Science confirms it: Tulum beach in Mexico has the whitest sand in the world. A destination where the almost ethereal sand blends with Mayan ruins, cenotes and unspoilt nature.
When it comes to white-sand destinations, Tulum is one of the top beaches that springs to mind. Now it’s no longer just a fantasy, as science has confirmed the obvious. A study by the luxury travel agency CV Villas — cited by Travel + Leisure — analysed more than 200 beaches around the world and concluded that Tulum’s beach has the whitest sand on the planet.
The researchers used Google Maps imagery and measured the RGB values (red, green and blue) of each beach, comparing them with ‘pure’ white (255, 255, 255). Tulum came out on top by a narrow margin: just 1.4 points. To put it simply for those who aren’t familiar with digital colour palettes: it’s basically the closest to white that nature can produce.
The town, situated on the Riviera Maya in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, offers much more than just a picture-postcard view. Stretching for around 10 kilometres, the sandy beach is also home to Mayan ruins perched on cliffs, cenotes hidden in the jungle and the vast Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For those who enjoy combining the beach, nature and history, this is a destination that has it all. You can dive into cenotes such as the Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos, visit ruins. You can dive into cenotes such as the Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos, visit ruins overlooking the Caribbean and explore one of Mexico’s wildest nature reserves.
Anse Source d’Argent, in the Seychelles, comes second on the list, followed by Marmari Beach on the Greek island of Kos. Meanwhile, Tropea in Calabria and Platja de Muro in Mallorca share fourth place, showing that the Mediterranean continues to set the standard when it comes to picture-postcard beaches.
Source: Sapo
