Top Ten Best Tropical Islands

July 7, 2008

I’m a beach lover. The sun and I get along quite well. One of the main purposes of my travels is to avoid winter. I’ve been to islands all over the world, though there are still some paradises this nomad has yet to see.

With my holidays coming up soon, I’m yearning for the beach. These are the ten I yearn the most for:

NomadicMatt published this list of his favorite tropical islands and it reminded me that I too have been tempted to run off and live on the beach as well. I have visited far too few beaches to justifiably list my 10 favorite beaches, but I will list 10 beaches that I want see in my lifetime. In no particular order they are:

Kalalau Beach

The island of Kauai in Hawaii harbors one of the most inaccessible beaches in the world. Kalalau Beach is can only be reached from the ocean or by walking the treacherous Kalalau Trail. The trail takes you on an 11 mile trek from Ke’e Beach. Access from the water is possible only in the summer by guide boat or kayak. A waterfall at the end of the 1 mile beach provides fresh water and a natural shower. There is a rumor that some visitors; enchanted by the beaches remoteness never left and are now living in the Kalalau Valley.

Bora Bora, Tahiti

A well known spot for scuba diving, Bora Bora is home to some of the worlds largest schools of rays. Bora Bora is also home to countless small beaches and and plenty turquoise water waiting to be explored by kayak. Accommodations on Bora Bora range from extravagant to budget, making Bora Bora accessible to everyone.

Koh Lipe, Thailand

I admit to stealing this beach from the post that inspired this one. I had never heard of Koh Lipe, but I love out of the way locations and after a little research I am hooked on this beach. Koh Lipe is actually the name of the island not a specific beach, but the entire island is small enough to walk. In fact there are no cars on Koh Lipe and only a few motorbikes. Lipe is a quiet place where nature and peace are the main attractions. Thanks for exposing me to this one Matt; I can’t wait to see it myself.

Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles

So stunningly beautiful that I had a hard time choosing only one photograph to post. Anse Source d’Argent has been named the world’s best beach by several publications and is probably the most photographed. Here, tourists are required to pay most expenses in foreign currency, so, hang on to your your dollars and euros or easier yet bring your credit card. The Seychelles in general have a reputation for being expensive, but there are good deals out there if you take the time to search.

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Punta del Diablo, Uruguay

OK; so I have been to Punta del Diablo, but it is an incredible beach town. There are actually three separate beaches facing different directions; this is one feature that makes Punta del Diablo attractive to surfers. On any given day, one of the three beaches will have good surf. Punta del Diablo is a very seasonal beach. Winter and Summer are like night and day in this little fishing village. In the winter it is quiet and secluded with about 400 residents. In the summer that number swells to around 20,000. Punta del Diablo was listed for the first time in the newest issue of Lonely Planet: South America on a Shoestring, where it was described as a “picturesque” “anti-Punta del Este.” If you decide to visit you have to check out El Diablo Tranquilo.