Hidden islands you've never heard of
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Unspoiled and isolated, hidden islands are vacation bait for anyone with escapist tendencies. Protected from crowds and the stress of modern life, these retreats will allow you to become one with nature, soak up local culture, and live in paradise. So go ahead and become a castaway for a day or two. Here are 10 secret places—from the mysterious North Atlantic to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean—where you can completely surrender to island time.
Azores, Portugal
Isolated in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores, a Portuguese island chain unknown to most Americans, feels remote but is actually closer to the U.S. than any other point in Europe. Each of the nine volcanic islands—from main island Sao Miguel to the tiny isle of Corvo (population: about 400)—exudes a distinct character. But all of the islands are rooted in Old World charm and offer plenty of ways to experience local culture..
San Andre, Colombia
Want old-school Caribbean without all the resorts and glamour? Then San Andres might be for you. Part of an island chain in the Caribbean Sea about 435 miles from the Colombian mainland, San Andres boasts a rich native Raizal culture with English, Dutch, African, and Spanish influences. Locals, especially in the small village of La Loma, still converse in Creole and maintain traditions such as making handicrafts from coconut
Summer Isles, Scotland
A cafe. A post office. And a handful of snug holiday cottages. What more do you need when you truly want to get away? In the Summer Isles, a little-known archipelago of mostly deserted islands in the Scottish Highlands, crowds and modern life are out and rugged coastlines and pristine beaches are in. The largest and only inhabited isle, Tanera Mor, offers the only bit of civilization while still feeling remote.
Chiloe, Chile
The Chilean archipelago of Chiloe, near Puerto Montt at the northern edge of Patagonia, beckons with misty landscapes and ancient lore. Local Chilotes, known for their hospitality, will stir your imagination with tales of witches and ghost ships. The biggest island, Isla Grande de Chiloe, is home to seaside villages lined with colorful palafitos, wooden houses on stilts, and dozens of shingled churches.
Lord Howe Island, Australia
With no cell-phone reception and a 15-mile-per-hour speed limit (for the few allowed cars), Lord Howe Island, off the eastern coast of New South Wales, epitomizes island time in Australia. It's a short bike ride across this seven-mile-long island, so you'll have plenty of time for snorkeling at Erscott's Hole or hand-feeding large fish at Ned's Fish.
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Isle au Haut , Maine
"You can't get there from here" is a common phrase in Maine. And for hidden locales like Isle au Haut that want to remain secret, that's a good thing. Located 17 miles off Maine's rocky coast, the Penobscot Bay retreat is a quiet place to land, a place where more than half of the island (about 2,700 acres) is protected as part of Acadia National Park. James Kaiser, author of Acadia: The Complete Guide, says, "Thanks to its remote location, Isle au Haut is the perfect place to soak in the slow pace of Maine island life.
Ibo Island, Mozambique
Arab trading posts. Portuguese fortifications. Pirates and prisoners. Intrigued yet? Ibo Island in northern Mozambique may have a storied past, but it is still largely undiscovered by much of the modern world. Part of the Quirimbas Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, the island shifted from Arab to Portuguese rule until Mozambique gained independence in 1975. Arab influences are still evident in dhows (handmade wooden sailboats) now used for island-hopping and in silver filigree jewelry crafted by generations of skilled artists
Juist, East Frisian Islands, Germany
When thinking about islands, Germany rarely comes to mind. However, once discovered, Juist in the North Sea sparks the imagination. The narrow island known as Towerland, or "magic land," is the longest of the East Frisian Islands at 10.5 miles and is part of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Corn Island, Nicaragua
Free of T-shirt shops and other signs of mass tourism, the low-key Corn Islands—Big Corn and Little Corn—just off Nicaragua's Miskito Coast once lured pirates and buccaneers to their shores. Today, English is widely spoken on the islands, which were one-time British protectorates. On Big Corn, fish for snook and tarpon while listening to island tales from Captain Eddie Downs (also known as "Santa Claus" presumably for his long white beard).
Koh Rong, Cambodia
Stay in a thatched-roof bungalow and laze away the days on Koh Rong, part of a string of islands in the Gulf of Thailand, where ATMs and electricity will be as scarce as your sense of time. About 15 miles from Sihanoukville, it is the second-largest island in Cambodia, leaving plenty of room for four small villages, long stretches of untouched beach, clear waters ideal for diving and snorkeling, and a dense interior jungle of virgin forest. Trek through the island on hidden trails or hire a local fishing boat to take you around Koh Rong or to other surrounding islands.
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I think they should include Pulau Ulu...
