Exotic Island Vacations
There are so many exotic islands in the world that it can be difficult to decide which to visit. Certain islands are famed for the traditions and rituals of its inhabitants, while others are known for the exoticism of the plants, wildlife or landscape. Whatever your choice, do sufficient research before you start making plans. While most islands look pretty in advertisements, some have many more cultural attractions than others.
Maldives Islands
The Maldives Islands provide the quintessential exotic island experience. You can expect to find crystalline green-blue waters, sparkling white sand beaches, an abundance of palm trees and lush vegetation.
islands are located in the Indian Ocean, about 435 miles from Sri Lanka, and consist of 26 atolls (coral reefs and sandbars), most of which offer hotel accommodations.
The islands have many cultural attractions as well, including concerts featuring the local percussion music called bodu beru, the National Museum, and the Local Market and Fish Market, both of which are located in the Maldives’ capital, Malé.
Fiji Islands
The beautiful Fiji Islands are located in the South Pacific. There are 333 (mostly uninhabited) islands, the largest and most popular of which are Viti Levu and Vannua Levu.
The recreational activities on these islands seem boundless: snorkeling, diving, deep-sea fishing, surfing, bird-watching, island hopping and sailing are among the many possibilities.
Tourists in Viti Levu should also take the time to visit the Orchid Island Fijian Cultural Centre, which highlights native traditions and houses cultural artifacts.
You should also visit the Kalevu South Pacific Cultural Centre, which provides demonstrations of traditional Fijian dances, meals, rituals (including fire walking) and craft making.
Fiji has been the scene of some political unrest in the past decade, so check with the State Department’s travel advisories (travel.state.gov/travel/) on the current situation before you travel.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a cluster of 61 rocky islands and islets in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The islands are famous for inspiring Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection and for being home to an astonishing number of plant and animal species found only in this part of the world.
Despite the islands’ fairly remote location, every year thousands of tourists travel there to observe the exotic flora and wildlife. The Galapagos are accessible by air and boat, and there are dozens of hotels on the 13 islands that are inhabited.
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