Hac Sa Beach: great place for families

Hac Sa Beach
黑沙海滩

The largest and best-known beach in Macao is Hac Sa Beach.

Located on the south side of Coloane Island, the beach is a kilometer long and is famous for its black sand. It gets its unique color from minerals in the seabed that are washed ashore.

However, in order to prevent the beach from disappearing due to increased erosion, the government has topped up the black sand with yellow sand. Therefore, the sand isn’t as black as it used to be. The water is relatively clean and suitable for swimming (the dark sand makes it look dirtier than it really is).

The charm of this beach is that, even in the peak summer months, it never gets too busy. It’s a great place to come to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan life and enjoy some fresh air.

The beach offers some other facilities too. There is a public swimming pool to its rear open from May to October. There are also barbecue pits that tend to get busy most weekends, a campsite that is popular with students and a handful of restaurants and shops selling snacks and souvenirs.

Adjacent to the beach is the Hac Sa Sports and Recreation Park, the facilities of which include a pool, tennis courts, a golf course and various other sporting and leisure venues. Hac Sa Reservoir Country Park, just a few steps from the beach, offers pedal boat hire, a suspension bridge, or a nice stroll around the reservoir. It’s a great place for families.