I don’t know about these rankings. They arrive as regularly as the tide, and just when you’ve taken notice of one list, another comes along and rearranges the pebbles. Now, we have a fresh set of “Top 10 Beaches in the World” courtesy of Tripadvisor.
And lo and behold — can you imagine — Boulders Beach at Seaforth, near Simonstown, Cape Town, comes in at number 10.
Not bad for a beach where you’re just as likely to share your towel space with a penguin as with another sunbather.
It earns its place because it’s one of the more unusual beach experiences in the world — a chance to see endangered African penguin up close, waddling about among the granite boulders as if they own the place (which, to be fair, they probably do).
Tripadvisor sums it up neatly:
• Good for: African penguin sanctuary, granite boulders, and part of a Table Mountain, Boulders Penguins and Cape Point day tour
• Best time to go: September–April
• Unique features: One of the few mainland penguin colonies in the world
Now, I’ll admit, the rest of the list looks rather tempting. The beach in Mexico that claims the number one spot apparently offers the chance to swim with turtles in warm, inviting water — which already gives it an edge over our bracing Atlantic and even the supposedly gentler waters of False Bay.
But still, isn’t it rather pleasing to know that one of South Africa’s beaches finds itself among the world’s favourites?
I can’t help but chuckle, though. In a country like ours — with thousands of kilometres of coastline — the idea of a single “best” beach feels a bit like trying to choose the best sunset. Everyone has their own.
For some, the perfect beach is nothing more than sand, sun, and a lazy dip. For others, it’s warm water — which, as any Capetonian will tell you, usually means heading up the east coast somewhere beyond Knysna. Here in the Cape, the water has a certain… character. Let’s call it invigorating.
And then there are those who seek out solitude — long, empty stretches of coastline in places like Namibia or the quieter reaches of the Northern Cape, where the beaches are pristine, wild, and almost entirely your own. Ice-cold water aside, they have a beauty that no ranking can quite capture.
Of course, some people already know their favourite beach — they’ve paid dearly for the privilege of living within walking distance of it. After that sort of investment, it had better be the best beach in the world.
And then there are the cold-water swimmers — a special breed entirely — who gather in cheerful groups at places like St James, Dalebrook tidal pool, or Fish Hoek Beach, plunging into the icy sea with admirable courage (and, I suspect, a fair amount of mutual encouragement).
So yes, these rankings are interesting. But do they really matter?
A beach, after all, is a personal thing. It’s where you go to think, to swim, to walk, or simply to sit and watch the horizon. No global list can quite measure that.
So I’ll ask you — what’s your favourite beach?
And more importantly… does it really need to be ranked?
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If you’d like to see the full list, you can find it here:
https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/online_features/press_releases/top-beaches-2026-tripadvisor-travelers-choice-awards-worlds-best/article_b2284bf0-19cb-5e90-a1c9-41d4acb40d84.html
