The World's 15 Most Amazing Swimming Holes

(​MORE: Here Are Some Of The Bluest Waters In The U.S.)

1. Hierve el Agua, Mexico

One of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico, Hierve el Agua is a spectacular rock formation that, from a distance, resembles a "petrified" waterfall frozen to the side of the mountain. But this unique site offers something more—it features a collection of turquoise-colored, clifftop swimming pools filled with fresh spring water that is said to be laden with healing minerals. Visitors can enjoy a refreshing dip and also take in the stunning panoramic views of the valleys below.

2. To Sua Ocean Trench, Lotofaga, Samoa

There are hundreds of swimming holes around the world but none is as magical as the To Sua Ocean Trench in Lotofaga village in Samoa. Known for its clear, turquoise waters and almost hidden from view by surrounding lush gardens, To Sua (literally meaning "big swimming hole") is Samoa's most popular tourist attraction. Travelers say is one of the most beautiful swimming spots in the world, and adventurers can swim in this idyllic spot by climbing 98 feet down a steep ladder to the pool below. The sea cave near To Sua leads, via underground canals, to the South Pacific Ocean and should only be navigated by skilled divers. 

3. Giola Natural Pool, Thassos Island, Greece

Located in the village of Astris in Thassos Island, Greece, Giola is a beautiful natural lagoon resembling a swimming pool carved into the rocks. It's quite a trek to reach this stunningly blue seaside gem overlooking the Aegean Sea, but visitors say it's worth the hike. Climbing down can be a little tricky because you have to walk on stone, so TripAdvisor recommends wearing adequate shoes.  

4. Devil's Pool, Victoria Falls, Zambia

With a width of 5,604 feet and a height of 354 feet, Victoria Falls is considered the largest waterfall in the world. But that doesn't prevent hundreds of adventurers a year from swimming in the "Devil's Pool," a naturally formed pool of water on the edge of the waterfall in Livingstone Island on the Zambian side. Every year, during the dry season of mid-August to December, the waterfall's flow of water is much lower than it is during full current. When the levels drop, a natural rock barrier comes close enough to the surface, allowing swimmers to frolic in relative safety up to a few inches away from the point where the water cascades over the falls. Safaribookings.com says that access to Devil's Pool is most reliable in October and November.

5. Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos

The biggest waterfall in Luang Prabang, Laos, Kuang Si Falls is a multi-tier waterfall with water that collects in numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows downstream, forming the perfect, most picturesque swimming holes. Popular with tourists, the site features walkways and bridges cutting through beautiful scenery. There are also trails to climb to the top of the falls where there are more natural pools for swimming.   

6. Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

If you're brave enough to dip into the cold (but crystal-clear) waters, the Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle, in the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is an ideal place for 'wild swimming,' especially if the weather is decent. A path takes visitors to the waterfalls and pools, some more secluded than others, all magically picturesque.

7. Hinatuan Enchanted River, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

In the Philippines, this natural pool and swimming hole is so mysterious, it's "enchanting." Located in Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, Enchanted River earned its nickname because it appears to have no source. The prevailing theory about the Hinatuan's source holds that a network of underground caves and tunnels emerge to form the river. The 50-foot-deep spring is popular with swimmers and sunbathers because of its crystal clear waters with near-bottom visibility, and lush green surroundings.

8. Hamilton Pool, Dripping Springs, Texas

9. Grotta della Poesia, Rocha Vecchia, Italy

Italy's unique limestone pool, Grotta della Poesia (also known as "Poetry Cave") in Roca Vecchia is set on the scenic Adriatic Sea. The natural swimming hole, characterized by turquoise waters, is a cenote that formed from the roof collapse of an underground cavern. The caves follow a circular pattern and have two entries: one by sea at the base of the cliff and one by land where the vault of the main hall collapsed. The cave is also an important archaeological site, featuring hundreds of Messapic, Greek and Latin inscriptions. 

10. Ik Kil Cenote, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Part of the Ik Kil Archeological Park near Chichen Itza, in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Ik Kil Cenote is open to the sky with the water level about 85 feet below ground level. Visitors can climb a stairway down to a platform to swim in the cenote which is about 130 feet deep and filled with clear blue water that Mayan royalty used for both relaxation and ritual sacrifices, according to Mother Nature Network. In 2014, Red Bull held its Cliff Diving World Series at the site.

11. Poco Azul, Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

Located in the state of Bahia in northeast Brazil, Chapada Diamantina National Park is home to spectacular waterfalls, magnificent vistas and cave systems formed by the rivers that run through the region, where both gold and diamonds have been found. The park's true jewels, however, are the natural pools hidden in its numerous caves. One of the pools, Poco Azul, has water so clear that swimming in it is like floating in space. The best time to enter the pool is between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun's rays radiate into the blue waters, forming a spectacle of rare beauty, according to TripBucket. 

12. Havasu Falls,  Supai, Arizona

Located within the tribal reserve of the Havasupai people in Grand Canyon National Park, Havasu Falls features a main chute that drops nearly 100 feet over a vertical cliff into a large pool of water that's an almost otherworldly color of blue-green. The water temperature of about 70 degrees remains relatively constant throughout the year, so visitors can enjoy one of the country's most beautiful swimming holes all-year round.

13. Las Grietas, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

One of the most unique swimming holes in the Galapagos Islands, Las Grietas (which translates to mean 'the cracks') is a series of volcanic crevices that were formed during the cooling of molten lava. Visitors can climb down these crevices, where it is possible to observe two very distinct levels of water—fresh water at the surface and the salt water of the sea at the bottom—and where swimmers can enjoy a refreshing dip.

14. Pools at Ohe'o, Maui, Hawaii

Hawaii's Pools at Ohe'o (also known as Seven Sacred Pools), part of the Haleakala National Park in Maui, is composed of cascading waterfalls and plunge pools in an absolutely breathtaking setting. Some of the pools are more secluded than others and require a hike amidst stunning scenery, but visitors who make the effort are rewarded with their own private, postcard-perfect paradise.

15. Silfra, Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

For travelers looking for a real adventure, Iceland's Silfra in Thingvellir National Park is a body of water between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Divers and snorkelers can float through a crack between two continents, a crevasse which continues to grow by more than a half inch every year, guidetoiceland.is reports. The water remains above freezing all year long, but not by much, so a dry suit is necessary.

M​ORE FROM WEATHER.COM: The 10 Most Dazzling U.S. Waterfalls

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.