P


aradise, we’re often told, is a tropical island: cerulean waters lapping alabaster sands and chic beach bars shaded by palms. Destinations like Hawaii, Mauritius and the Maldives


have long defined this exotic idyll with their overwater villas and lavish resorts, but a quieter kind of escape exists beyond these familiar names. Some promise once-in-a-lifetime wildlife


encounters — tiny atolls where sharks gather and turtles nest — while others lure travellers with rainforest-wrapped peaks and black-sand beaches shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. And then there are those that offer the chance to step into the kind of slow, relaxed ways of life that are increasingly rare in the modern world. What unites them is a raw magnetism: the draw of isolation and the opportunity to explore a corner of the world few travellers will ever reach. Yes, reaching these places can take time and commitment, but the payoff is often clear waters, wild landscapes and deep cultural encounters. Scattered across the globe, from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, here are seven lesser-known tropical islands to have on your radar.


Havelock Island, Andaman Islands Notoriously far-flung yet surprisingly accessible, the Andaman Islands span more than 550 tropical isles in the east of the Bay of Bengal. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) is the standout — a reef-ringed idyll where mangroves, marine life and traces of the region’s layered history meet. Most travellers immediately make for


Radhanagar Beach, ranked among Asia’s best thanks to its sugar-white sands and calm, glassy waters, but Havelock’s interior is equally impressive. By day, glide through the jewel-green mangrove channels, threading your kayak beneath tangled roots and spotting wildlife hiding in the shadows. As night falls, the same waters come alive with bioluminescence — each paddle stroke igniting electric flashes of green and blue. Further inland, Japanese Second World War bunkers lie half-swallowed by jungle, silent markers of wartime conflict. Those travelling via Port Blair shouldn’t miss the historic prison Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, a stark reminder of Andaman’s colonial history and its political prisoners. WHEN TO GO: Visit between November and April for dry weather and calmer waters.


Bazaruto Island, Mozambique Often dubbed the ‘Galápagos of the Indian Ocean’, Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago is a dazzling reminder of just how biodiverse tropical waters can be. This protected marine national park covers more than 550sq miles of coral gardens, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows — the latter supporting the last viable dugong population in the Western Indian Ocean. Base yourself on Barazuto Island, where morning


Left: The waters at Guimbitayan Beach on Malapascua are clear and calm, ideal for swimming and snorkelling


boat trips offer the chance to spot these gentle giants while learning about the conservation efforts underway to protect them. Then, head to Two Mile Reef on a scuba or snorkelling trip for kaleidoscopic displays of fish, rays and the occasional whale shark. Above the waterline, Bazaruto’s soaring 90-metre sand dunes — among the largest on any barrier island — melt into palm-fringed beaches that are home to several species of nesting turtles. WHEN TO GO: Visit between June and September to spot whale sharks and nesting turtles.


Malapascua Island, Philippines Dive beneath the waves surrounding this tiny island off the northeastern tip of Cebu to meet its most famous residents — thresher sharks. These long- tailed predators are known for their elusive nature, spending most of their time hunting at depths far greater than those accessible to recreational divers. At Malapascua’s Monad and Kimud Shoal dive sites, however, sightings are all but guaranteed. Here, the sharks make frequent trips up to the shallows to visit ‘cleaning stations’, where various species of wrasse congregate to rid them of parasites. Join an early morning dive for the best chance


of an encounter — the sharks’ eyesight is light- sensitive due to time spent at depth — and keep your eyes peeled for manta rays, tiger sharks and hammerheads, too. A PADI Advanced Open Water qualification is advised, as the stations still sit at depths of 20 to 30 metres. WHEN TO GO: Visit between March and May for the best weather and driest skies.


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – ISLANDS COLLECTION 7


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