Vancouver Island beach named one the best 50 in North America

A serene Vancouver Island beach has been ranked among the best 50 beaches in North America, according to travel website “World’s 50 Best Beaches.”

The annual list was updated for 2024 on April 30, and San Josef Bay, located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, was the only Canadian destination to make the cut.

San Josef Bay was ranked the 26th best beach in North America, sandwiched between Tulum, Mexico, in 25th place and Pig Beach, Bahamas, in 27th place.

The beach is described as “breathtaking” and “unspoiled” due to its remote nature. Sea stacks and smooth beaches beaten down by Pacific storms also give San Josef Bay a unique and rugged look.

It’s part of Cape Scott Provincial Park, which spans more than 115 kilometres of coast along northern Vancouver Island.

The top ranking beach on this year’s North America list went to Trunk Bay, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while the 50th place spot went to Playa Sirena in Cuba.

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The methodology for the 50 best beaches list is more of an art than a science.

To create the annual list, the 50 Best Beaches team got thousands of travel professionals to vote on their favourite beach in the world, and write a “compelling description” of why they believe it’s the best.

After that, the team debates each nominee, alongside “Beach Ambassadors,” who are renowned travel experts.

Further criteria is then applied to determine which beach is best, which can be found below:

• Unique: The surrounding landscape of this beach makes it very unique.
• Wildlife: You are likely to encounter incredible wildlife at this beach or in the water.
• Untouched: This beach is very far off the beaten path and is in a pristine state.
• Soundtrack of Nature: At this beach, the only thing you will hear are the sounds of the ocean and nature.
• Easy to Enter: The water at this beach is very easy to enter, with calm waters and a sandy bottom.
• Often Calm Water: The ocean at this beach is usually very calm, making it easy to relax in the water.
• Not Too Crowded: This beach is never too crowded, making it very peaceful.
• Frequently Idyllic: Your odds of perfect beach days are much higher than average at this beach.

It’s not the first time San Josef Bay has been recognized on the global stage.

Last year, the North Island beach was ranked among The World’s Top 50 Best Beaches Ever list by sunscreen company Banana Boat.

Earlier this year, Chesterman Beach in Tofino was also ranked the 6th best beach in the world according to travel magazine Lonely Planet.

With files from CHEK’s Ethan Morneau

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