A stun­ning two-kilo­­me­ter-long beach in an almost for­got­ten cor­ner of Colom­bia, the black sands of Playa Alme­jal are flanked by thick rain­for­est. The beach is a 20-minute walk from the Afro-Colom­bian vil­lage of El Valle, where eco-lodges, hotels, and great restau­rants await on the way back.

Playa Alme­jal is home to a tur­tle con­ser­va­tion pro­gram – a qui­et cor­ner where vis­i­tors can jump into the warm waters for a swim or give surf­ing a try. The dark, coarse sands aren’t great for sun­bathing but they’re per­fect for a relax­ing walk among drift­wood and the lull of the waves against your feet.