There is something so depressing to me about going to the zoo. I absolutely love animals so it’s really hard for me to see some of my favourites in places they don’t belong, fenced in with sad looks on their faces. Not to say all Zoo’s are like this but I would much rather see animals in their natural surroundings!
Through my travels, I have been able to see some pretty amazing wildlife and animals but my favourite spottings have been on beaches!
Here are some of my favourite beaches to see some beautiful and unique animals all while catching some rays!
#1: THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF EXUMA, BAHAMAS: PIGS!
Pig Island in Bahamas was once a farm. After the owner realized that having a farm on an island wasn’t ideal, he set all of the animals free. The pigs stayed put and made this place their home. At least this is what the tour guide told me on my boat! I had the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE swimming with these guys and it was truly a dream come true to visit them. Notice how their snouts curve upwards? It’s because they have adapted to breathing and swimming in the water. Also….so friendly that you can actually pick up the smaller ones. Swoooon.
The only way to reach Pig Island is through a tour Guide….or if you have your own boat! The tours that are offered are amazing because you often get to check out some other notable sights close by and see the changing shades of blue in Exuma. It is a little bit up there in terms of costs but worth it!
#2. FLAMINGOS ON RENIESSENCE BEACH, ARUBA
So Flamingos are not native to Aruba. Like Exuma, Bahamas- seeing these unique animals on the beach takes planning, some money and research! Is it worth it to do all of this? My answer would again be yes! Look at those guys!
The pink flamingos in Aruba can be found at the Renaissance Hotel which is not open to the public. This means that you have to either book a stay at the hotel OR you can secure a day pass through them.
There are some other things to note too if you want to see the flamingos on the beach:
-It gets really crowded so best to go in the morning!
-The cost for a day pass is $125 USD per person. This makes it very tempting to get a room at the hotel depending on season or time of year! If you are going with a family- that can really add up
-Make sure to keep your space at first and let them get comfortable with you!
#3. SWIMMING TURTLES AT MAKENA BEACH, MAUI, HAWAII 
This long stretch of paradise not only includes perfect sand and amazing views..it also comes with lazy and big sea turtles. You can be lazy with them and tan but if you snorkel in the area- there is a very good chance you will be able to swim with them. Double win!
#4. BOULDER’S BEACH, SOUTH AFRICA: PENGUINS
Located in Cape Town, South Africa, Boulder’s beach is a coved sandy beach that comes with roaming African penguins. They are not phased by all the tourists that come to visit them on the daily but one should avoid harassing them by getting too close or chasing them. They are not like the Penguins in “Happy Feet” and can bite viciously! Still….so cute to look at for the day!
#5. THE SEALS IN LA JOLLA COVA, SAN DIEGO
Located about 30 minutes from downtown San Diego, La Jolla Cove has a stunning coast line view and an abundance of seals. When we visited, my brothers were kind enough to nickname this sea creature my spirit animal- “Loud, lazy, clearly likes to eat and yells out nonsense- just like you Marisa’. THANKS GUYS!
While you can find the seals around throughout the day and there are a TON of them, they tend to head out into the water during lunch time to catch some fish. It is important to note that you should never touch or come to close to them. They are generally harmless but any sort of touch can stress them out and is just disrespectful.
The beach is free to visit but make sure to park in a zone that is allowed to avoid getting your car towed!
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