As of today, in season now. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Green sand beaches are among the rarest on the planet — only a few are known, each formed where a volcano has shed enough of the green mineral olivine for the surf to concentrate it on the shore.
Olivine is heavier than ordinary quartz and basalt grains, so as waves winnow the lighter material away, the dense green crystals are left behind, tinting whole coves a deep olive.
The most famous is Papakōlea (Mahana) on the Big Island of Hawaii, cupped in the eroded flank of a 49,000-year-old cinder cone; the others sit at Talofofo Bay on Guam, Punta Cormorant in the Galápagos, and near Kourou in French Guiana.
Because the colour comes from the bedrock itself, these beaches are there year-round — what changes is the light, the surf, and the access.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Papakōlea (Mahana) Green Sand Beach |
| Talofofo Bay Green Sand Beach |
| + 2 more spots, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.