This Stunning Caribbean Beach Has the Clearest Waters in North America

Sure, every vacation experience is special, but there is just something particularly enticing about jetting off to a place with waters so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. If that’s your idea of a good time, we’re here to tell you that it’s time for you to head to the Bahamas. 

In late 2023, FloridaPanhandle.com released its list of beaches with the clearest waters in the world. It came to its conclusion after creating a seed list of 50 beaches that were ranked as the highest on publicly available traveler reviews, analyzing more than 2.4 million reviews in total. The team then calculated which beaches had the highest percentage of reviews mentioning “clear water.”

After doing all the math, the team named Half Moon Beach on Little San Salvador Island in the Bahamas as North America’s best beach for clear waters, with more than one-third of all reviews mentioning the water. It’s important to note that the beach is a private island owned by the Carnival Cruise brand, so to get there, you have to ​​hop aboard either a Carnival or Holland America ship. But once you’re there, you’ll be treated to those gin-clear waters lapping bright white sandy beaches, and sun loungers waiting for you to relax.

“Located on a private island owned by the Carnival cruise brand, the only downside of such clear shores can be a lack of fish to spot when snorkeling,” FloridaPanhandle.com noted. “As one reviewer writes: ‘There are snorkel excursions available, where I’m sure you see a lot [of sealife], just don’t expect to see a bunch from snorkeling at the beach.'”

As for other clear water locations, Half Moon Beach is joined by Playa El Cielo in Cozumel, Mexico, as the spot with the second-clearest water in North America, followed by Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island in the U.S. in third.

But, if you’re looking for the clearest water in the entire world, then you’ve got to head to Greece. According to the report, Prassa Beach, on the island of Kimolos, boasts the highest number of reviews (43.56%) noting its waters. As one Tripadvisor review shared, it has “the most beautiful clear waters ever, absolutely divine to swim in!” 

See the full list of clear water beaches at floridapanhandle.com.