Best Lagoon

Surrounding a volcanic island in French Polynesia's Society Islands, Bora Bora Lagoon combines sheltered tropical water with a mountainous backdrop. Mount Otemanu rises above the main island as a remnant of its volcanic past. An outer reef and small reef islands help define the lagoon, where turquoi...

Along northeastern Italy's Adriatic coast, the Venetian Lagoon provides the watery setting in which Venice developed. Its shallow waters and tidal channels connect inhabited islands with wetlands, including salt marshes that support coastal wildlife. The lagoon belongs to the wider Mediterranean reg...

A large, shallow lagoon lies inside Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, where coral limestone islands and narrow tidal passages shape an Indian Ocean ecosystem. The lagoon forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site with extensive reef habitats and diverse marine life. Aldabra's giant tortoises live on...

A broad expanse of turquoise water edged by reef and small islands gives Aitutaki Lagoon its distinctive setting in the Cook Islands. Clear shallows and coral habitats make the lagoon a focus for marine recreation, while the main island provides a settled base for visitors. Aitutaki combines a raise...

Also known as Caroline Atoll, Millennium Atoll encloses a remote lagoon in Kiribati's Southern Line Islands. Its coral habitats have been studied for their relatively limited human disturbance and the wildlife they support. Fish and sharks inhabit the lagoon, while seabirds nest on the surrounding i...

Temae Beach offers a beautiful coastal experience in northern Moorea, French Polynesia. Located along a protected lagoon, it’s known for its calm waters ideal for snorkeling and swimming. The beach features scenic views of the reef and distant Tahiti. It is popular with visitors seeking relaxation,...

High limestone walls enclose Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, near El Nido in Palawan. Its narrow approach opens into a broader body of turquoise water, giving the site a distinctive contrast between steep rock and sheltered sea. The surrounding karst formations are central to its appeara...

In Palau's western Pacific waters, the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon contains forested limestone islands within a marine area sheltered by a barrier reef. Coral reefs and varied shallow-water habitats support considerable biodiversity. Marine lakes occur within the islands, separated from the surroun...

Enclosed by the reef and low islands of a French Polynesian coral atoll, Tetiaroa Lagoon forms the marine center of a secluded tropical setting. Clear water and coral habitats support an underwater ecosystem that attracts interest beyond its appearance. The surrounding islands also provide opportuni...

The New Caledonia Lagoon represents the largest barrier-reef system in the Pacific Ocean. It’s notable as a UNESCO World Heritage site protecting an exceptionally diverse and expansive coral reef ecosystem. This lagoon supports significant marine biodiversity and is a key destination for divers, sno...

Voidokilia Beach is a unique natural lagoon shoreline located in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Its distinctive omega shape arises from a submerged sandbar creating a sheltered bay. The beach lies within a Natura 2000 protected area and is notable for its rich birdlife, particularly migratory spe...

Cocos Keeling Lagoon is an isolated Indian Ocean lagoon situated within an Australian territory. It’s a significant geological site due to its historical importance in developing Charles Darwin's theory of coral atoll formation. The lagoon features a unique coral reef ecosystem and remains accessibl...

Laguna Verde is a remarkable high-altitude lagoon located within Bolivia’s Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. The water’s intense turquoise-green hue results from dissolved copper and other minerals released by the surrounding volcanic landscape. Situated on the Altiplano, it's notable fo...

iSimangaliso Wetland Park encompasses Lake St. Lucia, a significant South African lagoon within the Indian Ocean. This vast estuarine system is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its exceptional biodiversity including high populations of hippos and crocodiles. It’s a critical habitat...

Balandra Beach is a serene shoreline located on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico near La Paz. Its notable feature is a shallow lagoon offering calm waters ideal for swimming and wading. The area encompasses a protected ecological zone recognized in 2012, supporting diverse plant and animal life. It’s pa...

Maupiti Lagoon is a protected tropical lagoon situated on the remote atoll island of Maupiti in French Polynesia. Its notable feature is the abundant marine life, particularly manta rays, attracted to the calm, clear waters and surrounding coral reefs. The lagoon offers opportunities for snorkeling...

The Small Lagoon of El Nido, Palawan is a secluded coastal inlet renowned for its dramatic karst formations and calm waters. A narrow passage leads to a protected lagoon ideal for kayaking and swimming. It’s particularly appealing to travelers seeking unique experiences within the Philippines' Bacui...

Playa de Sotavento is a beach on the southeastern coast of Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. Its broad sandy shore is backed by a shallow lagoon that forms behind a sandbar, and the area's regular winds make it a venue for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The name is also used for several co...

Balos Beach is a unique coastal lagoon located on the southwest coast of Crete, Greece. Its notable feature is the shallow, turquoise waters formed within protected sandbanks. The white sand and surrounding dunes create a distinctive landscape. Balos Beach is popular with families, tourists seeking...

The Great Astrolabe Reef is a barrier reef adjoining Kadavu and nearby islands in Fiji. It takes its name from the French exploration vessel Astrolabe, which struck the reef in the 1820s, and encloses channels, passages, and lagoon environments around the Kadavu island group. Its coral formations su...

Laguna San Ignacio is a sheltered Pacific lagoon located along the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It’s notable as a vital breeding ground for gray whales during their winter migration. The lagoon falls within the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve and provides an important habitat for marine life....

Suwarrow Lagoon is a remote atoll lagoon located within the Pacific Ocean, specifically part of the Cook Islands. It’s notable for its exceptional biodiversity and serves as a critical breeding ground for numerous seabird species. The lagoon's protected status makes it valuable for conservation effo...

Rangiroa Lagoon is a vast tropical lagoon situated within the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. It’s notable as the second largest atoll lagoon globally offering remarkable biodiversity and diving opportunities. The lagoon's complex geography, including features like Tiputa Pass, supports div...

Trou aux Biches Beach is a popular public shoreline located on Mauritius’s north coast. The two kilometer stretch of sand is distinguished by a casuarina forest and offers access to the Indian Ocean lagoon. It's frequently visited by families and tourists seeking recreational activities such as swim...

Elafonisi Beach is located on the southwest coast of Crete, Greece. The beach’s distinctive pink sand originates from crushed shells and creates a unique visual effect. A small islet, also sandy, sits just offshore within a protected lagoon area designated as Natura 2000. It's popular with families...

Chilika Lake is a large tidal lagoon located on India’s coast in Odisha. It’s notable as Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon and a Ramsar wetland of international significance. The lake supports an immense variety of birdlife, particularly during winter migration, including Irrawaddy dolphins. Scie...

Chilika Lake is India’s largest brackish lagoon located in Odisha. This Ramsar-designated wetland supports an extraordinary concentration of migratory birds, particularly during winter months, attracting over a million avian visitors. The lake also provides habitat for Irrawaddy dolphins, offering s...

The Secret Lagoon of El Nido, Palawan offers a unique coastal experience within a dramatic limestone cave system. Accessible via a tight fissure, the lagoon provides a secluded swimming spot beneath towering rock formations. It’s notable for its hidden location and the challenge of reaching it. The...

Fakarava Lagoon is a significant atoll within French Polynesia’s Pacific Ocean. It's recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its exceptional marine biodiversity. The lagoon supports an abundance of coral and fish species including the renowned “Wall of Sharks” formation within Tumakohua Pass...