Paradise doesn't stop at the shoreline—it's a living system worth protecting
As World Oceans Day approaches, Corona has expanded its Beach 100 guide into a broader meditation on what it means to inhabit the planet responsibly — weaving together travel, culture, and conservation across six continents. The 2026 edition introduces 27 new destinations, including first-ever entries from Uruguay, Argentina, and Wales, while deepening partnerships with Tripadvisor and Oceanic Global to connect beach tourism with the protection of the marine ecosystems that sustain all life. In an era when consumer brands increasingly seek moral purpose alongside market share, this initiative raises enduring questions about the relationship between commerce, stewardship, and genuine environmental commitment.
- Oceans are under mounting pressure, and Corona is betting that a curated beach guide can channel mass tourism into a force for conservation rather than destruction.
- The addition of 27 new beaches — including debut entries from South America, Africa, and Wales — signals a deliberate push toward overlooked coastlines before they are overwhelmed by the crowds that fame inevitably brings.
- A partnership with Tripadvisor unlocks over 300,000 nature-led experiences, but the deeper tension lies in whether curated wanderlust can coexist with the fragile ecosystems it celebrates.
- Expanded Beach 100 Grants are funneling money to local NGOs protecting mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows — a concrete mechanism attempting to translate brand visibility into ecological impact.
- With World Oceans Day as its anchor and an 'Ocean is Living' content series in motion, the initiative is landing as both a marketing moment and a test of whether beverage brands can credibly carry environmental causes.
Corona has released the second edition of its Beach 100 guide, arriving just ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8 and expanding its roster to include 27 new destinations across six continents. The selection process weighs beachside culture, connection to nature, and scenic beauty, with 20 locations earning the top-tier 'Three Sun' designation. New additions include Brazil's Praia do Bonete, Canada's Plage de la Dune du Sud, and Europe's towering Dune du Pyla in France — a deliberate lean toward harder-to-reach and lesser-known shores.
South America emerges as the guide's biggest regional gainer, with Uruguay appearing for the first time through Playa Mansa and Playa Sur, and Argentina contributing Bahia Bustamante. Africa gains representation through Mozambique's Tofo Beach and South Africa's Wilderness Beach, while Wales makes its debut via Barafundle Bay. The geographic spread reflects an ambition to move beyond iconic postcard destinations toward coastlines that reward the more curious traveler.
The guide is paired with a deepened Tripadvisor partnership offering more than 300,000 curated, nature-led experiences across 30 countries — snorkeling in Italy, surfing in Peru — anchored to select Beach 100 locations. A consumer campaign called 'Living Is Calling' invites people to scan QR codes on Corona packaging for chances to win experiences drawn from the guide.
The conservation dimension carries equal weight. Corona has expanded its Beach 100 Grants program in partnership with Oceanic Global, directing funding to local NGOs protecting mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. During World Oceans Week, the two organizations will release an 'Ocean is Living' content series spotlighting ecosystems and grant projects at four featured locations. Oceanic Global's communications director noted that oceans produce more than half the oxygen humans breathe and underpin life at planetary scale.
Corona's Global Vice President Clarissa Pantoja framed the initiative as an evolution of a platform that generated strong global response in its first year, positioning the brand not merely as a beverage maker but as an advocate for outdoor living and environmental stewardship. The company also notes it has become the first global beverage brand to achieve a net-zero plastic footprint. Whether such commitments represent genuine transformation or sophisticated marketing remains, as ever, a question worth holding alongside the beauty of the beaches themselves.
Corona has released the second edition of its annual Beach 100 guide, a curated list of 100 ocean destinations spanning six continents, timed to arrive just before World Oceans Day on June 8. The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion of the company's "This Is Living" platform, which frames beach exploration and outdoor recreation as central to a fulfilling life. The guide introduces 27 new beaches to its roster, deepening the geographic and experiential variety available to travelers seeking what the brand calls meaningful moments in nature.
The selection process for these destinations reflects three core criteria: beachside culture, connection to nature, and scenic aesthetics. The highest-ranked beaches—designated as "Three Sun" locations—number 20 in this year's guide and include new additions such as Praia do Bonete in Brazil and Plage de la Dune du Sud in Canada. The expansion reveals a deliberate shift toward harder-to-reach locales and lesser-known coastlines. Brazil's Praia da Engenhoca and France's Dune du Pyla, Europe's tallest sand dune, exemplify this move away from exclusively iconic destinations. South America has emerged as the biggest regional gainer, with Uruguay appearing on the list for the first time through entries like Playa Mansa and Playa Sur, while Argentina contributes Bahia Bustamante. Africa sees expanded representation with Mozambique's Tofo Beach making its debut alongside South Africa's Wilderness Beach. The guide also includes celebrated surf destinations such as New Zealand's Manu Bay and Barafundle Bay, marking Wales's first entry into the Beach 100.
Beyond the destination list itself, Corona has deepened its partnership with Tripadvisor to offer more than 300,000 curated travel experiences across 30 countries. These itineraries are designed around select Beach 100 locations and emphasize nature-led activities—snorkeling in Italy, surfing in Peru—while highlighting local conservation efforts. The brand is also running a promotional campaign called "Living Is Calling," which invites consumers of legal drinking age to scan QR codes on Corona packaging for chances to win experiences inspired by the guide. World Oceans Day will serve as a focal point for spotlighting conservation-focused itineraries.
The conservation dimension of the initiative extends through an expanded partnership with Oceanic Global, a nonprofit founded in 2016 that works to reconnect humanity with ocean ecosystems. Corona is increasing funding through its Beach 100 Grants program, directing money to local NGOs that protect critical marine environments including mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. During World Oceans Week, Corona and Oceanic Global will release a content series called "Ocean is Living," which emphasizes that paradise extends beyond the shoreline and encompasses the living systems that sustain it. The series will feature social content spotlighting ecosystems and grant projects at four select Beach 100 locations.
Clarissa Pantoja, Corona's Global Vice President, framed the initiative as an evolution of the platform's first year, which generated significant global response. She emphasized that the guide aims to inspire people to step outside and reconnect with nature while celebrating and preserving the ecosystems that make beaches special. The messaging positions Corona not merely as a beverage brand but as an advocate for outdoor living and environmental stewardship. The company notes that it has become the first global beverage brand with a net-zero plastic footprint and maintains a longstanding commitment to protecting oceans and beaches from plastic pollution.
Oceanic Global's Director of Communications, Natasha Berg, underscored the stakes of the partnership, noting that oceans cover more than 71 percent of Earth's surface, produce more than half the oxygen humans breathe, and support millions of people. She stated that protecting the ocean protects the entirety of the blue planet. The initiative reflects a broader trend in which consumer brands are tying product marketing to environmental causes, though the effectiveness and authenticity of such efforts remain subjects of ongoing scrutiny. For travelers and beach enthusiasts, the guide offers a structured entry point to lesser-known destinations while ostensibly supporting conservation work on the ground.
Citas Notables
The guide is about much more than exploring the world's most beautiful beaches—it's about celebrating and preserving the ecosystems that make them so special.— Clarissa Pantoja, Global VP of Corona
Over 71% of Earth is ocean. It produces more than half the oxygen we breathe, feeds millions, and supports all life. Paradise doesn't stop at the shoreline, and protecting the ocean protects the entirety of our blue planet.— Natasha Berg, Director of Communications, Oceanic Global
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a beer brand need to publish a beach guide? What's the actual business logic here?
It's about creating a lifestyle association. Corona has spent decades positioning itself as the drink of relaxation and escape—the lime, the beach, the ritual. The guide extends that brand identity into experiential territory. They're not just selling beer; they're selling a worldview where Corona is part of how you live.
But 27 new beaches, 300,000 Tripadvisor experiences—that's a lot of infrastructure for a marketing campaign. Are they actually making money from this?
Not directly from the guide itself. The money comes from the QR code promotions on packaging, which drive engagement and brand loyalty. They're also building data on consumer travel preferences. But there's a secondary play: by associating Corona with conservation and responsible tourism, they're insulating the brand against criticism about environmental impact.
So the conservation grants are real, or are they window dressing?
They appear to be real—they're funding actual NGOs through Oceanic Global, which is a legitimate nonprofit with UN recognition. But the scale matters. We don't know how much money is actually being distributed. The grants could be substantial or symbolic. What's clear is that Corona is betting that consumers increasingly want their brands to care about something beyond profit.
What happens to a beach after it gets on this list? Does tourism destroy it?
That's the tension the campaign doesn't fully address. Promoting 27 new beaches to millions of potential travelers could accelerate degradation of fragile ecosystems. The conservation grants are supposed to offset that, but it's unclear whether the funding keeps pace with the increased footfall. It's a genuine paradox: you're trying to protect paradise by inviting the world to visit it.
Who actually benefits from this—the local communities at these beaches?
That depends entirely on how the Tripadvisor experiences are structured and whether they're designed to benefit local guides and operators. The grant money goes to NGOs, which is good, but the tourism revenue flows through Tripadvisor and Corona's promotional machinery. Local communities might see some benefit, but they're not the primary stakeholders in this campaign.