World’s 10 best beaches in 2016, from TripAdvisor travelers

By CNN Staff
Updated 4:17 AM EST, Wed February 17, 2016
On the north shore of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay is the world's best beach, according to TripAdvisor.
1. Grace Bay —
On the north shore of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay is the world's best beach, according to TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor released its Travelers' Choice rankings for best beaches on February 17. Former No. 1 Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, dropped to No. 2 this year.
2. Baia do Sancho —
TripAdvisor released its Travelers' Choice rankings for best beaches on February 17. Former No. 1 Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, dropped to No. 2 this year.
TripAdvisor
Cuba's Playa Paraiso in Cayo Largo comes in third on this year's list. "A dream come true," says one TripAdvisor user.
3. Playa Paraiso —
Cuba's Playa Paraiso in Cayo Largo comes in third on this year's list. "A dream come true," says one TripAdvisor user.
TripAdvisor
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island in the Seychelles gets high marks from one TripAdvisor reviewer for "clean and clear water."
4. Anse Lazio —
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island in the Seychelles gets high marks from one TripAdvisor reviewer for "clean and clear water."
TripAdvisor
Venezuela's Los Roques National Park is home to Cayo de Agua, the No. 5 beach on TripAdvisor's list of the world's best beaches.
5. Cayo de Agua —
Venezuela's Los Roques National Park is home to Cayo de Agua, the No. 5 beach on TripAdvisor's list of the world's best beaches.
TripAdvisor
In Culebra, Puerto Rico, Flamenco Beach is "top-rated for a reason." We're guessing powdery sand and hypnotizing water have something to do with it.
6. Flamenco Beach —
In Culebra, Puerto Rico, Flamenco Beach is "top-rated for a reason." We're guessing powdery sand and hypnotizing water have something to do with it.
TripAdvisor
Playa de Ses Illetes in Formentera, Spain, is a "wonder of nature," according to one enthusiastic reviewer.
7. Playa de Ses Illetes —
Playa de Ses Illetes in Formentera, Spain, is a "wonder of nature," according to one enthusiastic reviewer.
TripAdvisor
Ngapali Beach in Myanmar ranks eighth on the global list and first on TripAdvisor's best beaches of Asia list.
8. Ngapali Beach —
Ngapali Beach in Myanmar ranks eighth on the global list and first on TripAdvisor's best beaches of Asia list.
TripAdvisor
The waters off West Bay Beach in Honduras offer great snorkeling, TripAdvisor reviewers say.
9. West Bay Beach —
The waters off West Bay Beach in Honduras offer great snorkeling, TripAdvisor reviewers say.
TripAdvisor
In the Philippines, Nacpan Beach in El Nido is "totally worth the ride" if you rent a scooter, one visitor says.
10. Nacpan Beach —
In the Philippines, Nacpan Beach in El Nido is "totally worth the ride" if you rent a scooter, one visitor says.
TripAdvisor
At Maho Beach on Cruz Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, turtles are a big draw with TripAdvisor reviewers.
11. Maho Beach —
At Maho Beach on Cruz Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, turtles are a big draw with TripAdvisor reviewers.
TripAdvisor
In Queensland, Australia, Whitehaven Beach is an aquatic dreamscape.
12. Whitehaven Beach —
In Queensland, Australia, Whitehaven Beach is an aquatic dreamscape.
TripAdvisor
Lots of coral and marine life make Egypt's Sharm El Luli in Marsa Alam "exceptionally magical" according to one of 945 TripAdvisor reviewers to give the beach an "excellent" rating.
13. Sharm El Luli —
Lots of coral and marine life make Egypt's Sharm El Luli in Marsa Alam "exceptionally magical" according to one of 945 TripAdvisor reviewers to give the beach an "excellent" rating.
TripAdvisor
Greece's Elafonissi Beach is "heaven on earth," one reviewer says.
14. Elafonissi Beach —
Greece's Elafonissi Beach is "heaven on earth," one reviewer says.
TripAdvisor
The beach in Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park comes in at No. 15. The park's diverse wildlife is a big reason.
15. Playa Manuel Antonio —
The beach in Costa Rica's Manuel Antonio National Park comes in at No. 15. The park's diverse wildlife is a big reason.
TripAdvisor
Huge boulders dot the Baths at Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
16. The Baths —
Huge boulders dot the Baths at Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
TripAdvisor
Camp's Bay Beach in South Africa is "always superb," one reviewer notes.
17. Camp's Bay Beach —
Camp's Bay Beach in South Africa is "always superb," one reviewer notes.
TripAdvisor
Stunning rock formations dot the shoreline at Praia da Marinha in Carvoeiro, Portugal.
18. Praia da Marinha —
Stunning rock formations dot the shoreline at Praia da Marinha in Carvoeiro, Portugal.
TripAdvisor
Karon, Thailand's Kata Noi Beach, is a crowd favorite in Phuket.
19. Kata Noi Beach —
Karon, Thailand's Kata Noi Beach, is a crowd favorite in Phuket.
TripAdvisor
Florida's Clearwater Beach is No. 20 on TripAdvisor's global list of best beaches and No. 1 on the U.S. list.
20. Clearwater Beach —
Florida's Clearwater Beach is No. 20 on TripAdvisor's global list of best beaches and No. 1 on the U.S. list.
TripAdvisor
Playa Paraiso is located near the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Mexico.
21. Playa Paraiso —
Playa Paraiso is located near the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Mexico.
TripAdvisor
India's Agonda Beach is "super peaceful" and a "great beach if you're looking to chill," reviewers say.
22. Agonda Beach —
India's Agonda Beach is "super peaceful" and a "great beach if you're looking to chill," reviewers say.
TripAdvisor
Bermuda's Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton Parish has the "cleanest, softest pink sand."
23. Horseshoe Bay Beach —
Bermuda's Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton Parish has the "cleanest, softest pink sand."
TripAdvisor
No. 24 Tumon Beach in the Mariana Islands offers "calm sheltered waters to swim and play."
24. Tumon Beach —
No. 24 Tumon Beach in the Mariana Islands offers "calm sheltered waters to swim and play."
TripAdvisor
Praia de Santa Maria in Cape Verde is a "very picturesque beach with plenty of space and clean pale sand," one reviewer says.
25. Praia de Santa Maria —
Praia de Santa Maria in Cape Verde is a "very picturesque beach with plenty of space and clean pale sand," one reviewer says.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor's picks: World's best beaches
CNN  — 

Here’s some sand in your face, Baia do Sancho.

Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos is the world’s new No. 1 beach, according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice awards.

After two years at the top of TripAdvisor’s rankings of the world’s best beaches, Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, has been edged out by a sweeping crescent of sand on the north shore of the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.

The travel planning and booking site announced winners of its awards for best beaches Wednesday.

Winning beaches were selected based on the quality and quantity of user reviews and ratings of beaches over a year-long period.

In addition to its global list of top beaches, TripAdvisor also ranked award-winning beaches for the United States, the United Kingdom, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the South Pacific and Europe.

With two and a half miles of white sand, Florida’s Clearwater Beach topped the U.S. rankings.

In Europe, Playa de Ses Illetes in Formentera, Spain, was the top-ranked beach. Asia’s No. 1 beach, according to TripAdvisor reviews, is Ngapali Beach in Myanmar.

Top 10 beaches on the global list

1. Grace Bay – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

2. Baia do Sancho – Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

3. Playa Paraiso – Cayo Largo, Cuba

4. Anse Lazio – Praslin Island, Seychelles

5. Cayo de Agua – Los Roques National Park, Venezuela

6. Flamenco Beach – Culebra, Puerto Rico

7. Playa de Ses Illetes – Formentera, Spain

8. Ngapali Beach – Ngapali, Myanmar

9. West Bay Beach – Bay Islands, Honduras

10. Nacpan Beach – El Nido, Philippines

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