9 Haunted Beaches from Around the World

Although you'd probably never expect to experience paranormal activity while luxuriating in a day at the beach, it's actually a setting that's ripe for ghost activity. Check out this roundup of some of the spookiest haunted beaches around the world and remember to pack sage along with your sunblock the next time you hit the sand.

It's said that in the 16th century, Spanish sailors shipwrecked near Manzanita Beach, located in Oregon, and attempted to hide a chest of gold they were transporting by killing a man and burying it with his body. The ghost of the man they killed is said to haunt the beach to this day. People have reported finding little piles of stones built up in curious configurations, seemingly overnight. Perhaps they're a clue as to the location of the ghost's unmarked grave?

In his heyday Thomas Higbee owned a hotel in Cape May, New Jersey called The Hermitage and when he passed away in 1879 he was buried in a marble tomb next to it, per his request. In 1937 his body was exhumed by his surviving family and moved to Cold Springs Presbyterian cemetery, which he must not have liked very much because the area began experiencing an increase in paranormal activity. Visitors have reported seeing a male apparition wandering Higbee Beach, sometimes joined by a large black dog.

Visitors of this popular beach in Santa Cruz, California have reported seeing a grayish ghost that appears vividly and then vanishes before their eyes. It's said to appear most often around 3:00 A.M. Once, a local made an attempt to confront the spirit by charging towards it, only to pass out upon making contact.

In 1822, a young man is thought to have fallen from his horse and drowned in Litchfield Beach, located in South Carolina, while en route to visit his fiancée. The story of this man has gone from mouth to ear so many times in the area that some even believe the man in question was Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard the notorious pirate. The gentleman's ghost, which locals refer to as the Gray Man, is said to appear on the beach to warn people of incoming storms.

Related: Don’t Go Near the Water!

I would also like to receive newsletters from Murder & Mayhem (fictional mysteries and thrillers).

As soon as the sun goes down this gorgeous San Francisco beach becomes the stomping ground of a female apparition who can be found singing to herself along the shore. It's thought that her voice can put people under a hypnotic trance.

The name of this beach in Hawaii roughly translates to "place of the thieves" and is known to have a menacing vibe once the sun sets. Visitors report feeling anxious and afraid as soon as they enter the area and there have also been accounts of the sounds of children playing, when none are present.

A popular destination for tourists in Singapore, this beach is actually considered one of the most haunted places in Asia. During World War II thousands of people died in this area and it's said that at night you can hear their screams. People have even had run-ins with headless apparitions that materialize and appear to walk over the surface of the water.

This is a popular location in India for people to mourn their deceased loved ones and sprinkle their ashes in the sand.That being said, you can probably understand why it's also one of the most haunted beaches in the country.

This California beach is thought to be haunted by a female ghost referred to as "The Blue Lady." The ghost is said to be the restless spirit of a woman who was murdered there during the Prohibition era.

I would also like to receive newsletters from Murder & Mayhem (fictional mysteries and thrillers).

This Story Was First Published on The Hauntist.

Does This Video Show A Girl Being Saved From Imminent Death By The Ghost Of Her Dad?

Watch Mysterious Black Mist at Magnolia Hotel in Texas

Featured photo of Changi Beach: Jirka Matousek / Flickr (CC); Additional photos: Michael / Flickr (CC); Harold Litwiler / Flickr (CC); ChristineThomas / Flickr (CC)