But as soon as I arrived, I was blown away: The water is crystal clear, and it is such a stunning shade of turquoise that I could hardly believe it was real. The sand was soft, the water was refreshing without being freezing, and the calm surfaces were gentle like lagoons. In short: The beaches here are perfect. And the good news is there are plenty to choose from, no matter your location or budget: private and public, expensive and free, east side and west side.

Read the full story, originally published on october 29, 2015, and see the slideshow on Yahoo Travel.