Some lean towards clothing-optional, others have cruising areas and a handful of these top gay beaches are mixed among the hetero-friendly ones. Some beaches are secluded and difficult to reach, while others are found right in the heart of popular gay-friendly destinations. We’ve actually been to almost all of these beaches and highly recommend you add them to your travel itinerary. From North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe, to Oceania and even Africa, these are the best gay beaches in the world. Over the past 8 years, we’ve traveled the world in search of some of the best gay beaches.

Even better is finding a gay-friendly beach where you can truly be yourself without fear of judgment or harassment due to your sexual orientation. Nothing beats a nice, relaxing day at the beach soaking up the sun and taking a dip in the cool waters.