7 lesser-known tropical islands to have on your radar

Paradise, 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.

1. 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 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.

2. Dominica, Caribbean

Known locally as ‘Nature Island’, Dominica is a wonderland of winding gorges, steaming sulphurous springs and lush forests, all fit for adventure. Stretching 115 miles, the Waitukubuli National Trail — the Caribbean’s longest hiking route — is the ultimate way to experience the island’s rugged interior, whether you tackle a single stage or all 14. Its newer counterpart, the Waitukubuli Sea Trail, brings the same sense of exploration offshore. The region’s first dedicated sea kayaking route, this 40-mile journey along the island’s east coast allows paddlers to glide through mangrove-lined channels, discover hidden coves and snorkel among turtles at iconic spots like Champagne Beach, where underwater fumaroles let out streams of fine bubbles.

Back on land, Rosalie Bay Distillery offers a different taste of island life. This conservation-focused operation produces single cane juice rum made from fresh sugarcane rather than molasses, with proceeds supporting the non-profit organisation Oceans Forward. Visit for a tour to learn about the distilling process, before trying the rum for yourself.

When to go: Visit between December and April to avoid rainy season.

3. 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.

4. Efate Island, Vanuatu

Emerald hills, palm-fringed beaches and turquoise lagoons set the scene for adventure on Efate, an island at the heart of Vanuatu’s 80-strong archipelago (located between Fiji and the Solomon Islands). Despite its somewhat lengthy travel times, Efate is surprisingly family-friendly: a compact, easy-to-navigate island with plenty of activities to keep all ages entertained.

Base yourself in the capital, Port Vila, and spend action-packed days snorkelling off Hideaway Island, exploring the natural pools of Mele Cascades, zip-lining through the jungle or witnessing the underwater world from a glass-bottomed boat. Families can also join guided reef walks at low tide, try standup paddleboarding in sheltered lagoons or take a short boat trip to spot dolphins frolicking offshore.

Alternatively, turn your attention to everyday life by meeting traders and artisans at Port Vila’s busy market, or head to Ekasup Cultural Village for local music, traditional dance and insights into Melanesian culture. A good choice of modern, family-friendly resorts makes Efate an easy base. The island is also home to Vanuatu’s main international airport — with direct connections from Australia — which adds to its appeal.

When to go: Visit between May and October for milder temperatures and gentler waters.

5. 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.

6. El Hierro, Canary Islands

In the far south west of the Canary Islands’ archipelago, El Hierro feels worlds away from the resort-cluttered coasts of its more famous neighbours. Its commitment to conservation is reflected in the fact that the entire island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, and its dramatic volcanic interior is best explored on foot. Weave between wind-warped juniper trees, cool off in lava-formed rockpools and climb to Malpaso for sweeping views across the Atlantic to sister islands.

Offshore, the marine reserve at La Restinga is one of Europe’s premier dive sites, where volcanic seabeds, underwater arches and crystal-clear waters attract rays, turtles and shoals of barracuda. El Hierro is also a refuge for the El Hierro giant lizard, a critically endangered species with a long, sinuous tail and glossy scales. Spot some at the Lagarto Gigante Recovery Centre in La Frontera, where tours detail the island’s conservation efforts.

The same volcanic soils that sustain this fragile wildlife also shape El Hierro’s distinctive wines and cheeses. In the evenings, sample smoky queso ahumado and bold red vintages at Tanajara Winery, one of Europe’s most southwesterly vineyards. And after sunset, don’t forget to look up — El Hierro’s skies are made for stargazing.

When to go: Visit in spring or autumn for quiet trails and mild weather.

7. Jeju Island, South Korea

The South Korean island of Jeju serves up a full four seasons of natural beauty in film-like fashion — snow-capped peaks in winter, king cherry blossoms in spring, sun-soaked beaches in summer and a blaze of fiery foliage across its volcanic peaks in autumn. The best way to explore it is on the Jeju Olle Trail, a 270-mile network of over 20 connected hiking routes, modelled on the famous Camino de Santiago. Following much of the coastline, the trail threads through Hallasan National Park — home to South Korea’s tallest peak — and the ancient lava woodlands of Gotjawal Forest.

Base yourself in one of the island’s two main cities — the smaller, greener city of Seogwipo in the south, or the capital, Jeju, in the north. In the latter, visitors can feast on seafood specialities gathered by the island’s Haenyeo (‘sea women’). Added to Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, these female free-divers — many in their seventies and eighties — spend hours collecting shellfish for use in local restaurants. Their extraordinary skill and endurance have been passed down through generations, while their work continues to shape Jeju’s matriarchal traditions and coastal cuisine.

When to go: Visit in late March to early April to see the Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival. Shoulder seasons of spring and autumn offer the best conditions for hiking.