The World’s Best Islands Awards

I decided to take it upon myself to make traveling to the World’s Best Islands my bucketlist goal in 2019! It was mostly because I love islands (who doesn’t?!). But also to provide a solid guide to help with your future vacation or adventure planning!

I’ve now been to over 50 islands, and can definitely say which are the world’s best islands, and why! Some I liked better for solo travel, others I’d only want to do with a friend or significant other.

Some of the world’s best islands got chosen for their unique nature or cultural significance. And others for their mouthwatering luxury and photo-worthiness.

So without further ado, I present to you 35 of the world’s best islands! Categorized by what I chose them for!

World’s Best Islands for Iconic Landscapes

La Digue, Seychelles

Oh La Digue. With beach landscapes so stunning that it’s still the background image on my phone. This tiny island in the Seychelles is definitely not the easiest or cheapest island to get to, but it’s well worth whatever you spend to get there.

Those massive granite boulders casually lying amidst tropical palm trees on a white sand beach is just down right drool-worthy. Plus, another island in the Seychelles made my list as well! Making it a must-go-to bucketlist destination!

Hotel Recommendations: Four Seasons, and Maia Resort

Bazaruto, Mozambique

There was ONE reason why I wanted to go to Bazaruto, Mozambique and I was not disappointed when I saw it! I refer to them as “Mashed Potato Sandbars” because from above, they look exactly like the soft fluffy mashed potatoes with gravy swirled in them that you get from KFC.

Well, except with blue water instead of brown gravy… Anyway! What makes this landscape extra unique, are the massive red sand dunes on the island’s shores behind them! It’s one of the most peculiar things I’ve ever seen!

Another awesome thing about Bazaruto is that it’s one of the last places on earth that you can see the endangered Dugong! It’s extremely rare to see them, but since I’m an animal whisperer, I was able to spot one coming up for air on the way to the island!

Hotel Recommendation: The only hotel on Bazaruto is Anantara.

Palawan, Philippines

It’s hard to beat the stunning views of jagged rock formations jutting out of clear blue waters! El Nido, the northern tip of the island of Palawan in the Philippines has the best ones! It also has the best multi-island tour to see landscapes like this, not to mention, is the cheapest!

Close competitors to similar landscapes are Phi Phi Islands in Thailand (though there’s not nearly as many and it’s a lot more crowded), and Ha Long Bay in VIetnam, but the water there is brown.

Hotel Recommendation: La Casa Teresa Beach Resort

Kauai, Hawaii

There’s a lot of beautiful landscapes in Hawaii, but the island of Kauai takes the cake! Specifically, the Napoli Coast, where you can see waterfalls pouring down from the tops of mountains!

In fact, one of the Jurassic Park movies was filmed in the Napoli Coast, and now one of the waterfalls is named Jurassic Falls! Of course, you need a helicopter ride to see them, which only adds to the epic adventure!

Best Waters

Turks and Caicos

It was VERY hard for me to get out of the water in Turks and Caicos! Imagine sparkling, perfect temperature pool water….except no chlorine and with an endless white sandy bottom!

It’s really no wonder at all why Turks and Caicos is such a popular luxury vacation destination! But don’t worry my fellow affordable-travelers, there’s options for all budget ranges there!

No matter where you stay, DEFINITELY be sure to book a boat trip to the small islands! Iguana Island also had gorgeous clear waters, and another island is so beautiful that it’s where they shoot Victoria’s Secret campaigns!

Hotel Recommendation: Le Vele or The Gansevoort

Havelock Island, Andaman Islands

The Andaman Islands landed a spot high on my bucketlist ever since I saw a photo of an elephant swimming in the ocean there. Although my research revealed the elephant had recently passed away, I went anyway to explore the random islands (where one of them still has primitive indigenous tribes).

While the trip itself was a bit stressful since it’s not exactly easy to get there or navigate, I have to award the beach on Havelock Island with best waters! The beach is called Radhanagar, and it’s where the swimming elephant used to live. Just like in the photos, in real life, the water was as clear and beautiful!

(Note: If you’re thinking of going to the Andaman Islands, read my blog post about it first, because it’s definitely not what I expected!)

Tour Recommendation: Tour Radar 3 Islands

Rarotunga, Cook Islands

Let’s just say one of my most “liked” photos of 2019 was from Rarotunga in the Cook Islands. Rarotunga is a popular vacation destination for Europeans, and I have no clue why more American’s don’t go there especially since there’s direct flights from LA!

It’s a small island that you can drive around in a day, and stop at several beaches and viewpoints along the way. But the most stunning waters on the island are located at Muri Lagoon! You can do a boat day trip to a couple smaller islands from there, or what I’d recommend, is renting a paddleboard and gliding across those gorgeous blue waters!

Bahamas

Even though the Bahamas is thought of as overly touristy these days thanks to cruise ships, there’s no denying that they still have some of the clearest waters in the world! I mean…they are in the Caribbean after all!

Plus, you don’t have to just go to Nassau. There are hundreds of Bahamas islands including the ever-popular Exumas, which are home to the Swimming Pigs!

Most Culturally Rich

Easter Island

In case you haven’t heard me say it hundreds of times or seen my bucketlist tattoo, Easter Island is my favorite island in the World. It doesn’t have tropical beaches, or even that nice of landscapes. But what it does have, is a fascinating culture and history, that you can still see very much alive there today.

Let’s start with the iconic Moai statues (giant heads people think aliens built). It was only when I actually went there did I learn the true purpose of the giant head statues. They belonged to the cultural beliefs of the first inhabitants on the island, and were later destroyed by a second, new belief system.

You can only see them today because they’ve been restored. However the ones in the quarry (where they were all built) can be seen in their un-restored versions. That’s because they were never transported to their owners, most likely because they couldn’t pay for them.

Everything I learned about Easter Island was from a local Rapa Nui guy, who’s one of the few remaining “full blooded” locals. That being said, I also learned that it is very important to them to ONLY marry and breed with other Rapa Nui’s. Which is a shame. Because they are VERY attractive.

Cuba

Many people say Cuba is “stuck in a time capsule”, which is a more whimsical and nostalgic way of saying “they’ve been repressed by their government for over 70 years”. When you aren’t allowed to progress with the changing times of the future, it’s very easy to keep the cultural richness that’s all you know.

Sidenote: Apologies if I sound bitter-sweet; I’m a Cuban-American whose family was forced to flee Cuba, and have seen first hand from relatives there what it’s like to live in fear and under communist restrictions.

Anyway. What happens when you brainwash your people? You preserve the past culture. In Cuba you’ll find that family comes first, and people are always very welcoming and lively…despite the governmental misfortunes.

There’s a lot of dancing, a lot of rum, and a lot of time spent sitting around talking and “passing the time”. Despite what you may think though, Cuban food is not good in Cuba. How can it be? They have extremely limited imports since the U.S. (cough Trump) refuses to allow business with them.

But still it’s a place and a culture where you can see people happy with what they have, because they have no other choice!

If you want to see a cool video of Cuba then and now, check out the mini-doc I made with my grandparents photos and my own traveling back there!

Hotel Recommendation: The Nacional

Samoa Islands

Samoa gets the world’s best islands award for being culturally rich, because of how much their historical ways are still implemented today. You’ll see families’ fales (prounounced “fall-ays”) all over the island, which are basically just open-aired hut structures.

Most locals still get the traditional Samoan tattoos as well, and take part in their traditional dances.

BTW Dwayne Johnson is part Samoan, and you can see how much he loves his culture! He even featured his home town (and family!) in Samoa in his recent movie Hobbs and Shaw!

Hotel Recommendation: Coconuts Beach Club

World’s Best Islands for Natural Phenomenons

Vieques, Puerto Rico

There once was a viral photo of a beach in the Maldives that sparkled with bluish purple lights. Those lights are a natural phenomenon called bio-luminescence, and they’re actually seen the best and brightest in Vieques, Puerto Rico!

The light comes from tiny microorganisms that flare it when they think they’re in danger. That’s why if you take a kayak on a “bio-bay”, you can see a trail of lights behind it!

I know you’re probably envisioning yourself swimming in these twinkling lights or capturing an epic photo of them, but both are not exactly possible. Since the oils and sunscreens on humans contaminate the bays, you’re not allowed to swim in them. And since the lights happen so insanely fast, it’s nearly impossible to photograph them. But it’s still really cool to see!

Hotel Recommendation: Casa Flamboyant

Praslin Island, Seychelles

Yes, Seychelles wins another award! This time it’s for their island called Praslin, which is also sometimes referred to as the “Garden of Eden”. Why, you ask?

Because only on Praslin (and one other tiny island) can you find the Coco de Mer trees, that have reproductive parts that look extremely similar to those of humans. So much so, that I will forever only be able to call its seed a “butt nut”. And I 100% bought one for almost $400 and have it on display in my home.

Anyway, aside from the hilariously vulgar appearance, the butt nuts are also the heaviest seeds in the world! They empty them before selling them, and in case you’re wondering, yes, you can eat the insides. BUT! Only if a local who has a tree on their property offers it to you. It cannot be bought or sold!

Hotel Recommendation: Seychelles Guide

Flores Island, Indonesia

Flores Island gets overlooked, but it has one of the most amazing natural phenomenons that I’ve seen on an island. It takes a bit of a trek, but if you go to Kelimutu National Park, you can see three volcanic craters with three different bright colored waters in them.

And now for the more famous natural phenomenons of Flores Island; Komodo Island and Padar Island! Yes, Flores Island is where you go to take the boat tour that takes you to those two insta-worthy spots.

Padar island famous for the view from the top where you can see three beaches each with different colored sand (white, black, and pink). That being said, it also has a pink sand beach! Then Komodo Island is of course famous for being the only place where Komodo Dragons are native to. However I believe it’s currently closed due to humans destroying it.

(Sidenote: If you’re interested in going on an adventure Group Trip to Flores Island in the future, please fill out this form!)

Hotel Recommendation:

Iceland

You may have thought this list was only going to include warm tropical destinations but WRONG! Some extremely cold islands have made it as well!

Fair warning, Iceland is getting multiple awards, but rightfully so! The first award is for being the world’s best island for natural phenomenons. Originally it was going to be just because of the Northern Lights, but there’s actually so much more!

There’s the recurring phenomenon of fire and ice — volcanoes with glaciers on top of them, and waterfalls in between. Then there’s the twilight zone-esque Jokulsalaron Beach with its black sand and glacier chunks.

Oh and let’s not forget! The Silfra Fissure where you can swim in between to continents, and the Blue Lagoon where you can swim in naturally hot sediment water! If I were to ever believe aliens had anything to do with our planet, it wouldn’t be that they created the Moai heads in Easter Island, or Machu Picchu.

It would 1000% be that they plopped a piece of their planet down in the ocean and called it Iceland.

Hotel Recommendation: Central Guesthouse

Madagascar

Madagascar is a massive island-country with several reasons why it should be on the world’s best islands list. But I chose it for Natural Phenomenons because of the iconic Baobab Trees.

Baobab Trees have some of the widest circumferences in the world, and almost look as if they’ve been planted upside down. They’re also referred to as “the tree of life” due to their water storage abilities.

Other unique things about Madagascar are its lemur population, which is dwindling due to deforestation. Part of the deforestation is because of another rare feature of the island; natural sapphires and gemstones.

Tour Recommendation: WAU Madagascar

Rarest Animals

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Not going to lie, I’m a science/animal nerd and I went to Galapagos Islands to see Darwin’s Finches. I wouldn’t exactly say those are the rarest animals, but the way they evolved to adapt to the island is pretty rare.

What is really rare there though are the Blue Footed Boobies, and the black salt-water swimming iguanas. OH and the giant tortoises! I still have no idea how giant non-swimming tortoises end up on remote islands! They’re in Mauritius and Seychelles too!

Komodo Island, Indonesia

I know I already gave an award to Flores Island for best natural phenomenons, but I have to give a separate one for rarest animals to Komodo Island. Namely because it’s the only island in the world that’s native to dragons. And that’s cool.

I’ll admit they aren’t the most fascinating creature to see, and neither is their habitat. It’s a dry island with little vegetation and a lot of lizard poop. Rumor has it that the Komodo dragons are (somehow) drugged so people can get photos with them, but according to the guides, after they eat (a whole deer) they get very lethargic and can’t move.

Which is good, because they’re also known to attack people.

Tour Recommendation: Flores Island Guide

Mauritus

Technically Mauritius should not win an award for being the World’s best island for rarest animals, because its rare animal is extinct. But I still find it so fascinating that there once was a giant Dodo Bird, ONLY on this tiny island off the coast of eastern Africa!

They were flightless birds and apparently bigger than turkeys, which made them ideal for the Dutch who arrived there and were hungry. Yes. What I am saying is that the Dodo Bird went extinct because people ate them all.

Hotel Recommendation: Four Seasons

Strangest Notoriety

Jeju Island, South Korea

One of my many bucketlists was to go to all 7 Wonders of the World and 7 Wonders of Nature, which is how I ended up on Jeju Island.

It’s a small “vacation destination” with a dark history in South Korea. The natural wonder that they list as one of the seven, is an extinct volcanic crater. With absolutely nothing special about it. ESPECIALLY not compared to the volcanic crater on Easter Island where Moai statues were carved OR the volcanic craters on Flores Island with different colored waters.

So that’s the only reason why Jeju Island gets an award….for having the strangest (and unwarranted) notoriety. Cough, sounds like someone had a big marketing budget, cough cough)

Svalbard

Svalbard is straight up a strange destination in every way shape and form. It’s strange notoriety is being the Northernmost city in the world, and also having “more polar bears than people”.

It’s also strange that it has absolutely 0 native people. Well, I guess not considering it’s an arctic archipelago and you’re not allowed to be born there because they don’t have the proper medical services for child birth.

Svalbard was so strange that I made an entire blog post about all the peculiar things there. Feel free to check it out and have your mind blown.

Hotel Recommendation: Radisson Blu Polar Hotel

Deception Island, Antarctica

The name itself is chilling, and to be honest, the place is a little creepy itself! Not only is it a volcanic island in Antarctica (mind. blown.) with steam rising from its black sand beaches. But it’s also a whaling ghost-town!

You can see remnants of whale skeletons from when whaling was a popular (and legal) trade. And the creepiest of all; the abandoned headquarters for the whalers, including the massive contraptions they used to extract the oil from the blubber.

Expedition Recommendation: Quark

World’s Best Islands for Solo Travelers

Bali

It may seem cliche or over-done, but take it from someone who has traveled solo for six years. Bali is one of the best destinations on Earth to do it.

Not only are there TONS of other solo travelers there, but many expats as well! It’s easy to both meet other travelers, and get away from them too! There’s so much to see and explore, and it’s super easy and safe to do on your own!

Not to mention, it’s SUPER cheap and you really get a bang for your buck there!

Hotel Recommendation: Maca Villas and Spa

Malta

If you want adorable old towns with cobble stone streets, but also some stunning blue water, you need to go to Malta! This island country is absolutely charming and an adventure you will definitely love to do as a solo traveler!

You can rent a car and drive the entire island yourself, plus take a ferry to the smaller Gozo island as well. Affordable accommodation is available, food is amazing, people are friendly, and it’s easy to navigate.

Malta definitely wins the award for one of the world’s best islands for solo travel!

Hotel Recommendation: Casa Rustika

Koh Tao, Thailand

If you want to travel solo in the Thailand Islands, I’d definitely say to do it in Koh Tao. The island is small, and home to many expats, so it’s totally normal to be traveling solo there. I say that in comparison to some Southeast Asian islands where you don’t feel as welcome as a solo traveler. Like in the Philippines where EVERYONE asks WHY you’re alone.

Anyway, Koh Tao has tons of cheap places to stay, even cheaper food, and tons of fun activities to do. It’s an extremely popular scuba diving hub, where you can learn and get certified if you aren’t already! Fair warning, a lot of people fall in love with diving there and end up staying and working as scuba instructors!

Hotel Recommendation: Big Blue Diving

Iceland

I tried really hard not to give one island multiple awards as the world’s best islands, but Iceland just wins my heart. There’s just SO MUCH cool stuff to see, and it’s relatively easy to do since there’s only one road around the entire country/island.

It’s also very safe and relatively easy to navigate on your own. But that being said, I say it’s the best solo travel destination if you’re Ok with being mostly alone. In my experience, both the locals and other tourists (that’s tourists NOT travelers) are not friendly and sometimes even rude.

In fact, it was my time traveling solo in Iceland that triggered me to write my viral Huff Post article, “Yes, I’m Pretty and I’m Traveling Alone”! It was because other tourists kept making remarks about me inferring that I was a prostitute because I was dressed cute and alone! …Ok so maybe I’ll take this one off the list….

Pssst hey solo travelers! Get my FREE GUIDE of over 50 Bucketlist Destinations for Solo Travelers here!

Best for Couples/Honeymoons

Santorini, Greece

So cliche, I know. But so true! To be honest, I went to Santorini solo and was so romanticized by it that I seriously WISHED I was there on a honeymoon! So much so that I started a second Instagram account (@alyssaramostravels) to entertain myself while I was alone LMAO!

Yes, it’s pricey to stay in one of the famous blue and white cave suites that overlook the ocean. But if it’s your honeymoon, I feel like that’s a good excuse to splurge! I don’t know why but something about all of the blue and white is just so whimsical!

Hotel Recommendation: Traditional Cave Hotels

The Maldives

Another cliche no-brainer for a honeymoon destination, but one that rightfully gets an award for it! I’d say the Maldives has the world’s best honeymoon resorts and I doubt anyone would disagree! Seriously though, what’s more romantic than an epic over-water bungalow on a remote island?!

If the Maldives are your dream destination but you don’t have a dream budget, don’t worry! There are local islands with homestays that are SUPER cheap, and you can take a ferry to get to them! …But like…maybe still splurge for one night at the fancy resort!

Hotel Recommendation: Shangri La

Zanzibar, Tanzania

If you’re looking for a truly unique honeymoon experience on a tropical island, put Zanzibar on your radar!

You can choose between top luxury resorts, or budget accommodations, there’s options for both! Plus beautiful beaches, tantalizing spice gardens, and delicious food options!

I don’t have a blog post itinerary for Zanzibar yet, but if you’re looking for a DOPE resort recommendation, I’d highly suggest Tulia!

Hotel Recommendation: Tulia, Melia

Best for Expats/Digital Nomads

Bali, Indonesia

Full disclosure, I am obsessed with Bali and will probably be moving there to be an expat/digital nomad in the near future! After going there about eight times, it’s one place other than the U.S. that I could see myself living! Which is why it get the award for world’s best islands for expats/digital nomads!

Not only is the expat community large and thriving, but the country makes it easy for foreigners to live there. Housing is nice and super affordable, and there’s enough hip and trendy city centers to keep you from ever feeling homesick!

Ambergris Caye, Belize

Ambergris Caye is a tiny island off the coast of Belize known for being a popular tourist destination. And do you know who owns a lot of the properties that the tourists stay in? Expats!

Belize is actually known for being one of the top countries for foreigners to retire in! Costs of housing and living is cheap, and of course, it’s a beautiful tropical area!

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

If you want to live that Caribbean island life without feeling too stranded, Isla Mujeres is where you want to be! Located just a short ferry ride from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a vibrant little island that’s always bustling with visitors.

It’s neighboring city on land, Playa del Carmen, is actually my second pick for best expat destination in the world! So in case you don’t want to live on an island, you can always be a digital nomad from Playa, and hop over to Isla Mujeres on the weekends!

Cheapest to Travel

Roatan, Honduras

There’s a little island off the coast of Honduras called Roatan that’s incredibly beautiful, and incredibly cheap!

You can stay in cute little bungalows nestled in the jungle-cliffsides that overlook the water for under $50 per night! Since it’s still developing, you won’t see any over-crowding of tourists, but you probably will see a lot of monkeys!

Hotel Recommendation: Anthony’s Key

Corfu, Greece

Corfu is a backpacker’s dream island! Seriously, that’s what it’s known for! And there can only be one reason why backpackers love a specific island so much; it’s cheap, and it’s beautiful!

If you’re just starting out on your travel adventures, this is a GREAT place to start! You especially must stay at The Pink Palace! You’ll quickly notice the majority of the people working at the hostels and restaurants are expats. And there’s a good chance they came to visit, and never left!

Hotel Recommendation: The Pink Palace

Dominican Republic

Despite the recent news of a certain hotel in Dominican Republic where multiple people died of the same cause (yet the hotel said they were unrelated or responsible), it’s still one of the cheapest islands to travel to.

Dominican Republic is notorious for its All Inclusive resorts, which are mostly super affordable! While the initial price per night might seem like a lot, if you factor in unlimited meals and drinks, it’s definitely a good deal!

Most Expensive to Travel

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Ah the original token honeymoon destination. Just saying the name Bora Bora sounds dreamy…and also expensive. You won’t find many affordable accommodation options on this island, but if you’re willing to splurge, it’s totally worth it!

Here’s a little secret though; Bora Bora has an up and coming sister island called Mo’orea! It’s pretty much the same, and drastically cheaper!

Hotel Recommendation: St. Regis

Desroches Island, Seychelles

You can only stay on Desroches Island in the Seychelles, if you’re staying at the Four Seasons that was recently built there. Oh and you have to fly there from the main island.

The new Four Seasons Desroches Island definitely is fabulous, with cleverly decorated villas each with their own infinity pools and beachfronts. If you want the upmost poshness and seclusiveness, and have money to burn, you’d love Desroches Island.

Hotel Recommendation: Four Seasons (only hotel on the island)

Maui, Hawaii

It shouldn’t really be that shocking that one of the most expensive islands in the world is a part of the U.S. Actually, fun fact, the U.S. in general is more expensive than the majority of the places I’ve traveled to!

Anyway, Hawaii is expensive AF. Whether it’s because the U.S. is expensive in general, because it’s extremely remote, or because it’s so popular to travel to. There’s no real way of getting around the expensiveness.

Hotel Recommendation:

Most Remote

Most of my list of Most Remote islands have already been mentioned above. I just wanted to show you a map of where the most remote ones are!

Some I’ve pointed out that aren’t named on this map are the Maldives (below India), Andaman Islands (in between India and Thailand), and Svalbard (near the North Pole)!

As always, if you enjoyed the information here and effort I put into my posts, PLEASE share them! That’s how I’m able to maintain my blog and keep giving free travel info and tips!