the island’s western shores along the Caribbean Sea, but the more rugged Atlantic coastline is ideal for more adventurous travelers with breathtaking secluded beaches, limestone cliffs, and powerful waves for world-class surfing. The village of Batsheba hosts the Soup Bowl, which has long drawn surfers with its reef break that’s revered by international pros. But non-surfers will find plenty here as well, including small coral pools that fill with the warm saltwater, providing a calm, shallow place to hang out and enjoy the view. 

A few of the other things to do in and around Bathsheba include hiking, with miles and miles of scenic trails like the path from Bathsheba to Bath Beach. Afterward, hang out with the friendly locals at the Sea View Bar and Restaurant, renowned for its traditional homemade Bajan cuisine, rum punch, and view of the Bathsheba Coast.

Located near the border of Belize on the Yucatan Peninsula, Bacalar isn’t your usual beach getaway; it’s famous for its vast freshwater lagoon, the “Lagoon of Seven Colors.” An ancient body of water created by cenotes, the name comes from the seven different shades of water, ranging from translucent turquoise to vibrant aquamarine and deep sapphire. Fed by underground springs, it’s believed to contain healing properties and is ideal for snorkeling, diving, swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking. 

Unlike the busy tourist hubs of Tulum and Cancun farther north, Bacalar has managed to remain unspoiled, offering a tranquil vibe with no crowds and much more affordable prices. Most accommodation is basic, but you will find a few luxury properties. The village itself is home to charming independent shops and markets, along with places to sip well-crafted margaritas and enjoy authentic local eats.

Located off the southwest coast of Japan in the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima Island is a center of arts and culture, but it’s also home to sandy beaches for swimming. Get a privileged glimpse into the country’s artistic soul by visiting museums like the Naoshima New Museum of Art, the Chichu Art Museum, and the Benesse House Museum, with masterpieces by renowned artists in breathtaking natural settings. You can spend the rest of your time taking advantage of the crystal-clear blue waters and secluded sands. Gotanji Swimming Beach is near the museums, but you’ll find more privacy at beaches like Secret Beach Number One in the Honumura area and Secret Beach Number Two near Gotanji Beach.

Want to explore more? It’s easy to travel by ferry for day trips to neighboring islands like Tesima and Inujima, where you’ll find more picturesque beaches, hidden art installations, and cultural treasures.  

The south coast of Albania is slowly becoming a hotspot in Europe with its spectacular beaches and affordable prices. Ksamil is particularly appealing with striking natural beauty that includes soft white sands lapped by brilliant cobalt waters, leading some to call it the “Maldives of Europe.” There are many beaches to choose from, set against a backdrop of lush hills and mountains providing numerous photo ops, particularly at sunset. 

Some stretches have lively beach clubs like Poda and Bora Bora, but there are more secluded spans such as Mirror and Lori. As they’re tucked into coves, each one has a slightly different atmosphere. You can also visit the four small, mostly uninhabited islands nearby, easily reached by boat, paddleboard, or kayak, with hidden sandy coves for tranquil sunbathing far from the summer crowds. 

When most people think about a vacation in Greece, they picture the islands, but one of the most photogenic coastal towns is on the mainland. Nestled along the northeast coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula, just a two-hour drive from Athens, Nafplio is a city rich in history, with its diverse past revealed in its architecture. Venetian, Ottoman, and Byzantine influences are visible in everything from neoclassical mansions to Vouleftiko, a former mosque, and grand squares like Syntagma. There are also beautiful beaches like popular Karathona with soft white sands and turquoise water.

More tranquil spots include Kiafas, Kondili, and Arvanitia. Many have Blue Flag status for their high quality of water, while providing the opportunity for a variety of water sports and hosting beachfront cafes that make it enjoyable to spend a day enjoying the sun and the sea.

While Dubrovnik has been suffering from overtourism, attracting over 1.4 million visitors in 2024, there’s a lot more to Croatia for those who want to skip the crowds and discover unspoiled natural beauty. In fact, it was recently featured among the world’s most underrated, which we highlighted here. Vis is the furthest permanently inhabited island from the mainland, with its remote location and limited tourist development giving it the feel of “The way the Mediterranean once was.” 

There’s a lot of history to explore, from Roman ruins to relics from the Croatian War of Independence, but it’s the beaches that steal the show. Many are tucked into secluded coves like Stiniva, sandwiched between two soaring cliffs and edged by water that ranges from emerald to brilliant aquamarine. It’s an unforgettable place to swim or snorkel, and if you’re lucky, you might find yourself alongside a dolphin or loggerhead sea turtle. While Stiniva requires scrambling down goat paths or taking a boat tour, there are plenty of others more easily accessed, like Lucica near Komiza Town, where you’ll find deck chairs and a local beach bar for sunset cocktails. 

A nation of 170 islands in the South Pacific, Tonga has been gaining attention in recent years as one of the few places in the world where you can legally swim with humpback whales. Between July and October, the gentle giants migrate here to mate and have their calves, providing the opportunity for a life-changing moment. It also offers outstanding snorkeling and diving with underwater caves, shipwrecks, and vibrant coral reefs. Everything from tropical fish like clownfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish to dolphins, manta rays, and sea turtles are commonly spotted. 

The beaches in Tonga are what fantasies are made of, with chalk-white sands and coconut palms, minus the sprawling, high-rise resorts. As a less-visited country with so many islands to choose from, you’ll never encounter crowds here. This is one of the rare true hidden paradises left on Earth. 

The Philippines is a budget-friendly destination with more than 7,100 islands, providing an ideal beach getaway for those who want to get away from it all. Palawan, in particular, is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, even inspiring Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film, “The Beach.” With “The Last Resort” filmed here and coming to the big screen in 2026, Palawan is likely to see an increasing number of visitors soon to experience its coral-fringed islands with stunning white sands, clear aquamarine sea, underground rivers, and unique lime formations in person. It’s a snorkeler’s and diver’s paradise with abundant marine life, including whale sharks between April and October.

Located off the southern coast of India, Sri Lanka is home to miles and miles of golden sands, intriguing historic sites, incredible hikes, and opportunities for exotic safaris. The small town of Bentota makes a great base for those who want to relax on postcard-perfect beaches fringed with palm trees and take advantage of calm azure waters for swimming and snorkeling among abundant marine life. Canoeing, sunset sailing excursions, and candlelit dinners by the sea are just a few of the other popular activities here. You probably won’t want to miss the opportunity to take a Bentota River safari with monkeys, crocodiles, water monitors, and a wealth of birdlife, including the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, often spotted.

Sardinia has been called the “most perfect” island in the Mediterranean, although it’s often overlooked by travelers, attracting mostly Italians from the mainland and other Europeans. Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea between the Balearic Islands and the Italian peninsula, there are an astounding number of awe-inspiring beaches, some of which have been named among the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast, has an especially glamorous vibe that attracts celebrities and VIPs of all sorts. For visitors looking for luxury, there’s plenty here, including upscale boutiques, fine dining restaurants, and high-end resorts, particularly in Porto Cervo, which is also known for its unique orange beach.

If you want to venture beyond the popular tourist hotspots, the southern coast is home to Chia, a stretch of long sandy beaches with clear blue water. Porto Pino is a large beach with high dunes, shallow water where kids can swim and splash around, and a lagoon with flamingos. On the east coast, both Cala Mariolu and Cala Luna offer a beach paradise accessible by boat or on foot.