Beautiful Beaches with Amazing Wildlife

Does your bucket list include swimming with pigs? Crossing paths with a lazy sloth? Lazing on the sand with a group of rabbits?

Then there’s a beach destination waiting for you.

At these 15 beaches around the world, animal-lovers can combine sun and sand with remarkable wildlife viewing. Many of the animals are accustomed to humans and very friendly.

Just be sure to interact with the wildlife respectfully and carefully — and of course, don’t forget your camera. These cuties are very photogenic.

On an uninhabited island in the Exumas archipelago, pigs roam free on white sandy beaches and frolic in turquoise waters.

Rumors abound as to how the pigs first came to be on the island — some say they were brought by pirates or sailors, while others claim they were left stranded after a shipwreck. Regardless of their history, the pigs have called Big Major Cay home for many years, and keep multiplying in their private island paradise. And although they were more than likely actually introduced to the island as a potential food source back in the day, their popularity with tourists has kept them off plates.

It’s bizarre enough to spot pigs sunning themselves on the beach, but even more strange to watch them jump in the water at the first sight of boats. But swim they do, right up to tourists and locals, looking for food.

While swimming with our porcine pals is the draw for so many visitors to the Bahamas, the boat ride to and from Pig Beach is absolutely stunning and worthy of an Instagram square too.

Nestled into limestone cliffs, Monkey Beach is so-named for the simian residents who run amok on its soft white sand.

Hoards of tourists descend on this beach via organized boat tours, but a better way to arrive is by kayak, taking in the awe-inspiring scenery as you row ashore. Just be sure to pull your kayak completely onto the sand and remove all your belongings, because the monkeys here will rifle through anything and everything. Young monkeys are especially curious (and cute).

One warning though: While many visitors will get up close and personal with the monkeys for a photo op, it’s best to keep your distance, as they have been known to bite.

The beaches of Maryland and Virginia may not be the first to come to mind when you think of exotic vacation spots, but the chance to see wild horses brings thousands of visitors to the 37 miles of beach on Assateague Island every year. This barrier island off the coast of Delmarva is home to Assateague State Park on the Maryland side, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Virginia side.

According to local folklore, the feral horses came to the island after a shipwreck off the coast of Virginia, but it’s more likely that the first equine settlers were brought to the island in the 17th century by owners who were trying to avoid livestock taxation. These days, the two herds of wild horses are kept behind their respective state lines, and can be seen wandering the beaches and grazing on grass in the sand dunes.

Aruba is known for its spectacular beaches, but there is one in particular that attracts animal lovers: Flamingo Beach. As the name suggests, the picture-perfect beach is home to a group of exotic flamingos. Accessed only by water taxi, the island is owned by Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino and accessible mostly to hotel guests. But a limited number of day passes are available for purchase as well.

As flamingos wade in the Caribbean Sea, visitors relax in hammocks and sip cocktails in private huts along the beach. The island may be a man-made tropical paradise, but natural beauty and wildlife abounds. When you’re done admiring the pink birds, be sure to visit nearby Iguana Beach. Although iguanas are spotted all over Aruba, this beach is dedicated to the friendly reptiles, and it’s not uncommon to look down to see an iguana stretched out next to your lounge chair.