It’s cold, and the days are short. Who wouldn’t daydream of a tropical island getaway? Give yourself something to look forward to later this winter by booking a trip to one of these island paradises. Some, like the Galápagos, have seas to be kayaked and incredible nature to observe. Others, like the Maldives, invite you to do absolutely nothing but swim, laze, and warm your bones.
Seychelles
Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort Seychelles in Mahé and Four Seasons Resorts Seychelles at Desroches Island
The Seychelles rest in the middle of the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles east of Kenya. An archipelago of 115 islands, they’re Africa’s smallest nation and home to prehistoric, granitic beachfront landscapes, the remnants of the supercontinent Gondwana, which began to break up about 180 million years ago. (Populations of Aldabra tortoises, which can weigh up to 550 pounds and live to 150 years old, also add to the Land Before Time setting.)
Groupings of towering, primordial boulders mixed with lapis lazuli waters and wide stretches of downy sands are features of this paradise. While unrestrained display of ancient splendor defines the Seychelles’ easterly, inner islands, southern and western islands boast more familiar, low-lying sandy beaches, cloaked in coconut forests.
Head to the beaches of Bartolomé Island in the Galápagos to see hermit crabs, blue-footed boobies, and other creatures.
Courtesy of Collette
Galápagos Islands
Where to stay: on a small ship
The Galápagos Islands reign as a must for anyone into nature and rare species—and they make for a family-friendly getaway, too. Nearly 600 nautical miles west of mainland Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the highly protected islands are a living museum of natural history, where plants and animals have evolved for centuries without human interference.
The best way to experience these marvels is a small-ish cruise on ships like Aqua Expeditions’ Aqua Mare (read Afar’s full review here) or Metropolitan Touring’s Yacht La Pinta (at a more midrange price point). Each Galápagos island promises immersion in nature through hiking, snorkeling, and guided tours on land. You’re guaranteed to see incredible animals, including pink flamingos, giant tortoises, and blue-footed boobies. Invest in or borrow a great camera and solid lenses before coming because you won’t be able to stop taking photos.
More than 1,100 coral islands make up the Maldives; 200 of them are inhabited.
Photo by Mac Qin/Flickr
The Maldives
Where to stay: Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Dotted across an astoundingly blue Indian Ocean is Asia’s smallest country, an archipelago of 1,190 coralline islets; only 200 of them are inhabited. On many of these mid-oceanic specks, developers have capitalized on their natural beauty to create some of Earth’s most swoon-worthy private island resorts, with overwater accommodation and settings that are simply unreal. Many of these, including Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, spoil guests with endless water sports, sandbar picnics, snorkeling, and floating breakfasts heaving with tropical fruit.
Nature excursions are plentiful within the approximately 17,000-acre Morne Trois Pitons National Park.
Photo by evenfh/Shutterstock
Dominica
The Caribbean’s “Nature Island” brims with a rainforest, waterfalls, and emerald pools that recall Costa Rica and Hawai‘i. Plus, the island is a favorite of solo travelers. Hike the footpaths of UNESCO-recognized Morne Trois Pitons National Park to reach Earth’s second-largest boiling lake (a flooded crater warmed by molten magma below) and ice-cold but swimmable gorges.
If you like to hike, tackle a segment of the 115-mile-long Waitukubuli National Trail in search of Dominica’s 170 colorful bird species, including the endemic sisserou parrot. Dive to find undersea treasures like the Champagne Reef, which explodes with tiny bubbles from active fumaroles (where hot volcanic gas is released). A naturally occurring resident population of sperm whales (one of 22 species of whales and dolphins in Dominica’s waters) presents a unique opportunity to swim among these leviathans. Book one of 22 tree house–like villas at waterfront Secret Bay, in the northeast corner of the island.
Bali’s brilliant green rice terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Photo by Aussie Assault/Flickr
Bali
Where to stay: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Bali’s serenity is most palpable along its eastern coast and deep within its interior, two areas steeped in culture and tradition and full of Balinese Hindu temples. The banyan-fringed forests and terraced rice fields of Ubud are sprinkled with high-design resorts like Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, focused on wellness, while easterly coastal towns of Manggis, Candi Dasa, and Tenganan have a lost-in-time appeal with scenes of traditional daily village life unfolding in real time. In the south, find more typical resort offerings, a surfing scene, and Bali’s party-hard tourists.
Named after Sweden’s King Gustav III, Gustavia has shops, restaurants, and plenty of cobblestone streets.
Photo by Torrey Wiley/Flickr
St. Bart’s
Glamour and fashion converge on this 8.1-square-mile Caribbean island, channeling endless summer in St. Tropez—with a tropical, Caribbean twist. Luxury isn’t just an option here, it’s a way of life. The daily rhythm revolves around people-watching, sun-worshipping, boutique shopping, sipping pricey cocktails, savoring exquisite cuisine, sailing on (or gazing longingly at) tricked-out yachts, and mingling with other fashionistas and trendsetters.
The capital harbor city of Gustavia features shops from Europe’s most upscale brands and see-and-be-seen French-tinged restaurants, including Bonito Saint Barth and Bagatelle St. Barths, along its cobblestone streets. Meanwhile, the island’s top beaches are fronted by celeb-frequented, boutique resorts that often fetch a thousand or more per night. The 66-key Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth is a top pick, with its sleek, beachfront infinity-edge swimming pool.
Bora Bora’s stunning far-flung location in French Polynesia makes it an ultra-popular honeymoon destination.
Photo by jjjj56cp/Flickr
Bora Bora
The Society Islands, a French Polynesian archipelago, include postcard-perfect destinations like Tahiti and Bora Bora. This honeymoon favorite is synonymous with terms like “paradise” and “heaven on earth” and is home to some of the world’s most spectacular overwater bungalow resorts.
Here, admire the majesty of the 2,385-foot-tall Mount Otemanu in the distance and the Technicolor marine life in the ocean (swimming among the parrotfish, butterflyfish, and puffers). Tag on extra days to visit Mo’orea or Tahiti for a taste of French Polynesian culture, or head to the Tuamotu Archipelago for some of the best diving and snorkeling on the planet. Stay in an overwater bungalow at the Four Seasons Bora Bora, where hotel programming includes workshops run by cultural ambassador Samuel Fiu to introduce guests to Polynesian traditions.
Colorful Port of Spain is on the northwestern side of Trinidad.
Photo by Kenrick Baksh/Shutterstock
Trinidad
Trindad’s cultural endeavors may be the Caribbean’s most rewarding. During the region’s biggest Carnival—which happens in either February or March annually—hundreds of thousands celebrate in the dazzle of custom-made costumes, the soulful sounds of steel drums, the taste of seafood creoles and doubles (fried bread stuffed with curried chickpeas and topped with chutneys), and the dance fever that fills the streets.
The party never truly ends in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, thanks to a love for “liming” (hanging out), a highly social street food culture, and a penchant for catchy calypso, soca, and steelpan music. For scenic beaches, drive north of the capital for an hour and find beautiful swathes at Maracas Beach and Blanchisseuse Beach.
The natural landscapes of Lānaʻi include Polihua Beach and the Garden of the Gods.
Photo by Frederick Millett/Shutterstock
Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i is one tropical island dreamscape after another, each worthy of a “wish you were here” postcard. To really feel like you’ve stumbled upon a secret hideaway, go to Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i’s smallest inhabited island (population under 3,000). Revel in easy access to Lāna‘i’s natural beauty, including cliff-side hiking trails and famed dive sites. Among these underwater gems is Cathedrals, a collection of lava tubes that recall the appearance of stained glass.
Feel the breeze in your hair by renting a Jeep and venturing on dirt roads across windswept rocky terrain, discovering petroglyphs and desolate beaches along the way. Consider pairing Lāna‘i with a trip to Kaua‘i, aka the “Garden Island,” famed for its ridged mountains, waterfalls, and rugged canyons that you’ll recognize from Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games.
Related: The Best Hawaiian Islands to Visit for Different Kinds of Travelers
Yala National Park is the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka.
Photo by krivinis/Shutterstock
Sri Lanka
Where to stay: Anantara Kalutara Resort on a peninsula on the southwest coast; Wild Coast Tented Lodge on the southern coast near Yala National Park
Editor’s note: on November 28, 2025, Sri Lanka was devastated by a cyclone, affecting more than 1.4 million people. The WHO says “human impact has been most heavily concentrated in the central and south-central districts” of Kandy, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, and Matale. Tourism is an important contributor to the country’s economy and responsible travelers are welcome; however, be conscious of the storm’s significant damage to land and property, and locals’ difficulty in accessing clean water and food.
This island nation ticks all the travel boxes: culture, wildlife, gorgeous nature, historical pursuits, delicious food, and affordable luxury. Along the southern coast alone, discover Yala National Park (home to secretive leopards and swimming elephants), quiet palm-fringed beaches with world-class resorts, and centuries-old forts.
Toward the island’s center, explore mountainous terrain cloaked in tea plantations and a surfeit of Buddhist and Hindu temples. Wherever you go, arrive hungry for local and regional cuisine that will enliven the senses. Food highlights from a recent trip to southern Sri Lanka included spicy crab curry with pulao and coconut sambal, ridge gourd curry, and watalappam, a sweet coconut custard pudding. Sri Lanka’s top luxury properties, such as Anantara Kalutara Resort, on a peninsula on the southwest coast, or Relais & Châteaux glamping resort Wild Coast Tented Lodge, cost a fraction of those on other stunning island destinations.
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on December 22, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
