My Top 10 Beaches of 2013

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Turquoise Compass

Turquoise Thursday- My Top 10 Beaches of 2013

After reviewing my 2013 destinations, here are my top 10 beaches of 2013! I can’t wait to see the beaches I will visit this upcoming year. May the beaches of 2014 be even better than the beaches of my 2013 year.

#1 being my most favorite beach of the year-

1. Caracas Beach, Vieques, Puerto Rico:

2. Lanikai, Hawaii, USA:

3. Cayo Laventado, Bacardi Island, Dominican Republic:

4. Sun Bay, Puerto Rico:

5. Bahia Principe Cayacoa, Samana, Dominican Republic (you can’t get any better than an elevator to the beach):

6. Waikiki, Hawaii, USA:

7. Hermosa Beach, California, USA:

8. Carter’s Beach, Port Mouton, Nova Scotia, Canada:

9. Naufrage beach, Prince Edward Island, Canada:

10. Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada:

The beaches that didn’t quite make it into the top 10 beaches of 2013, but are still considered runners up and pretty spectacular are: Moku Nui Island, Hawaii / Waimea Bay, Hawaii / Banzai/Pipe Line, Hawaii / Sharks Cove, Hawaii / Pūpūkea Beach Park, Hawaii / Kailua Beach Park, Hawaii/ Hanauma Bay, Hawaii/ Ehukai Beach Park, Hawaii /Isla verde, Puerto Rico / Ocean Park, Puerto Rico / Seven Seas Beach, Puerto Rico / Esperanza Beach, Vieques, Puerto Rico/ Parlee Beach, New Brunswick / Kelly’s Beach, Kouchibouguac, New Brunswick / Sand Hills Beach, Nova Scotia / and Ingonish Beach, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

I’m excited to know what beaches I will explore this year! Until I decide, I will have to keep wondering.

44 thoughts on “My Top 10 Beaches of 2013”

dianaroggenbuckebrown on January 16, 2014 at 6:15 am said:

All beautiful beaches.

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:47 pm said:
  
  All beautiful beaches indeed. I can’t wait to see more. I am so addicted to visiting beaches!
  
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  - dianaroggenbuckebrown on January 17, 2014 at 3:45 am said:
    
    I can see why. 🙂
irenedesign2011 on January 16, 2014 at 6:44 am said:

Wow, they are all so amazing. I would love to swim there.
Thanks for sharing.
Irene

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:46 pm said:
  
  They are amazing right? I can’t believe I was able to visit those places last year! I can’t wait to see what this year brings! Go swimming Irene! Plan a trip!
  
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  - irenedesign2011 on January 17, 2014 at 2:07 am said:
    
    I can’t afford to travel now, but I do have plans about swimming from the beach here, so soon, the water is ready in temperatures.
    Irene
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 10:35 am said:
    
    I love swimming. There is nothing I love more than being in the water. What beach?
  - irenedesign2011 on January 17, 2014 at 10:38 am said:
    
    The beaches around Tarragona Area, they are them most close to, where I live.
    Irene
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 10:41 am said:
    
    Wow, those beaches look amazing.
  - irenedesign2011 on January 17, 2014 at 10:44 am said:
    
    😀
lisajohnsonsawyer on January 16, 2014 at 9:01 am said:

I will take # 5 please and a HOT cabana boy!

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:44 pm said:
  
  You got it girl. I’ll send him over right away! When you going?
  
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cteachr on January 16, 2014 at 9:46 am said:

I love the list. I’ll have to make one of my own. You must make it down to Australia. They have some fair dinkum beaches there, let me tell you! Some of my favourites are on the south east coast of Victoria. And of course, Manley Beach in Sydney is pretty special.

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:44 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much! Yes, I can’t wait to see your list! Post it soon okay? I am going to Australia in February! I can’t wait to see the beaches there! Tell me more!!! I want all of the details! I am flying in Sydney and hitting that area soon!
  
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  - cteachr on January 17, 2014 at 9:35 am said:
    
    I went to Australia in 2011 as an exchange teacher. I lived just north of Melbourne. You can read all about my year on my blog, look in the archives for 2011. We also went to Fiji and NZ on the way there. http://feb122010.wordpress.com.
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 10:36 am said:
    
    Amazing! My friend is there now doing exactly that! I plan to do Fiji and NZ too. Were you able to find cheap tickets to fly over?
MaldivesDreamer on January 16, 2014 at 10:57 am said:

For a beach lover like me, I would be happy to visit any of these 🙂 I love picture # 2 and 3!!

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:42 pm said:
  
  I’m a beach lover too. Glad you liked the pictures! Two and three were incredible, obviously! Do you have plans to visit there?
  
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  - MaldivesDreamer on January 17, 2014 at 11:10 am said:
    
    I would love to visit Hawaii one day, I have heard so many great things about it 🙂
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 11:56 am said:
    
    It is amazing. After visiting Hawaii the first time I want to go back so bad!
The Miss Adventure Journals on January 16, 2014 at 1:37 pm said:

Wow! An elevator to the beach, that is heaven. Sure you didnt use it though since you re such a health buff! Xx

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:41 pm said:
  
  I know right? Pretty incredible, and unique. We did walk a lot!
  
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Sarah Moore, The Turquoise Current on January 16, 2014 at 3:43 pm said:

I’m so excited to see beaches from the Maritime Provinces (in Canada)! I grew up spending my summers at Parlee Beach. I was born and raised in Moncton, N.B. It’s the best walking beach, with gentle and sometimes warm water :). Also, as I now live in Oahu, Hawaii, I’m happy to see several beaches from here! Thanks for the great post!

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- Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 8:41 pm said:
  
  I’m so happy you wrote! Ironically, I’m from NS, but been residing in Moncton! I’ve been located there for the last 8 years! How did you end up in Oahu from Moncton? So interesting! I love the Maritime beaches as much as I love the ones abroad. Parlee is one of my favorites!
  Looking forward to talking more with you!
  -Jessica
  
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  - Sarah Moore, The Turquoise Current on January 16, 2014 at 9:34 pm said:
    
    That’s a huge coincidence! I lived in Halifax for five years too, attending Dalhousie then King’s. I’m living in Hawaii now because my husband is American, and prior to us meeting, he lived on Maui. Of course, I didn’t oppose to making our life here. We met while working abroad in Korea, travelled around South East Asia for nearly a year, then hopped over to the Hawaii and never left. I miss Canada sometimes though, not the weather, but the people and the humbleness entirely.-Sarah
  - Turquoise Compass on January 16, 2014 at 9:46 pm said:
    
    Wow, that’s quite the travel story. How romantic! I didn’t want to leave Oahu either, but I must travel on for now. What do you do in Hawaii?
  - Sarah Moore, The Turquoise Current on January 17, 2014 at 2:32 pm said:
    
    Thank you! It is quite a romantic story, and continues to be. Because of my experience teaching ESL in Korea, I found an online teaching position based out of Korea. I work from home, teaching phone and video classes. What are you doing in Moncton?
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 2:35 pm said:
    
    That’s amazing! Working from home in one of the world’s most beautiful turquoise destinations. Have you been to the other islands?
    
    I was teaching for the past 8 years in Moncton, but I took a year off to TRAVEL! I’m on my sabbatical year. I am allotted to go back the last week of August 2014.
    
    We shall see where this year takes me!
  - Sarah Moore, The Turquoise Current on January 17, 2014 at 5:22 pm said:
    
    That’s awesome! My husband and I always talk about taking at least 3-6 months off, somehow, to travel around Central America – like we did with South East Asia.
    
    I have visited Maui a few times and Kauai. I love both of them. We are planning a trip to the Big Island in the Fall. How about you?
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 7:54 pm said:
    
    I love love love Central America. I’ve traveled through Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua!
    I only got to visit Oahu, but I spend 2 weeks there and really got to see all the sights. I want to see more islands. Next time I come I will let you know.
  - Sarah Moore, The Turquoise Current on January 17, 2014 at 9:11 pm said:
    
    Sounds good! And if I need advice on Central America, I’ll give you a shout!
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 9:13 pm said:
    
    Please do!
thehelpfulhousewife on January 17, 2014 at 4:36 pm said:

I wish I could go to all of these! Especially right now! 🙂

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- Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 4:54 pm said:
  
  I know the feeling. I am in Northern Ontario, CA right now experiencing winter activities and I am counting down the days to sun, sand, and warmth!
  
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  - thehelpfulhousewife on January 17, 2014 at 5:48 pm said:
    
    Oh brrr! I can’t wait till it’s actually spring and I don’t have to pretend anymore- I open the windows and crank the heat for a bit!
  - Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 8:00 pm said:
    
    Pretending is fun too, it fights Season Affective Disorder (SAD).
Greg Urbano on January 17, 2014 at 5:43 pm said:

Nothing from Florida?!

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- Turquoise Compass on January 17, 2014 at 7:59 pm said:
  
  I am heading to Miami in one week! whooooo whoooo
  
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stvl33 on January 18, 2014 at 5:53 pm said:

Miami beach is fun! Try hitting the middle between South Beach and North if you want to get away from crowds. Enjoyed all your photos and no doubt Miami has something great in store for your camera.

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- Turquoise Compass on January 18, 2014 at 7:55 pm said:
  
  Awesome! Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely check out that section! I can’t wait.
  
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My Little Rio Journal on January 19, 2014 at 7:12 am said:

Jess, your posts just makes me dream about travelling to Caribe right now… but I want to go to so many places that me and my husband have to decide and prioritize which place to go first. In 2014 consider visiting Brazil. I know maybe it is not the best year to come because of the Fifa World Cup, and all the services will be a little overpriced but if you avoid the months of june and july maybe you can get some reasonable prices. If you decide so, there are many turquoise destinations in Brazil, but the one that it is on the top of my list is Fernando de Noronha, I already mentioned it on my blog. It is really a paradise, although it is not the most cheap place in Brazil, Noronha is a preserved island and they control the number of visitors , All visitors has to pay a daily tax to stay in the island.This turns Noronha in a little expensive destination. but if you have a chance go there. For whom that loves water sports and nature it is just a must-go place in your lifetime..kisses, Cristina ( In Brazil we are used to say goodbye to friends saying “Beijos”, which means kisses in english! ; )

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- Turquoise Compass on January 19, 2014 at 10:56 am said:
  
  Visiting the Caribbean is an amazing experience. Each place is amazing, but with its own charm. Let me know if you choose any islands, maybe I can meet you there. Do you plan to do some traveling this year?
  I’d love to visit Brazil this year! Hopefully I can make it at some point! The Brazilian turquoise destination you mention sounds amazing. I want to go there someday. Thanks for the trips and for taking the time to write me such a detailed comment! You are amazing! I hope we can meet someday!
  Beijos Cristina!
  
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thebritishberliner on January 23, 2014 at 1:33 am said:

Sounds like a plan!

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- Turquoise Compass on January 23, 2014 at 8:12 am said:
  
  Exactly right? All so amazing!
  
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