Our lust for bays and information about the most beautiful bays in the world seems to be endless. So insatiable is our appetite for peninsulas as well, that our research must endure. Think about it though. What is more gorgeous than a pristine body of water with land on three sides? Preferably with hillsides and forests that circle and overlook the water.

See? Not much. So read on, as we chronicle the prestigious members of the very real most beautiful bays in the world club.

Bay of Santander, Spain

Santander is a real gem of a town in a country full of them. The bay has a lot to do with the allure as well, with splendid vistas on tap, great beaches and authentic Cantabrian village charm on the circumference. Most of the fortunate 185,000 people who live in Santander dwell just off the coast. Why not? The harbour is a superlative example of function and style in relative harmony.

The sands of the Sardinero are a popular draw with locals and tourists, with good water conditions, views of the Isle of Mouro and UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Romans had a foothold here back in the glory days of the Empire, so history is part of the attraction in Santander. Life around the port sustains a good bulk of tourism however, in addition to commerce. While both have had some detrimental consequences on the bay itself, efforts are now underway to preserve dependent marine life and revive others.

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Cape Girolta and Cape Porto, Corsica, France

The island of Corsica has a rather unique position in the world. Technically a region or territory of France, it stands out among others with remarkable autonomy. Within the Mediterranean, only the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus beat out the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte in terms of size. Geographically there’s a lot going on here, with little nooks and pockets all over the coast. Cape Girolta and Cape Porto form, we suppose, a defacto bay. How else to explain inclusion in the most beautiful bays in the world?

The main attraction here, however way you slice it, is the Scandola Nature Reserve. That alone marks the region as special and distinct. Since 1975 the reserve has made sure that red stone cliffs, grottos, coves, islets and all manner of geographic features get the protection they deserve. As such, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cape Girolta and Cape Porto present a phenomenal ground for careful exploration, in addition to the greater area of Corsica Regional Park. Just remember when you visit Corsica to pencil in Napoleon’s home in the beautiful coastline commune of Ajaccio.

Guadeloupe, Caribbean, France

Part of the official overseas department of France, Guadeloupe is one of the best destinations in the Caribbean. The archipelago boasts a special geography that has won it membership in the most beautiful bays in the world society. When Christopher Columbus became the first European to land here in 1493, he must have thought the island group was rather gorgeous. After all, the divine appearance of the Virgin Mary in the monastery at Guadalupe de Extramedura came to mind.

Anyone with a regular haunt in the Caribbean knows that Columbus was spot on with his lofty appraisal. Guadeloupe is a jewel. The five islands of Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La D?sirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante provide wonderful escapes for weary city dwellers. The bay area between Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre in particular, with access to the Guadeloupe Passage section of the Caribbean, is stellar. Besides scenery that will take your breath away however, the culture of the islands is a sultry fusion of France and the Caribbean. The Nobel Literature Prize laureate Saint-John Perse probably put into words the allure of Guadeloupe better than anyone. If you plan to vacation here, pick up a book of his poetry to read on the plane.

Mont Saint-Michel, France

For secretive communes, villages and even nations, Europe takes the top prize. Think of places like San Marino, Monaco, the Isle of Man and Andorra. The fascination inherent in these little spots is immense. Mont Saint-Michel in France is just like that. The rocky island and bay in Normandy, a short distance off the north coast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a tourist attraction and for sheer historical magnitude, there are few competitors like it.

The tidal island was once part of mainland France, thanks to a thin natural bridge which at high tide was invisible. Development over the years has built up a collection of silt around the Mont, with new government plans to make Saint-Michel an island once again. The geography here is still rather remarkable, made even more impressive with the ancient abbey at the peak of the Mont. The first monastery was built here in the 8th century, which answers any questions about UNESCO designations. The ancient village preservation is miraculous, with the grand Gothic-style cathedral, now over 1,000 years old, a magnificent presence above it all. People talk with such hyperbole about “steps back in time” when it comes to tourist attractions. Well with Mont Saint-Michel, the hype is very real.

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