Pink Sand Beach (17 Mile Beach)

Barbuda's Pink Sand Beach, part of the vast strand known as 17 Mile Beach, is one of the most extraordinary beaches in the Caribbean. The sand carries a soft blush of pink, created by countless tiny fragments of pink coral and shell mixed into the white sand, and the effect is most striking in soft morning and evening light.

What truly sets it apart is its scale and emptiness. The beach runs for miles along Barbuda's sheltered western shore, fronting clear, shallow, calm water, and you can often walk for a very long way without seeing another person. Backed by the lagoon and the famous frigate bird sanctuary, it is a place of rare, unspoiled wilderness.

Barbuda lies about 30 miles north of Antigua and is reached by ferry or a short flight, then a short drive or boat transfer to the sand. Visit the nearby Frigate Bird Sanctuary by boat while you are there. There are very few facilities, so bring water, food, and sun protection. For sheer, remote, pink-tinged beauty, this beach is the jewel of Barbuda.

Most travelers experience Pink Sand Beach on a guided day trip from Antigua, which typically bundles the ferry or flight, a local guide, the frigate bird boat tour, and lunch, taking the logistics off your hands. If you visit independently, plan transfers in advance, since taxis and boats on Barbuda are limited and the island is sparsely populated. There is no lifeguard, but the sheltered western water is calm and shallow. The pink hue is subtle rather than neon, most visible up close and in soft light, so keep expectations realistic and let the sheer scale and emptiness of the beach be the real wonder. It is unlike anywhere else in the country.