This Untouched Beach Was Just Named Best in the Caribbean—and It has Crystal-clear Waters, Zero Crowds, and Calm Waters

Soft white sand, a lush palm grove, and clear blue water await at Canto de la Playa, an under-the-radar spot that was recently named the No. 1 beach in the Caribbean by The World’s 50 Best Beaches.

Located on Saona Island, just off the ​​southeastern end of the Dominican Republic, the serene escape is about as remote as it gets. If you’re one of the many travelers vacationing in Punta Cana, you’ll need to take a 50-minute bus ride to Bayahibe, where you’ll board a boat to the island and its gorgeous beaches.

“While the entire island of Saona boasts fantastic beaches, Canto de la Playa stands out for its lush tropical greenery and absence of commercial activity. Untouched and pristine, it offers a peaceful escape where visitors can swim in calm waters and explore vibrant coral reefs just offshore,” the site states. “The sand is noticeably soft, and many claim the water is among the clearest and most turquoise in the Caribbean.”

Saona Island is part of Cotubanamá National Park, a protected area known for its coral formations, mangroves, lagoons, and coastal environments. And depending on your exact method of transportation—most travelers opt for a private boat tour or a group catamaran trip—you may also stop in the island’s only inhabited village, Mano Juan, prior to exploring the mile-long beach.

If you’re not with a guided tour, you can either hike from Mano Juan or arrange a private boat to Canto de la Playa. Just be sure to bring your sunscreen, water, snacks, snorkeling gear, and any other essentials. You won’t find a beach bar, restaurant, or restroom on this undeveloped stretch of sand.

In order to put together the World’s 50 Best Beaches list, the team tasked a group of travel professionals to vote for their favorite beaches. Once the data was collected, a panel of judges and “beach ambassadors” helped select the final ranking, factoring in additional criteria, such as wildlife, how crowded the beach is, and if there’s noise outside of just the ocean and nature.

While Canto de la Playa—the team described as a destination that’s “perfect for those seeking to experience the natural charm of the Caribbean in its purest form—was the top beach destination in this part of the world, it came in sixth place overall. PK 9 Beach in French Polynesia, Fteri Beach in Greece, Bang Bao Beach in Thailand, Entalula Beach in the Philippines, and Cala Goloritze in Italy took the highest honors.

Discover the full list on worlds50beaches.com.