Pink Beach

The colour comes from crushed shells of foraminifera, single-celled creatures that live on the reef, and it is strongest when the sand is dry.

It is a swimming and sunbathing beach more than a snorkelling one, though the reef offshore holds plenty of fish. There is no shade, no toilet and nowhere to buy water, and the drive back to town is half an hour — bring more than you think you need.

The pink reads best in the low light of the late afternoon, and the same drive takes you past the salt pyramids, the slave huts and the flamingos at Pekelmeer, so combine the two rather than driving down twice. Free. Reckon on two hours here, half a day with the salt pans.