25 Best Tropical Islands

Maldives

It’s easy for visitors to equate paradise with the thousand islands that make up the Maldives. Incredibly, each of the 90 resorts in the Maldives is situated on its own island.

From the remarkable undersea restaurant of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island to the Four Seasons Maldives annual surfing championship on KudaHuraa, there is plenty to see and do.
Maldives visitors will find terrific diving and snorkeling around scads of coral house reefs inhabited with colorful marine life.
Powdery white sand beaches and translucent turquoise waters beckon beachgoers.
Honeymooners, eco-travelers, and those who can’t get enough of the earth’s natural beauty will find their Shangri-La here in the Indian Ocean.

Bahamas

The Bahamas is a coral archipelago with 700 islands and more than 2000 cays scattered over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles off the coast of Florida.

The population of the Islands range from deserted to packed, and the most visited are Grand Bahama and Paradise Island.
Home to the Andros Barrier Reef, the Bahamas are a scuba divers paradise and some of the best tropical islands to visit in the Caribbean.
Diving Thunderball Grotto, immortalized in the James Bond movie Thunderball, and the black coral gardens of Bimini are not to be missed.
The crystal clear waters of the Bahamas are the clearest in the world and offer fantastic visibility of up to 200 feet or more.
It is a great family vacation spot, with something for everyone: From fascinating historic tours and lavish resorts for ultimate pampering, to fishing, boating, kayaking, diving or doing nothing at all on one of the spectacular white beaches.

Bora Bora

Known as honeymooners’ paradise, Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island getaway northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia.

From above, it looks like a green jewel dropped into an azure expanse of the ocean, surrounded by tiny islets bordered with bright white sand and a turquoise lagoon ringed by a coral reef.
It is no less beautiful once you land, with posh resorts in which tiny thatched-roof bungalows are perched over the water, each with a private pool.
Bora Bora is also a divers’ paradise, with healthy unspoiled reefs rich with sea creatures of all kinds.
The dormant volcano rises to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point being 727-feet high and offering spectacular views and great hikes.

Hawaii

Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai are just a 6-hour flight from the West Coast of the United States. If you are looking for tropical getaways in the U.S., Hawaii is an amazing destination, featured in countless movies and offering a diverse range of experiences. There are many luxury resorts in Hawaii, as well as more affordable condo rentals and B&Bs. The most expensive part of the trip is airfare, so it’s a good idea to look for low season prices. If you decide to go during spring break, Labor Day or Memorial Day, don’t wait until the last minute or you may not get a seat. Fly to Oahu where you can spend a night on the famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, or directly to Maui or the Big Island. Many Californians keep a second home on one of the islands, getting away for Christmas, Thanksgiving and other major holidays.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The smaller Turks and large Caicos Islands combine to form the two archipelagos which make up this breathtaking location. These islands are British Overseas Territories, known world over for their fantastic reefs, magnificent beaches and gentle welcoming people.

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean and about 620 miles from Miami, the islands are an incredibly popular vacationing spot which offer excellent snorkeling, diving, fishing and water sports.
Most accommodations are located on the island of Providenciales, located in the Northwest Caicos Islands, which offers 12 miles of hotels along the sparkling white Grace Bay Beach.
This island is known as a party island and features luxury resorts, fancy shops and fine restaurants.
Other noteworthy islands include North, South and Middle Caicos, Salt Clay and Grand Turk, home to the capital city of Cockburn Town.
No matter where you choose to spend your relaxing vacation, rest assured it will be spectacularly beautiful and a perfect piece of paradise.

Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago made up of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa, located in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar and about 990 miles east of Kenya. Most of these islands are uninhabited, and many are protected as nature reserves.

Full of color and beauty, the white sands and turquoise sea create a tranquil setting for a relaxing vacation.
Seychelles was granted independence in 1976 and quickly became a popular playground for jetsetters, movie stars and honeymooners.
The biggest and most developed islands are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Mahe is the largest and arguably the most beautiful, with a dramatic mix of rugged mountains densely covered with tropical old growth rainforests and 65 brilliant white sandy beaches.
The island is full of small hidden coves and bays to provide solitude, and has a range of excellent hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, cafés and casinos.
The capital city of Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world, is the Seychelles business and cultural hub and can be easily explored by foot in less than a day.

Easter Island

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2,300 miles west of South America and 1,100 miles away from any neighboring island, there is a small Polynesian volcanic island called Easter Island, also known by its indigenous name of Rapa Nui, part of Chile. It is a World Heritage Site, famous for its archeological park containing 900 enormous statues known as Moai.

These statues, which average 13 feet in height and weigh about 14 tons, were created between the 10th and 16th centuries by the early inhabitants of the island.
These monolithic stone heads are baffling to researchers who cannot figure out why the Rapa Nui people went through such enormous efforts to create them or how they carved them with primitive tools.
Another lingering question is what happened to the Rapa Nui people? Rapa Nui’s early inhabitants came from other Polynesian island to this one to build a unique culture away from any influences.
One theory is that they may have built these statues to honor their ancestors but had to leave once they had completely depleted the island resources.
Once a thriving culture, Rapa Nui is today almost barren, with no trees and most of its soil being washed away in erosion. All that is left are these enormous monuments as a reminder of human achievement and resilience.

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is a 15-island archipelago nation in the South Pacific, halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, southwest of Tahiti. The islands are scattered across 2.2 million square kilometers of the ocean and 240 square kilometers of land.

Bali

For those interested in practicing peace and serenity, Bali is known for its meditation and yoga retreats. For those looking for more action, beachside villages such as Kuta offer a lively night scene, great restaurants and packed dance floors.

Cebu Island

Beloved by divers from all over the world, Cebu Island is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations for adventurous tourists. Long and narrow, Cebu Island is located in the Visayas archipelago, more or less in the center of the Philippines Islands.

Aruba

Trade winds that are constantly sweeping Aruba cool the fragrant tropical air, whip up great surfing waves and bend local Divi-divi trees all the way over beaches providing shade to beachgoers. A tiny Dutch island in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba has perfect, sunny weather year around, sparkling white beaches, clear waters and gentle surf.

Fiji

Although not the easiest tropical destination to get to, Fiji is absolutely amazing. Islands of various sizes are covered with pristine white-sand beaches, reefs teeming with marine life and colorful sunsets overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Rico

An unincorporated United States territory, Puerto Rico is a small island in the northeast Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic. The Island’s capital San Juan is rich in history and architecture, and is full of great restaurants, casinos and quaint beach bars. The diversity of available activities makes Puerto Rico a great family vacation destination. If you are looking for affordable tropical vacations, Puerto Rico is one of the best tropical islands to visit from the East Coast.

Phuket

Among the stunning islands of Southern Thailand, Phuket is the largest, and arguably the most popular. Situated on the Andaman Sea, Phuket’s beaches are revered and numerous, including the crystal clear waters of Surin Beach, and the magical sunsets of LaemPhromthep Viewpoint nearLaem Singh Beach. On Phuket, Chinese influences are everywhere from restaurants to shrines.

Barbados

The self-proclaimed culinary capital of the Caribbean, Barbados doesn’t disappoint.

Curacao

The number one draw to Curacao is watersports, particularly diving and snorkeling. Warm waters showcase coral gardens and sunken ships that are an underwater delight. Must-see locations are the Mushroom Forest and the sunken Superior Producer freighter, along with the Blue Room cave.

Anguilla

Anguilla is the eye candy of the northern Caribbean, and the stuff of dream vacation destinations. The tiny, flat island is ringed in powdery white sand beaches with sea-grape trees and coconut palms rustling in balmy trade winds and casting lazy shadows across the sand. Colorful shabby-chic beach bars and roadside grills abound, but this island is a swank, luxury destination as well.It’s easy to explore the island by either bike or car, and nearby cays are a short sail away. The Heritage Collection presents Anguilla’s boat-building history. Prickly Pear cay is perfect for a day of snorkeling and barbecue. Shoal Bay, ranked #1 in the world, offers a premier beach.

Grenada

Grenada is not your typical Caribbean Island. Dubbed Spice Island, visitors will find numerous nutmeg plantations in the island’s interior. A tour of Belmont Estate, Belvedere Plantation, the nutmeg processing and spice factory at Gouyave, and St. George’s Market Square should be on every visitor’s bucket list. Of course there are the requisite stunning beaches, 45 in all, with Grand Anse being the premier beach. Other Grenada highlights include River Antoine Rum Distillery, the spectacular harbor town of St. George’s, and day sails to the two smaller islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Eco-travelers will appreciate La Sagesse Nature Center and Grand Etang National Forest Preserve.

Martinique

Martinique, also known as the Isle of Flowers, is best known for its incredible natural beauty. Fort-de-France on the island’s west coast is the center of its cultural heritage. Must-see stops in the capital include ornate Schoelcher Library, historic St. Louis Cathedral, and lovely La Savane Park. Visitors would be remiss in not seeing Balata Gardens right outside the city with its begonias, bromeliads, and bamboo. Mont Peléeon the northern side of the island is an active volcano. Adventure seekers go hiking, canyoning, and rappelling at its base. A sobering monument that is a must-see is the AnseCafard facing Diamond Beach and commemorating a sunken slave ship.

Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are divided into the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are comprised of St Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, and the British Virgin Islands, made up of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke, along with numerous smaller islands and cays. All are part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. On the U.S. side, St. Croix is the charming, historic, culturally diverse island, St. John is the favored eco-friendly destination, and St. Thomas is the chic and sophisticated island. On the British side, the islands are less developed, but more exclusive, catering to wealthy luxury travelers and sailing enthusiasts.

Trinidad & Tobago

As far as Caribbean tourist destinations go, Trinidad & Tobago are still considered off-the-beaten path, perhaps because they don’t rely on tourism as their primary economic resource. Visitors can expect a vibrant Creole culture, coral beaches, and tropical jungles. Trinidad is the more developed of the two islands with luxury resorts and charming colonial cities. Port-of-Spain’s annual Carnival celebration is dubbed the biggest street party on Earth. Eco-travelers will appreciate Tobago’s even more laid-back ambiance. It’s the quieter island with an emphasis on protecting the natural environment.The Tobago Ridge Forest Reserve – a haven for hummingbirds, and Nylon Pool are top Tobago excursions.

Boracay

Boracay is an idyllic tropical island in the Western Visayas islands of the Philippines. Visitors will be mesmerized by White Beach with sand so soft it’s been compared to baby talc. The four-kilometer-long beach has been called the ‘finest beach in the world.’ Shoeless vacationers lounge on the beaches, get massages, and hang out at beach establishments. After sunset, the vibe turns lively where dancing and partying take center stage. On an island where the outdoors rules, visitors find opportunities to sail, kayak, trek, golf, dive, mountain bike, boat, windsurf, boardsail, and explore. Mambo Number 5 excursions include a little of everything.

Ko Lipe

Situated in the Andaman Sea, Ko Lipe is a breathtaking island of Thailand located nearby the Malaysian border. It is one of the many islands that compose the Tarutao National Marine Park and is beloved for its fantastic thriving coral reefs and fine sandy beaches. The main beaches on Ko Lipe are the Pattay and hat Chao Le beaches, but beyond the shoreline, Ko Lipe offers great diving opportunities. Nearby dive sites include the 8 Mile Rock Pinnacle and the remarkable shipwreck known as Yong Hua. The best time to visit is undoubtedly festival season (May and November) which is when local islanders, called the Urak Lawoi, host incredible ceremonies, build a Rakam wood, and then float the boat according to their ceremonies and traditions.

Ko Sarai, Mueang Satun, Satun 91000, Phone: 7521-5867

Perhentian Islands

When people think of international beach destinations, locations like The Maldives, Thailand, and the Bahamas will likely come to mind. But Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s best beaches and Malaysia is definitely no exception. The Perhentian Islands is one of the best-kept secrets in Malaysia. It is composed of two islands, Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil, and is just a short drive from the busy city of Kota Bahru. Perhentian Besar is great for families on vacation and guests who want to enjoy the best and most luxurious experiences that Malaysia has to offer. Meanwhile, budget travelers and backpackers tend to favor the smaller island of Perhentian Kevil.

Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

San Blas Islands

There is no question that the San Blas Islands are among the top destinations in Panama. The islands are well known for their pristine beachfront and lively waters which are protected and stewarded fantastically by its local indigenous people, the Guna people. When visiting the San Blas Islands, it’s an absolute must to get to know the Guna culture and history. One of the best ways to do so is by seeing the crafting of traditional textiles like the Molas. Then again, there’s nothing commercial about a trip to the San Blas Islands, as most of them have no internet access, credit card payments, or even commercial hotels. Most lodges feature thatched huts, and visitors generally tend to go it cowboy style by pitching tents and hammocks. At the end of the day, this is part of what makes the islands such a remarkable place to visit.