Underrated Islands Around The World To Add To Your Bucket List
By SANJAY SURANA
Located hundreds of miles from the Seychelles' main island, this atoll of four small islands doesn't have lodging or inhabitants and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aldabra
The islands wrap around a gorgeous lagoon of clear turquoise water with hundreds of endemic plants and animals. Government-approved visitors can come on a "live-aboard vessel."
The construction of the Panama Canal created Gatun Lake, the home of Barro Colorado, an island run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
Barro Colorado
Travelers can arrange a visit to hike through pristine rainforests and have the chance to spot toucans, howler monkeys, and hundreds of types of butterflies.
Also called Tenedos, this charming Turkish island in the Aegean Sea has managed to evade mass tourism and retains an aura of yesteryear.
Bozcaada
Wander cobbled streets, explore castles, sip a glass of white at the wineries, or watch the spellbinding sunsets on the beach. An annual jazz festival is held in September.
This relatively unknown island in the Caribbean has a jagged coastline and forested hills, with plush accommodations, from independent villas to high-end resorts.
Canouan
The sea is clear, warm, calm, and kissed by striking soft-sand beaches. A great reef is just offshore, allowing some excellent snorkeling excursions.
Located in Chile, south of Santiago, this island boasts natural attractions and manmade miracles, including 16 UNESCO World Heritage Site churches.
Chiloé
Built in the 1600s, the architecturally striking churches are notable for their unique construction. Brightly painted houses on stilts, or "palafitos," sit on the costal waters.
Outdoor adventurers will love the many great spots for kayaking and hiking in Chiloé National Park. Seafood is abundant and showcased in a beloved local dish called "curanto."