Top 10 Islands to Visit!

Islands are the ultimate destination for fun, sun, and plain old relaxation. There’s no reason why your next vacation destination can’t be an island, and there are dozens of choices all over the world. These are the ten top islands and beaches in the world where people can sit back, relax, enjoy the sun, and wonder if they really should board that flight home.

Bora Bora

In the Australian Pacific you’ll find the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Bora Bora is surrounded by sand-fringed islets on an outer coral reef that encloses a turquoise lagoon. Steep yourself in the island’s traditions, activities and authentic cuisine.

Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where beautiful fish animate the colour gardens. Seen from the air, Bora Bora has been compared to that of “a tiny emerald in a setting of turquoise, encircled by a sheltering necklace of sparkling pearls”.

The Seychelles

Located off the east coast of Africa, these islands are pure paradise. If anywhere in the world would convince me to give it all up and live in a beach hut, the Seychelles would be it. Perfect beaches, perfect water, tons of islands to choose from, and all the seclusion you could want. The Seychelles are my dream and should be yours, too. This group of 115 islands offers everything a beach lover could ask for. Sadly, these islands are pretty expensive, but I guess there is a price to pay for paradise. The best time to visit is during the cool season from May to September, when it rains less.

Anguilla

In the heart of the northern Caribbean you’ll discover the tiny island of Anguilla. Currently under British control, Anguilla is a melting pot of cultures blended with the beauty of the beaches and landscape of the island itself. The locals do everything possible to accommodate tourists while at the same time holding dearly to their own cultural standards. You’ll stop by for a relaxing vacation but you’ll leave treasuring and appreciating the island’s rich heritage.

Bali

It's one of 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago—and the only one on which Hindus form the majority (93 percent). Even more striking is the fact that there is a spiritual celebration here nearly every day. Three Hindu temples at the Besakih (the Mother Temple of Bali) survived a 1963 eruption that destroyed nearby villages while missing by mere yards this terraced complex atop volcanic Mount Agung. The event is still considered a miracle by locals, who arrive in regular procession; they balance offerings on their head and climb the steps to the sound of mantras, jingling bells, and the sharp flutter of umbul-umbuls (ceremonial Balinese flags). Anyone interested in exploring the inner self might like the Nirarta Centre, an 11-room hotel set amid rice terraces and gardens that holds daily meditation sessions. After finding your center here, channel your energy into jungle treks, scuba diving, and big-break surfing along beaches of fine white and volcanic black sand. Exhale against a backdrop of rice paddies and Impressionist sunsets that illuminate the Indian Ocean.

Fiji

Though this country has some 322 islands, less than a third are inhabited. Most of the action happens in the western islands, but no matter where you go, this is heaven. Any time the name Fiji is heard, visions of beaches and tropical ocean dance in people’s head. There’s good reason for that – because this place is one of the best places to go in the world, and with so many islands, you’re bound to find one you like. It’s a popular destination with young people and honeymooners, with something for everyone. Most young people head to the Yasawa Island group. The temperature remains mostly constant through the year, with cyclones occurring between November and January.

Chiloé

The lush, cloud-covered Chiloé archipelago may lie off the western coast of Chile, but its history, customs, and language bear little resemblance to those of the mainland, or anywhere else in the world, because of its isolation. Local farmers have passed down a mythology of gnome- and witch-filled woodlands and ghost ships. Valdivian temperate rain forests are protected within Parque Nacional Chiloé. In the Pacific, dolphins, penguins, otters, and the largest creatures in history—blue whales—are studied and protected by the Cetacean Conservation Center. In the central city of Castro, order a steaming meal of curanto (shellfish, meat, and potatoes) and peruse handicrafts made of wood and colorful garments created from Chilean wool. Residents still live in traditional palafitos (stilt houses). Jesuit missionaries, who first arrived in small numbers in the 1600s, used local materials and construction techniques to build exquisite chapels. Their work survives in more than 50 wooden churches found in communities such as Castro, Nercón, Chonchi, Dalcahue, and Quinchao; their appearance reflects a hybrid of European and indigenous styles that you won't find anywhere else on earth.

Boracay

Also located in the Asian Pacific is the island of Boracay in the Philippines. Arguably one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world, Boracay is an incredibly popular tourist destination. The island is the perfect destination for both those seeking relaxation and those in search of adventure. The island boasts beautiful climbing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails as well as amazing locations for snorkeling, scuba diving, and jet skiing. The White Beach is more commercial, home to dozens of restaurants, spa services, and sun bathers. The Bulabog Beach is for more active guests interested in windsurfing and other water sports.

Big Island Hawaii

Hawaii’s biggest island has everything you could ever want to do and more. But what separates it from the other islands is Volcano National Park. Explore volcanoes, climb through old lava tubes, and watch as new lava oozes into the ocean. Then there are all the waterfalls on the island, too. Big Island has it all. I mean it’s Hawaii –- how could you go wrong?! The wet season is from October to March, though the weather is cooler during these months. However, despite being located near each other, weather conditions on each island can vary greatly, so you never know what to expect!

Galapagos Island

The namesake tortoise is only one reason to explore this archipelago overrun with more than 500 spectacular native species found nowhere else. Charles Darwin's 1835 visit sparked his curiosity, leading to his landmark book and the observation that these islands are the "laboratory of evolution." Much of the biological kaleidoscope noted by Darwin—such as penguins, sea lions, finches, blue-footed boobies—is still visible on the Galápagos, which are scattered more than 600 miles west of Ecuador. Look out for the waved albatross, which has a 7- to 8-foot wingspan, on Española. Tour operators navigate the islands on everything from luxury catamarans to motor yachts, and many employ naturalists to guide you through the archipelago's rocky coasts, lagoons, coral reefs, bays and white sand beaches. Gap Adventures offers small-group itineraries that often include meals, airfare from Quito, and a cabin aboard a 16-passenger ship. Life on the island is only half the equation, so pack your mask, snorkel, and wet suit.

Curacao

Located in the Caribbean Sea, this Dutch-owned island is perfect. Voted one of the best in the Caribbean, Curacao is like being in tropical Holland. The town is built in the Dutch style, but the surrounding areas are all tropical. Hit the beaches, lay in the sun, and party the night away. This may not be Gilligan’s Island, but what it lacks in privacy, it makes up for in romance and fun. The weather is pretty stable here year round. It’s always hot and usually sunny. If it rains, it’s between November and January. And don’t worry about hurricanes – it’s below the hurricane belt!