Tayrona National Park is a lush nature preserve where mountainous jungles stretch to the very edge of white-sand beaches on the Colombian Caribbean. The national park designation makes the accommodations somewhat rustic, but also keeps away large tourist groups, meaning you can sometimes even have one of the park's many beaches to yourself. Tourists pay an entry fee to enter the park and can camp in designated areas or rent a cabin for a few nights. Beyond the beaches, you can also enjoy nature watching in the jungle areas and even visit a small pre-Columbian archaeological site in the park.
Part of a national protected area in the Bocas del Toro islands in the Panamanian Caribbean, Isla Bastimientos huge, white-sand beach touches transparent waters in which schools of fish make their way through coral reefs. This little piece of paradise is kept secluded by a ban on large construction in the area and is accessible via a boat ride from Bocas del Toro city, followed by a short hike through the island down to the beach. The beach makes a perfect day trip, but you'll have to find nighttime accommodations in the city.
Surfers have already discovered San Juan del Sur on the Nicaraguan Pacific, but you can get off the beaten path just a few miles north on less frequented beaches like Playa Maderas and Playa Majagual. Both are about a 15-minute ride by car -- or an hour-long walk along the coast -- and feature pristine waters and sand along with impressive rock formations off the coast. On both beaches, you get the same waves as in San Juan del Sur, but without having to dodge other surfers. Given the lack of tourism infrastructure, you may want to organize board rentals and accommodations in San Juan beforehand.
Even in a country well-known for its beaches, Baia do Sancho in the northeast stands out. The beach is part of the Fernando de Noronha nature preserve, where only about 700 tourists are allowed on the grounds every day. The bay is protected by cliffs on both sides, making the crystal-clear waters warm and tranquil. The preserve is made up of an archipelago of small islands and with so few tourists and so much to do in other areas of the reserve, you're likely to have the beach to yourself for a few hours in the day. Boats head to the island every morning from the mainland city of Natal, where you should also organize accommodations as overnight camping is not allowed in the reserve.
