These are 10 of the most beautiful islands in the world (one of them is from Ecuador)

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(CNN) - Turn the globe, choose a place and the odds are good: you will choose a place of blue color: 71% of the Earth's surface is covered with water.

Large stretches of ocean extend from the edges of the continents, and what lies between the coasts is a true desert. Far from land plants and shallow waters full of light, the open ocean offers no accommodation for human comfort or survival.

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But the islands are the exception. These widely dispersed landing sites offer a breath in the form of fresh water, abundant food and occasional fruity cocktails.

Perhaps that is the travel secret behind the evocative power of the islands. Like the island of Kaua'i, covered with tropical rainforest, some are the summits of drowned, smoking and burning volcanoes on the waterline. Others, such as the Seychelles, are the scattered fragments of the continents, while the atolls have coral crusts on a sinking land mass.

Each one invites travelers to leave family costs behind.

From the Arctic of Norway to the sunny reefs of Palawan, these beautiful islands span latitudes, climates and cultures.

Whether you're dreaming of a beach getaway or planning a course to the ends of the Earth, these are the 10 most beautiful islands in the world:

Milos, Greece.

Milos (Greece)

The pale rock meets the sapphire-colored water in Milos, a small island in the southwest tip of the Greek Cyclades.

This is where the famous Venus de Milo was discovered in 1820, and the island, like the statue, does spectacular justice to the ancient goddess of love.

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The whitewashed houses with blue shutters reflect the natural color scheme of the island, and the coast has eroded into a wonderland of arches, coves and white sand beaches that invite discovery. The Kleftiko caves, which can only be reached by water, are incredible.

Go to: Drink cold ouzo at a beachside restaurant and try grilled seafood that is fresh from the Aegean. Milos can be reached on a 40-minute flight or on a ferry from Athens (ferries take between three and seven hours).

Bartolomé, Ecuador.

Bartolomé (Ecuador)

A nature reserve that is among the most beautiful islands of the Galapagos, Bartolomé is an environment with colors like jewels, where you can admire the charismatic penguins, crabs that sneak and marine iguanas.

The Pinnacle Rock summit has a view across pale beaches and greenish blue waters, and its colors are offset by the flow of carbon black lava in Sullivan Bay.

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It is not possible to spend the night in Bartholomew, which is named after a friend of naturalist Charles Darwin, but the island is only one day away from Santa Cruz, the main visitor base of Galapagos.

Take a snorkel and swim with the Galapagos penguins, the only penguins that live north of the equator. Watch the native birds as they launch below the surface while looking for food.

Fregate, Seychelles.

Fregate (Seychelles)

Superimposed on the Indian Ocean in a dozen tones, Fregate is a tasting of the Seychelles at its most splendid moment.

Wild landscapes still thrive on the private island, which is a refuge from the most developed coasts of the Seychelles. The giant aldabra turtles walk through the undergrowth here, while two species of sea turtles crawl to the shore to spawn.

The granite cliffs deviate towards the breakers, giving way to dusty beaches: one, Anse Macquereau, can become a perfectly private getaway. A “busy beach” sign hangs on a nearby palm tree, inviting visitors to reserve the perfect cave for them.

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Fregate visitors stay at the island's exclusive hostel; For the ultimate getaway, you can rent the entire island.

Do not miss this: here, the fantasies of the shipwrecked have become luxurious (having breakfast on a platform of fig trees is like recreating the story of the novel 'The Swiss Robinson Family' with fine porcelain, pressed linen and impeccable service ).

Saint Lucia, Lesser Antilles.

Saint Lucia (Lesser Antilles)

The brightly painted houses are scattered like confetti on the steep slopes of Saint Lucia, which turns from the rocky peaks to the Caribbean coast.

A set of volcanic peaks, the Pitons, are the spectacular centerpiece of this beautiful island.

Lush forests at the base of the mountains, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, give way to “elf forests” in miniature at the highest elevations. Here, you can look for fairy-sized hummingbirds, delicate ferns and fog-shrouded trails.

Here you must walk to the summit of Gros Piton. Then, enjoy rum drinks after the trail at nearby Sugar Beach, or a private infinity pool with mountain views.

Jura, Scotland.

Jura (Scotland)

The wild and windswept Inner Hebrides of Scotland are fragmented into a maze of rocky islands. And with bare peaks and clear water streams, Jura is among the most beautiful islands in the archipelago.

Walking trails roam the mountains where native deer live, while golden eagles and sea eagles roll over.

It is a magnificent landscape that attracts generations of adventurers and escapists. However, for lovers of Scotch whiskey, the famous distillery on Jura Island is a pilgrimage site for dense malts, made in large copper stills.

Wrap up for a windy hike through the hills, accompanied by a glass of malt whiskey made locally in the lively pub of the Jura Hotel.

Komodo, Indonesia.

Komodo Island (Indonesia)

From a beach the color of a pink lipstick, to lizards that roam freely, the island of Komodo is a tropical paradise upside down, straight out of a feverish dream.

Here, the spiny savanna rolls towards a coast bathed by crystalline waters, drastically varied ecosystems that provide refuge to the strange wildlife.

The island's most famous residents are Komodo dragons, slow-moving creatures with sharp teeth and deadly poison. Coral reefs are a spectacular habitat for pygmy seahorses and surreal-looking blue-ringed octopus, and lucky divers can see Omura whales or rare dugongs, marine mammals who spend their days grazing on seagrass .

You must stroll along a pink sand beach at sunset, but you must go now: Komodo Island is closing by 2020 to help preserve the Komodo dragon habitat.

Senja, Norway.

Senja Island (Norway)

The high mountains rush into the indigo water in front of Senja Island, a spectacular destination in a country with more than 50,000 beautiful islands.

Sunlight throughout the day bathes the lush hillsides in summer, and winter brings a flickering display of northern lights. In the historic fishing villages of the island, brightly painted wooden buildings are grouped between hillsides and the coast.

From the rocky peaks of the Ånderdalen National Park to the deep and icy fjords, the island of Senja is a dramatic setting for the natural beauty of the Arctic.

You should look for the wandering reindeer that walk freely around the place. In addition, you must ride Viking horses over the Arctic Circle and watch the northern lights rise.

Mo'orea, French Polynesia.

Mo'orea (French Polynesia)

A reef that surrounds the island of Mo'orea in a protected hug, creating a creamy blue lagoon that is a natural park for swimming and diving.

But this place is also a dramatic backdrop of jungle mountains that make Mo'orea one of the most beautiful islands on Earth. The peaks rise from the forest like stone teeth, a strong contrast to the paradisiacal scenes at the water's edge.

And although Mo'orea is just a quick ferry ride from the famous island of Tahiti, the smaller island is much less developed. That means fewer crowds to deal with while touring white sand beaches, paddles in transparent bays and swimming with humpback whales.

You should do: sleep in a bungalow on the water with views of the mountains, then drink a morning coffee while tropical fish rush under your front porch.

Palawan, Philippines

Palawan (Philippines)

Protected within the Palawan Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palawan Island is a beautiful haven of sand and clear water.

Steep cliffs and mangroves are scenic landscapes of the many secret beaches of Palawan, from the caves of El Nido to this exclusive paradisiacal getaway.

But the most notable hiding place on the island could be in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where an underground river glides through a maze of limestone caverns.

You must do: walk along the river with tide deep in a system of limestone caves and enjoy the afternoon on a beach ideal for postcards.

Kaua'i (United States)

With a history of red-hot origin as an active volcano, Kaua'i lava tubes and black sand beaches are just the beginning of the island's fiery beauty.

The native forest here provides habitat for bird species that only live on the Hawaiian Islands, and a trip to the desert reveals hanging valleys and towering waterfalls over crystal-clear freshwater pools.

The most spectacular desert of the “Garden Island” of Hawaii flanks the coast of Nā Pali, which intrepid hikers can reach through a challenging path known as one of the most difficult walks in the United States.

Do not miss this: a walk through the Nā Pali Coast Trail desert towards a virgin beach that cannot be reached by road.

Galapagos Islands