Hollywood scouts were on to something when they skipped over Mykonos and chose a secret island in Greece as the location for Mamma Mia.
The movie was a $600-million hit, in part because it fueled peoples’
fantasies of escaping to a secluded island (and yes, those catchy ABBA
tunes didn’t hurt).
Surprisingly, that picture-perfect movie
location, Skopelos, has stayed under the radar. When you hop off the
ferry, you’ll be wowed by the view of the shimmering Aegean Sea, the
island’s tile-roofed tavernas, and a decided lack of travelers.
There are still gems like Skopelos hidden all around the globe, if you know where to look. T+L
editors have done the hunting for you to uncover secret islands where
you can truly unwind, from the rugged Chilean spot that inspired the
novel Robinson Crusoe to a tiny island in the Caribbean that was virtually deserted for decades until a luxe resort opened in 2010.
Similar high-end resorts have been popping up
across Southeast Asia, where many islands are vying to be the next
Phuket. So those looking to get far off the grid head to Con Dao, an
archipelago 110 miles off Vietnam’s southeastern coast. Sheer granite
cliffs border deserted beaches and crystal-blue water, and a private
guide can lead you by motorbike to remote spots like the spectacular Dam
Tre Bay lagoon.
Diving enthusiasts should opt instead for the
secret island of Mabul, off the northeastern coast of Malaysia, where
the marine life is on a par with the Galapagos. Even better, the native
sea moths, bobtail squids, and elusive paintpot cuttlefish are some of
the only inhabitants.
Travelers looking to commune with nature can
also find solitude on Nicaragua’s acre-wide Jicaro Island on freshwater
Lake Nicaragua. The nine casitas at Jicaro Island Ecolodge were built
from storm-felled trees, and all the food is locally sourced; you can
sip a passion-fruit-banana cocktail as you sit by the infinity pool.
Prefer something closer to home? On
Washington’s Lummi Island, a nine-square-mile oasis on Puget Sound, you
can sample the region’s bounty (net-caught salmon, spot prawns) while
watching orcas ply the waters.
Whatever your daydream, you’ll find a destination to match by checking out our slideshow of secret islands around the world.
Vietnam: Con Dao
Phu Quoc might be hailed as the next Phuket, but those looking to get far off the grid head to this undiscovered archipelago just 110 miles off Vietnam’s southeastern coast. A 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City brings you to Con Son, the largest (and only inhabited) member of the 16-island chain. Here, sheer granite cliffs border deserted beaches and crystal-blue water—imagine a tropical Amalfi Coast without the crowds. Up until now, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a decent place to stay, but the arrival of the Six Senses Con Dao (Dat Doc Beach; 84-64/383-1222; sixsenses.com; villas from $685) has brought a welcome dose of luxury to the island. Standing along a stretch of golden sand are 50 airy villas (some with private pools) that look out onto the South China Sea. Food is a highlight here. In classic Six Senses style, the hotel’s Vietnamese restaurant is set up to resemble a market; there are separate stalls “hawking” noodles and rolls, while made-to-order dishes are cooked outside in charcoal-fueled woks. You may be tempted to never leave the resort, but the 20-square-mile island is well worth exploring. Hire a private guide from the hotel, who will bring you via motorbike to the area’s most remote spots, including a 19th-century hilltop lighthouse and the spectacular Dam Tre Bay lagoon.
T+L Tip: Take a boat trip to
Bay Canh Island to view endangered hawksbill turtles during nesting
season (May through September), arranged by the hotel.
Indonesia: Gili Trawangan
Searching for the Bali of, say, 1970? Head to Gili Trawangan, a tiny island near Lombok dotted with countless waterside cafés. No motorized traffic is allowed here—the best way to get around is to rent a bicycle or use your own two feet. The daily agenda involves nothing more than fishing, diving, or kicking back with a cold beer at Scallywag (South Beach; 62-370/645-301; lunch for two $30). On the southern coast, Hotel Vila Ombak (hotelombak.com; doubles from $150) has 115 airy oceanfront rooms.
T+L Tip: Hop the ferry to Mount Rinjani (lombokmarine.com; tours from $225), an active volcano on Lombok
Portugal: Pico
When Columbus made his expedition in 1492, Pico was considered a last outpost before you, well, fell off the earth—and it remains virtually unknown. It’s a shame, what with wines unlike anywhere else, and footpaths that weave through beautifully eerie landscapes of lava. In the middle of a Unesco-designated vineyard is the Pocinhobay (Pocinho-Monte; 351/292-629-135; pocinhobay.com; doubles from $238), where six basalt bungalows take in views of the Atlantic.
T+L Tip: For dinner, head to Ancoradouro (Areia Larga; 351/292-623-490; dinner for two $45) to sample regional specialties such as polvo guisado (stewed octopus).
Sweden: Sandön
There’s a reason mystery writer Stieg Larsson chose Sandön as a setting for his popular Millennium thriller trilogy: the island is covered in a forest of moss and pine trees, and a light fog shrouds the windblown beaches. Check in to the modern Sands Hotell (46-8/5715-3020; sandshotell.se; doubles from $298), just steps from the harbor in Sandön’s only town, Sandhamn. At Sandhamns Värdshus (46-8/5715-3051; dinner for two $100), chef Henrik Lepistö whips up classic Swedish dishes such as house-marinated herring and pytt i panna, a traditional hash with fried egg and beets.
T+L Tip: Rent a mountain bike from Sandhamnsguiderna (46-8/640-8040; sandhamnsguiderna.se; bikes for two $60) and pedal through the forest to Trouville, Sandön’s best stretch of sand.
British Virgin Islands: Scrub Island
The name may suggest otherwise, but a trip here hardly constitutes roughing it. Once a pit stop for explorers, it’s been virtually uninhabited for decades—until last year, when the luxe Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (877/890-7444; scrubisland.com; doubles from $375) opened its doors. What to expect? Spacious hillside villas, guided trips to nearby Norman Island, and sunset nature hikes.
T+L Tip: Reserve Honeymoon Beach (accessible only by boat) for a picnic à deux.
Greece: Skopelos
A one-hour ferry ride from Skiathos, the island of Skopelos is so picture-perfect (hidden coves; blue-roofed tavernas; hundreds of Byzantine-era churches) that Hollywood chose its Kastani Beach as a set for Mamma Mia. At the just-renovated Adrina Beach Hotel (Panormos; 34-24240/23371; adrina.gr; doubles from $98), the 49 pastel-colored rooms face the pine-tree-studded coastline, strewn with daybeds. Later this year, the same owners will debut the more upscale Adrina Resort & Spa (Panormos; 30-24240/23371; theresort.gr; doubles from $110), with 16 terraced rooms and 22 villas that look out onto the turquoise Aegean.
T+L Tip: After a dinner of grilled lamb at garden-side Perivoli (Skopelos Town; 30-24240/23758; dinner for two $60), walk to open-air Mercurius Bar & Café (Skopelos Town; 30-24240/24593; drinks for two $12), or the hillside Ouzeri Anatoli (Skopelos Town; 30-24240/22851; drinks for two $12), for live rebetika music.
Belize: Caye Caulker
There’s nary a traffic light on this laid-back island—a five-mile strip of land that’s a 15-minute flight from Belize’s main airport. Head to Shark Ray Alley to snorkel among nurse sharks and stingrays or go scuba diving at the underwater caves of Blue Hole. Aboveground, try the curried lobster at the roadside Jolly Roger’s Grill (Ave. Hicaco; 011-501/664-3382; dinner for two $25). On the eastern side of the Caye, Seaside Cabanas (501/226-0498; seasidecabanas.com; doubles from $105) has 10 rooms and six colorful cabins, each with its own roof terrace for taking in those amazing Caribbean views.
T+L Tip: Visit during the annual Lobster Festival (July 1–3), when the main road turns into a street party.
Bahamas: Sampson Cay and Exuma Cays
Partially protected from commercial activity since 1959, the Exuma Cays are normally the domain of cruisers—and a few privileged landowners such as Johnny Depp. But guests at Sampson Cay have access to the area’s thriving patch reefs and isolated islets. At the Sampson Cay Club (877/633-0305; sampsoncayclub.com; doubles from $275), the five modest villas include wide patios that are perfect for watching the sunset. While the limestone karst terrain may be rugged, every path ends on a stretch of secluded white sand.
T+L Tip: Rent a Boston Whaler from the hotel (from $250 per day) to tour the surrounding islands
Iceland: Flatey
Don’t expect to see much night sky here: in summer, daylight shines for up to 21 hours on this rocky one-mile hideaway in Breiðafjörður Bay. Lush meadows and multicolored timber houses dot the scenery, and the mainland’s Snæfellsjökull volcano is always within eyeshot. In town, Hotel Flatey (354/555-7788; hotelflatey.is; doubles from $180) stays true to simple Scandinavian design (blond-wood furniture; whitewashed walls), and the downstairs restaurant turns into a live-concert venue for local talent at night.
T+L Tip: Swing by Iceland’s oldest (and smallest) library, built in 1864.
