Dream islands to travel once in a lifetime

With

and synonymous with "

", in the different continents there are islands in front of which no one could resist the temptation to travel

It is enough to mention the Maldives, the Seychelles or French Polynesia to immediately associate them with the tourist concept of

”, total rest and, for many, romantic vacations.

At the same time, because they are quiet havens away from the crowds, with turquoise sea, white sand and super luxurious resorts, they are often chosen by international

and/or millionaires to rest.

The famous Maldives overwater bungalows.

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Next, the postcards of 

, to dream of going -at least- once in your life.

1) Maldives

An island, a resort.

As with Polynesia, the most famous photo of the Maldives is that of its

.

In 

 on the

and southwest of India and Sri Lanka, the Maldives are 1,190 coral islands (200 are inhabited), distributed in 26 atolls.

That is to say, in large coral structures, separated by lagoons that form an incredible landscape.

Some 500,000 people live on the populated islands, most of whom profess Islam and are concentrated in the capital, Malé.

The Maldives islands and their villas on stilts over the sea.

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In the Maldives,

, and it is one of the main destinations for scuba diving enthusiasts due to the great beauty of its coral reefs and the richness of its marine life.

The hotels offer their guests snorkeling equipment, since the waters are crystal clear and warm.

In the same way, those who can dive in the Maldives will never forget it: among others, the largest species include the whale shark, manta ray and white tip shark.

This is an ideal destination for honeymoons or vacations as a couple, offering guests to relax and enjoy an absolutely idyllic setting, alternating between the beach, the pool, and the jacuzzi.

They even offer an excursion to spend a whole day on a deserted island.

But it is recommended to take advantage of the trip to practice water sports such as Stand Up Paddle, kitesurfing, windsurfing or kayaking and canoeing.

The best months to travel to the islands are from November to April, since there is less chance of rain, there is less wind and the days are sunnier.

The Maldives islands promote snorkeling and scuba diving.

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It is not an exaggeration to say that the Maldives is

, since they try to obtain the maximum income with the minimum number of tourists to take care of the environmental impact.

Once travelers arrive at Male airport, they usually take a seaplane or speedboat to the island where they are staying.

"The sunny side of life", reads the official Malvinas slogan, which recommends these experiences:

over the islands, having

with your body submerged in an infinity pool, staying in a villa on the water, go to a

, sleep in a transparent bubble in

, boat fishing, cinema under the stars and plant an underwater coral.

How much:

• Package of 4 nights in June, $807,000 per person in a 3-star hotel with breakfast, flights and transfers (Despegar.com).

• 7 all-inclusive nights at Riu Atoll, with airfare, Sea Plane transfers and travel assistance, US$6,855 + US$860 taxes per person until March 2023 (deTurista.com).

2) Seychelles

On the

, northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands with about 100,000 inhabitants.

Being a melting pot of cultures that mixed since the first settlement in 1770, the three main islands -of the 30 that are inhabited- are Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

English, French and Seychelles Creole are spoken there.

The Seychelles islands, on the African continent.

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While Mahé is home to the capital Victoria, a city with a colonial imprint, Praslin is 12 km long and has beautiful beaches, such as the famous Anse Lazio.

With huge granite rocks, palm trees and open sea, La Digue Island invites you to visit, as its Anse Source d'Argent beach is one of the most photographable in the world.

To see the giant tortoises you have to go to Aldabra Island.

With more than a meter in length and 250 kilos, these amazing animals have a sanctuary in this atoll, which is the second largest in the world and a World Heritage Site.

Although some 150,000 tortoises live there, for those who see them but without traveling so much, they can go to the island of Curieuse, 1.5 km north of Praslin, where there is a hatchery with about 300 specimens of this giant species.

A postcard of Mahé, in the Seychelles.

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For lovers of diving, the right place is Saint Pierre: its warm waters offer the possibility of diving throughout the year, although the best time is from November to May, when the climate is wetter and the temperatures are higher.

The sea is more transparent on those dates and visibility can reach a depth of 30 meters.

You can see rays, white tip sharks, turtles, lion fish and, depending on the season, even the great whale shark.

You can go to the beach all year round in Seychelles, but the best months are April (the calmest and warmest), May, October and November.

In gastronomy, the fusion of French cuisine with the spicy flavors and exotic combinations of the East stands out.

The beauty of the Seychelles islands.

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How much:

• 4-night package in June, $882,000 per person in a 4-star hotel with breakfast, including flights (Despegar.com).

• 9 nights with breakfast on different islands, airfare, transfers and medical assistance, US$2,950 and US$900 taxes per person based on double (deTurista.com).

3) Phuket, Thailand

Movie landscapes.

In

and on the Andaman Sea, Phuket province is the largest island in this country in

.

Being a large island, Phuket is surrounded by many beautiful beaches such as Rawai, Patong, Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai, Kata Noi and Mai Khao.

Diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing are offered in almost all of them.

Sea and beach in paradise Phuket.

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A fact to keep in mind: the northern beaches are quieter than the southern ones.

Laem Phromthep, nicknamed “Laem Chao”, is located at the southernmost point of the island.

It is famous for its impressive sunset scenery.

From the edge of the cliff, a line of palm trees slopes down to the end of the cape, which features rocky reefs and Ko Kaeo Phitsada Island looms ahead.

Strolling through Phuket Old Town is one of the favorite activities for tourists to explore the diversity of ethnicities and religions.

In the south, Ko Racha is made up of two islands: Ko Racha Noi and Ko Racha Yai, with white sand beaches and crystal clear water.

In the middle of nature, diving enthusiasts spend the night, while Ko Racha Noi is a place only for professional divers.

In this area you can see manta rays and white sharks.

Stunning scenery in Phuket, southern Thailand.

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To the southeast, Ko Mai Thon is a small island, rich in natural beauties and with very beautiful beaches.

In addition to the crowded Patong Beach, it is recommended to go to Hat Nai Yang in Sirinath National Park.

Along with a garden of pine trees, the beach is ideal for swimming over coral reefs and a wide variety of species such as sea turtles.

The best time to go is between October and March for the weather and water temperature for diving.

Must-sees: sailing in a typical boat through the Bay of Phang Nga, snorkeling in Koh Hong Krabi, traveling by speedboat through the Andaman Sea to the six scenic Phi Phi Islands, visiting Maya Bay (restricted visits. It was the scene of the famous film The Beach), and visit three traditional cities (Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai).

The idyllic beaches of the island of Phuket, in Thailand.

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How much:

• Package of 4 nights in July, $801,000 per person with flights and a 5-star hotel with a spa, swimming pool and gym (Despegar.com).

• 3 nights at Phi Phi Holiday Resort, 4 nights at Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach with breakfast, airfare and transfers, from $1,140,000 per person based on double.

  In April (Travel Services).

4) French Polynesia

Secluded and lush.

In

and in the southern

, Polynesia is made up of 118 islands and atolls (most of them uninhabited).

In this set, the

is not only the most famous and populated, but it has also become a mythical destination.

The capital is

, where almost all flights arrive.

Holidays in paradise or in French Polynesia.

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It is located in the archipelago of the Society Islands, neighboring the Tuamotu, Gambier, Marquesas and Austral islands.

With a mix of Polynesian and French cultures and a constant tropical climate, there you can experience everything that the place offers to its guests, who go from island to island in disbelief of what they are experiencing: from the

and snorkeling over the reefs, even buying cultured pearls, golf, diving with manta rays, surfing and even swimming with sharks.

All of this and much more is possible in Tahiti.

Experts recommend traveling from April to October.

French Polynesia offers water sports, markets and typical foods.

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How much:

• In May, 6 nights at Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso and 1 night at Intercontinental Resort Tahiti with breakfast, with flights to Papeete (with stops in Atlanta and Los Angeles), internal flights to Bora Bora, transfers and benefits for Virtuoso members (breakfast daily buffet, US$ 100 credit at the resort, free wi-fi, early check-in and late check-out and room upgrade subject to availability), from $2,435,000 per person based on double (Travel Services) .

• From April to November, 14 nights with breakfast (Papeete, Moorea, Bora Bora and Rangiroa), airfare, transfers and medical assistance, US$4,549 and US$970 taxes per person based on double (deTurista.com).

5) Mauritius

Diving, golf and spa

.

In the southwest of

, the island of Mauritius is 900 km from Toamasina, a city in eastern Madagascar, in

.

Port Louis is the capital and the most populated locality.

Mauritius Island, one of the leading destinations for "romantic vacations".

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With luxury hotels, these islands are at the forefront of romantic vacations, with proposals such as private cruises, horseback riding at sunset or visits to the spa with an offer designed for couples.

There are also zip lines, exploring the Black River Gorges National Park and magical dinners on the beach.

Those who like scuba diving have at their disposal 330 km of coastline with a coral reef and turquoise water lagoons.

The Cathedral, near the town of Flic-en-Flac, is one of the most popular dive sites in Mauritius, along with Gunner & Coin, Whale Rock (a common haven for hammerhead sharks) and Holt & Rocks, with huge rocks under the sea. .

For beginners, there is the Blue Bay Marine Park.

The most pleasant time to visit the island is between April and June and September to December.

In Mauritius there are 10 18-hole golf courses and three 9-hole golf courses, and well-known spa centers, with facilities equipped with the most amazing therapies and products.

In the southwest of the Indian Ocean, the island of Mauritius.

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How much:

• Package of 4 nights in July, $1,075,000 per person in a 3-star beach hotel with airfare and flexible booking (Despegar.com).

• Until June, 8 days/7 nights with breakfast, airfare, transfers and travel assistance, US$3,560 and US$970 taxes per person based on double (deTurista.com).

6) Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

A wild island with a great variety of marine fauna

.

In the

, Fernando de Noronha is not the classic beach destination with all-inclusive services.

Because those who choose this

prioritize contact with nature in a sustainable and exclusive way: everything there is much more expensive due to the distance and regulations to preserve the environment.

Fernando de Noronha, wild and exclusive destination in the Northeast of Brazil.

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Noronha gives its name to both the main island - the only one that is inhabited - and the archipelago of 21 islands and islets, totaling 17 km2 and another 9 km2 of marine platform.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2001, while 70% of the surface has been classified as a National Marine Park since 1988.

The island has a

and, as you have to sign up in advance, this trip requires some organization.

In turn, an environmental preservation fee is paid per day to enter and stay on the island.

360 km from Natal and 545 km from Recife, from those cities you fly to the place, which is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and only 4 degrees below the Equator line.

Praia do Sancho, in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

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By maintaining a delicate balance between its crystalline waters, golden sands and rich marine life, it is not surprising that Noronha appears in the Top 10 of the most beautiful beaches in the world:

was voted several times by the community that chooses the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards.

With pleasant temperatures and great visibility, its waters are excellent for snorkeling.

And of course, they offer the great opportunity to practice diving: the experiences will be unforgettable among corals, turtles, dolphins and sharks.

And between December and February, surfers from all over the world arrive.

The offer is completed by ecological trails, dolphin sightings and visits to the Marine Park, the Shark Museum and the Tamar Project, which protects sea turtles.

How much:

• 5-night package in June, $633,000 per person with flights and a 4-star beach inn with breakfast (Despegar.com).

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