Best tropical vacations: 19 beach and island trips

Where do you go when all you want is warm water, white sand and a hammock? These are the tropical vacations I’d book again tomorrow, from the reefs of Raja Ampat to a Caribbean island that blew me away, with when to go and where to stay.

Who doesn’t fantasise about lying on a palm-fringed beach with turquoise water stretching as far as the eye can see? There’s a time and a place for a sightseeing-packed city break, but sometimes you just want to slow down somewhere beautiful.

Personally, there’s nothing I like more than heading off to the tropics. Every place on this list is one I’ve been to myself, from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean, and for each one I’ve added the best time to go, where to stay and the guide to read next.

A word on timing before you start: “tropical” doesn’t mean good weather all year. Each of these places has a dry season and a wet one, and the Caribbean has a hurricane season, so check the best months before you book.

Tropical vacations in the Indian Ocean

1. The Seychelles

Granite boulders and palms above a white-sand beach on Grande Soeur island in the Seychelles — Granite boulders above the beach on Grande Soeur in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is the tropical hotspot to beat all tropical hotspots. I first visited twelve years ago, went back recently, and I’m still as in love with the country as I was the first time.

Mahé and Praslin get most of the attention, but La Digue is where my heart lies, with the famous granite boulders of Anse Source d’Argent. Island-hop to Curieuse to meet the giant tortoises, snorkel the reefs off Grande Soeur, and leave time for a tasting at the Takamaka rum distillery on Mahé, which I loved.

Best time to go: April to May or October to November, between the two trade winds, when the sea is at its calmest.

Stay: I stayed in an Ocean View Villa at the Four Seasons Desroches, a private island a short flight from Mahé, and I’ve never come so close to refusing to leave a hotel.

2. The Maldives

Palm trees leaning over a white-sand beach and turquoise lagoon in the Maldives — A white-sand beach and palm trees beside a turquoise lagoon in the Maldives

The Maldives is the dreamy escape everyone imagines, and it lives up to it: clear cyan water, sandbanks and some of the healthiest reefs in the Indian Ocean. Snorkel or dive with turtles, stingrays and reef sharks, look for dolphins from a boat at sunset, or just spend time lounging on the beach.

If you do one thing, make it dive. The reefs are the reason to come, and even a snorkel off the beach can turn up turtles.

Best time to go: January to April, in the dry season, when the sea is calmest and you have the best chance of seeing dolphins.

Stay: I spent seven days at SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, on the Crossroads islands 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé, and loved the beaches and the restaurants.

3. Mauritius

Aerial view of the long white sand and turquoise lagoon of Belle Mare Beach on the east coast of Mauritius — The long white sand and turquoise lagoon of Belle Mare Beach from above

It’s no secret how much I love Mauritius, and I’ve been back twice. The island mixes long beaches and lagoons with waterfalls, volcanic peaks and sugar-cane country, so there’s more to do than lie by the pool.

Swimming with the sea turtles was my stone-cold favourite on my most recent trip. Beyond the water, walk the trails around the Chamarel Waterfall, see the Seven Coloured Earth and head to the east coast for Belle Mare, one of the best beaches on the island.

Best time to go: April to June for warm, settled weather, or September to December to avoid the peak crowds.

Stay: I stayed at Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort in the south, a picture-perfect resort on a quiet stretch of coast.

Read next: The best things to do in Mauritius

4. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Traditional dhows silhouetted against an orange sunset off the coast of Zanzibar — Dhows silhouetted against an orange sunset off the coast of Zanzibar

Tanzania and Zanzibar sat at the very top of my bucket list until I finally made it, and the trip mixed safari with spice markets and beaches. Zanzibar is where you come to slow down after the dust of the national parks.

Start in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose carved doors and alleys tell the story of the spice and slave trades, then head to the coast. For a sunset and a swim, Kendwa is hands down the best beach, Bwejuu is the place to do nothing at all, and Paje on the east coast is the place to try kitesurfing.

Best time to go: July to September, in the long dry season, when the Great Migration is on the mainland and beach days on Zanzibar are at their best.

5. Sri Lanka’s south coast

A lone palm tree reflected in the infinity pool at Tri above Koggala Lake in Sri Lanka at dusk — A lone palm reflected in the infinity pool at Tri, above Koggala Lake at dusk

Sri Lanka is one place that really surprised me. I came in December, on a trip that took me from the hill country down to the south coast, where the jungle meets long, palm-backed beaches and the old Dutch fort at Galle.

The south is the place to finish a Sri Lanka trip: a few days of sea, sunsets and slow lunches after the tea plantations and temples inland.

Best time to go: December to April, when the south and west coasts are in their dry season.

Stay: I spent two nights at Tri, an eco hotel wrapped in cinnamon on the shore of Koggala Lake, now run as Tri Koggala by Amaya.

Read next: Two weeks in Sri Lanka, three ways

Tropical vacations in Southeast Asia

6. Bali, Indonesia

Waves breaking around the rock arch at Batu Bolong on the west coast of Bali — Waves breaking around the rock arch at Batu Bolong, near Tanah Lot on Bali’s west coast

Bali is the place to enjoy the trappings of an island paradise without breaking the bank. I love Seminyak for its beaches and resort-town feel, and Ubud, up among the rice paddies, is one of my favourite spots on the island.

Split your stay between the two: temples, rice terraces and a sunrise hike up Mount Batur from Ubud, then surf, beach clubs and sunsets on the west coast. If you visit the temples, cover your knees and shoulders.

Best time to go: April to October, in the dry season.

Stay: in Seminyak, the Alila Seminyak, which in my opinion is the best hotel in Bali.

Read next: The complete Bali travel guide

7. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Aerial view of jungle-covered islands and shallow coral reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia — Jungle-covered islands and shallow reefs in Raja Ampat from above

As far removed as you can imagine from traffic-choked cities, Raja Ampat is an archipelago of jungle-covered islands and turquoise lagoons off the western tip of New Guinea. I’d wanted to dive here for about ten years before I finally spent a week in May at a resort on tiny Birie Island.

Diving and snorkelling are the main event. I saw turtles, a blacktip shark, wobbegongs and huge balls of fish over some of the healthiest coral I’ve ever seen, and I’m not an advanced diver.

Best time to go: October to April, for the calmest seas. It’s remote, so allow a week.

Stay: I stayed at Papua Paradise Eco Resort and paid my own way. Its thatched bungalows stand on stilts over the water, with a dive centre on site.

Read next: Diving in Raja Ampat as a beginner

8. El Nido and Coron, the Philippines

Limestone cliffs rising from clear turquoise water off El Nido in Palawan, the Philippines — Limestone cliffs dropping into the sea off El Nido in northern Palawan

Northern Palawan is the Philippines of the postcards: limestone cliffs, lagoons so green they don’t look real and white beaches you reach by boat. I spent three weeks in the Philippines, and the stretch from El Nido to Coron was the highlight.

In El Nido I did Tour A and Tour C, kayaked through the lagoons and watched the sunset two nights running from a rooftop bar. Then I took a three-day boat expedition north to Coron, where I paddled into the quiet back of the Twin Lagoon and snorkelled a coral garden so bright it looked electric.

Best time to go: December to May, in the dry season, with the calmest, clearest water from February to April.

Stay: I stayed two nights at H Hotel in El Nido town, close enough to walk to dinner and with a rooftop bar made for sunsets.

Read next: The complete El Nido travel guide

9. Siargao, the Philippines

Palm trees leaning over clear shallow water on an island off Siargao in the Philippines — Palm trees leaning over clear, shallow water on an island off Siargao

Siargao had been on my radar for years before I finally came, straight from a week of diving in Raja Ampat. It’s the surfing capital of the Philippines, home to the Cloud 9 reef break, but there’s so much more to it than the waves.

Island-hop to the sandbars and palm-fringed islets off General Luna, swim in the Magpupungko rock pools at low tide and take a boat through the mangroves to Sohoton Cove. It’s the kind of island where people come for a week and stay for a month.

Best time to go: March to September for drier weather, or late August to November for the surf.

Where to stay: General Luna, the island’s main hub, which is where I based myself.

Read next: The complete Siargao travel guide

10. Railay, Thailand

Limestone cliffs and caves above the sand at Phra Nang Beach in Railay, Thailand — The limestone cliffs and caves above the sand at Phra Nang Beach in Railay

Thailand’s Andaman coast is my favourite part of the country, and Railay is the reason. Cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs and reachable only by longtail boat, this little peninsula near Krabi feels like a world of its own.

Head to Phra Nang Beach or Railay West for the best sand, climb the limestone walls with one of the local schools and scramble up to the viewpoint and the hidden lagoon if you have the right footwear. The laid-back pace is the reason I love it.

Best time to go: November to March, in the dry season.

Where to stay: on Railay West or close to Phra Nang Beach, for the best of the sand and the sunsets.

Read next: The Railay Beach travel guide

11. Borneo, Malaysia

Sunset over the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo, with bougainvillea on the riverbank — Sunset over the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, with bougainvillea on the bank

Borneo is the third-largest island on Earth and one of the most extraordinary places I’ve been for wildlife. Meeting the orangutans at Sepilok was my favourite thing to do in Sabah, and on a cruise along the Kinabatangan River I enjoyed the lush views as much as spotting proboscis monkeys, birds and crocodiles.

Kota Kinabalu makes a good base for the coast, and the Floating Mosque and the city’s cosy cafes stole my heart.

Best time to go: May to September, when the trees begin fruiting and the wildlife is at its most active.

Stay: I’ve stayed at Nexus Resort Karambunai outside Kota Kinabalu and loved it. For a night on the river, Sukau Rainforest Lodge sits on the banks of the Kinabatangan in the heart of the jungle.

Tropical vacations in the Caribbean

12. Antigua

Pale sand and calm turquoise water at Ffryes Beach below Tamarind Hills in Antigua — The pale sand and calm turquoise water of Ffryes Beach in Antigua

I spent a week in Antigua and, I have to say, it blew me away. The island is said to have a beach for every day of the year, and the ones I saw, like Ffryes Beach and Darkwood, were some of the best in the Caribbean.

Don’t miss Shirley Heights Lookout above English Harbour: hike up for sunrise, then come back on a Sunday for the famous sunset party, with steel bands and reggae.

Best time to go: December to April, in the dry season. I visited in May and June, which were as good as it gets.

Stay: I loved Tamarind Hills, one of the most luxurious resorts on the island, above Ffryes Beach.

13. Barbados

Palm trees silhouetted against the sunrise at The Crane on the south-east coast of Barbados — Palm trees silhouetted against the sunrise at The Crane on Barbados’s south-east coast

Barbados mixes calm, turquoise west-coast beaches with a wild Atlantic coast and a cricket-mad capital. The water sports are excellent: kayak out over the shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay and stop to swim with the turtles on the way.

Away from the sea, St John’s Parish Church is one of my favourite places on the island, as much for the views as for the building. Try a fish cutter, flying fish in a Bajan salt bread roll, while you’re there.

Best time to go: December to April, in the dry season.

Stay: I stayed at The Crane, above a pink-sand beach on the south-east coast, and it’s at the top of my list for a return trip.

Read next: The best things to do in Barbados

14. Nevis

Nevis Peak rising above tropical gardens, seen through a stone archway at Montpelier Plantation on Nevis — Nevis Peak rising above the gardens, seen from Montpelier Plantation

Little Nevis is the Caribbean before the cruise ships arrived: one volcanic peak, a ring of beaches and old sugar plantations turned into hotels. Resist the temptation to spend all your time on the sand.

Walk around Charlestown to understand a little of the island’s history, drink a Killer Bee at Sunshine’s beach bar on Pinney’s Beach, and decide whether you have the energy to scale Nevis Peak or would rather admire it from the beach, as I did.

Best time to go: December to April, in the dry season.

Where to stay: on the west coast near Pinney’s Beach, or up in the hills in one of the old plantation inns.

Read next: Unmissable things to do in Nevis

15. Jamaica

I’ve been to Jamaica a few times, and it packs in more than most Caribbean islands. Taste the Red Stripe, Blue Mountain coffee and rum, stroll through the open-air markets and colonial landmarks of Kingston and Montego Bay, or chill on Negril’s Seven Mile Beach.

Inland there’s plenty of lush greenery and waterfalls to explore, Dunn’s River among them, and Rick’s Café in Negril is one Jamaican institution not to be missed. For something quieter, find a hidden cove like Frenchman’s Cove in Portland, or walk through the night to reach Blue Mountain Peak for sunrise.

Best time to go: December to April. The dry season starts in December, and the Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on 30 November. Hurricane Melissa hit the south-west hard in October 2025; Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston are open again, but check with your hotel before you travel.

Where to stay: Negril for the beach and the sunsets, or the north coast for the waterfalls.

16. Belize

A wooden jetty and a moored boat on calm water at dusk on Caye Caulker, Belize, under palm fronds — A wooden jetty and a moored boat at dusk on Caye Caulker, Belize

I’ve been to Belize, and it’s an underrated Caribbean dream: ancient Mayan temples, jungle, gorgeous blue water and endless white beaches. Explore the temples, zipline through the rainforest, scuba dive the reef or spot some of the most colourful birds in Central America.

Then swing by car-free Caye Caulker, a 45-minute to one-hour water taxi from Belize City, for a real taste of chilled-out island life. Swim with nurse sharks and stingrays at Shark Ray Alley, eat lobster straight off the barbecue and spend lazy afternoons at The Split.

Best time to go: December to April, in the dry season. January is a great time for lobster, before the season closes in mid-February.

Where to stay: on Caye Caulker, for island life without the crowds of the bigger resorts.

Tropical vacations in Central and South America

17. Tulum and Sian Ka’an, Mexico

A palm frond over an empty white beach in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum, Mexico — A palm frond over an empty white beach in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum

I’ll say it: if your entire Tulum trip is the beach road, then yes, Tulum is overrated. But drive twenty minutes in any direction and it’s a different place.

Sian Ka’an, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, begins where the hotel zone runs out, with some of the emptiest beaches you’ll ever stand on. Drive south to the Muyil ruins and the lagoon beyond them, and snorkel with the green turtles at Akumal, as I did, with a certified guide and a life jacket, which are both required. Hire a car if you can.

Best time to go: December to April. From May to October, sargassum seaweed can wash up on the beaches, so check the forecast before you book.

Where to stay: in the jungle or near the reserve end of the beach road, rather than in the busiest stretch of beach clubs.

18. Drake Bay, Costa Rica

Palm trees leaning over the beach at Drake Bay on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula at sunset — Palm trees leaning over the beach at Drake Bay at sunset

My first trip to Costa Rica was 14 days on horseback, and Drake Bay on my last trip made me fall in love with the country all over again. On the Osa Peninsula, it’s about as close to wild as Costa Rica gets, reached by small plane or by boat.

Snorkel off Caño Island, where I couldn’t believe my eyes the moment I got in the water, hike in Corcovado National Park with a guide, and watch the sun go down from the beach at Drake Bay, which was seriously perfect.

Best time to go: December to April, in the dry season. For the whales, I’d go in August.

Where to stay: one of the small eco-lodges around Drake Bay, most of which arrange the Caño Island and Corcovado trips for you.

Read next: Drake Bay: the insider’s guide

19. Ilha Grande, Brazil

The powdery white sand and clear water of Lopes Mendes beach on Ilha Grande, Brazil — The powdery white sand of Lopes Mendes beach on Ilha Grande

My first visit to Brazil, when I was 18, jump-started my career as a travel writer, and the country has had a hold on me ever since. Ilha Grande, a car-free island between Rio and São Paulo, is my pick for a tropical break in the country.

Trails cross the island through the Atlantic rainforest to beaches like Lopes Mendes, with its powdery white sand. The hike up Parrot Peak is one of my favourite trails in Brazil, with views over the whole island, and you can’t come to Paraty, the colonial town on the mainland, without crossing over.

Best time to go: April to June or September to November, for warm weather without the summer crowds and storms.

Where to stay: Vila do Abraão, the island’s only village, where the ferries and water taxis arrive.

Read next: The best things to do in Brazil

Tips for a tropical vacation

Respect the sun. Most of these places sit far closer to the equator than you’re used to, so use plenty of factor 50, preferably reef-safe, and stay in the shade at midday.
Check the seasons. Every place on this list has a wet season, and the Caribbean’s hurricane season runs from June to November, so get insurance that covers disruption.
Pack for the heat. Loose cotton and linen are your best friends, plus a quick-dry towel and water shoes for coral beaches.
Take insect repellent. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, and dengue fever is a risk in many tropical countries.
Respect local customs. Cover up away from the beach, especially in Zanzibar, Bali’s temples and Muslim parts of Southeast Asia.

19 of the best tropical vacations, from Seychelles granite to Siargao surf