Trip Ideas Island Vacations 15 Remote Islands You Can Actually Visit When you really need to get away, plan a trip to one of these remote islands. By Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on March 13, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: SimonDannhauer/Getty Images There are getaways, then there’s really getting away from it all. And if you’re in need of the latter, we’ve got a few islands for you to consider for your next vacation. Sure, with the advent of the internet and social media, it can feel almost impossible to find a destination that remains off the beaten path, but that’s where an ultra-remote and under-the-radar island comes in. Here are 15 remote islands around the world that you can visit when you need a time-out from life. 01 of 15 Rapa Nui, Chile Kevin Schafer/Getty Images Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is as far away as one can get from the rest of the world. According to UNESCO, it is “the most remote inhabited island on the planet,” and sits some 2,300 miles from the coast of Chile. Though its Indigenous population saw a significant decline after colonization, they held on to their rich cultural traditions, and now there are about 3,000 people who still carry the Rapa Nui lineage. Travelers can visit the island on various cruise ship itineraries, or by flying directly there with LATAM Airlines. 02 of 15 Flores Island, Azores, Portugal tane-mahuta/Getty Images Find yourself at the westernmost point of Europe with a trip to the Azores; specifically, with a trip to Flores Island, a lush landscape that’s part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The island gained its name thanks to the plentiful golden flowers blooming all over its 54 square miles, including up and down its craggy coast. Get here by flying from mainland Portugal with Azores Airlines. 03 of 15 Los Roques, Venezuela simonkr/Getty Images Those seeking gin-clear waters and very few other people around can make their way to Los Roques, an island off the coast of Venezuela, about 100 miles from the nation’s capital. It’s actually a small island chain that makes up one of the country’s national parks. There are no roads here, and just one of the islands is inhabited. There are no buildings taller than two stories, and hotels are limited to just 10 rooms, meaning if you do make the trek here, you’ll likely be one of very few visitors. The only way to get here is by plane. 04 of 15 Niue Maximilien Leblanc/Getty Images Niue, an island some 1,500 miles off the coast of New Zealand, is a literal paradise. The small island is home to just over 1,600 people and remains as wild and rugged as the day it sprang from the ocean as the largest raised coral atoll on the planet. Visitors here can spend their days snorkeling in the clear waters, watching whales migrate in the summer, or biking through the dirt roads without a single care in the world. Get there via regular flights on Air New Zealand. 05 of 15 Pitcairn Island, British Overseas Territory Michael Dunning/Getty Images The Pitcairn Islands, located in the South Pacific, are made up of several smaller land masses, but just the main island of Pitcairn is inhabited. The island is located more than 1,300 miles from Tahiti and more than 3,300 miles from the closest mainland in New Zealand. And with clear, tropical waters, it’s a destination that feels like paradise on Earth. 06 of 15 Skellig Islands, Ireland MNStudio/Getty Images Want to go to another planet? The Skellig Islands are as close as you’ll get. That other-worldly feeling only deepens when you realize the remote islands off the coast of Ireland are featured in both Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. The rugged island is the ideal place to come for a bit of exploration, to see a flock of puffins, and simply to marvel at one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces. Just know you can only get here by boat, so plan ahead. 07 of 15 Keeling Islands, Australia Mlenny/Getty Images Those seeking a warmer-weather retreat should head south and keep going all the way to the Keeling Islands, located 1,700 miles off the coast of Perth. The drop-dead-gorgeous islands are filled with golden sands, palm trees, and plenty of space just for you, as only two of the 27 islands are inhabited. 08 of 15 San Blas Islands, Panama SimonDannhauer/Getty Images Find more beachy bliss by making your way to Panama to visit the dreamy San Blas Islands. The archipelago is made up of 365 islands, but only 50 are inhabited. Come visit the Guna People who call the islands home, sleep in thatched-roof accommodation, and take a break from the internet, as there is no Wi-Fi available here. 09 of 15 Rodrigues Island, Mauritius Ricardo Stephan/Getty Images Located in the Indian Ocean, Rodrigues Island is a hidden gem that has stayed far enough off the mainstream radar to remain relatively untouched, but it still offers luxury accommodations like the Tekoma Boutik Hotel Rodrigues, which is happy to cater to your every whim as you take a break from reality. 10 of 15 Man Island, Bahamas The Bahamas may be a rather accessible destination, especially for those living along the East Coast, but there are still plenty of smaller islands in the archipelago that your friends likely haven’t explored, and Man Island is one of them. Man Island has all the ultra-soft sand and turquoise waters of the other islands but none of the crowds. Take a snorkeling tour or just lounge in the sun without a care in the world. 11 of 15 Fernando de Noronha, Brazil Leandro Anhelli/Getty Images No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The beaches at Fernando de Noronha really are that heavenly. Located some 270 miles off the coast of Brazil, the islands are a tranquil paradise and ideal for divers and snorkelers looking to get up close to nature. Here, you’ll find dolphins, sharks, and colorful fish all intermingling in the coral reef. And attention surfers: Fernando de Noronha is known to have some of the best winter surf on Earth. 12 of 15 Fogo Island, Canada FedevPhoto/Getty Images Travelers seeking a low-key adventure should book a ticket to Fogo Island, the largest offshore island of Newfoundland and Labrador. Despite its size, it’s home to just 2,700 full-time residents. Come hike along its craggy shoreline and book a stay at the Fogo Island Inn, a high-design hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, allowing for maximum landscape-viewing opportunities. 13 of 15 Floreana Island, Ecuador imageBROKER/Stefan Huwiler/Getty Images Floreana Island, part of the Galapagos Archipelago, is another swoon-worthy tropical getaway spot that will transport you to another time, long before humans walked these lands. It’s a spot filled with emerald greenery and a glittering natural pond, and it's surrounded by clear waters. There is, however, one way to interact with your fellow man here, and that’s by visiting the “post office,” a small stand set up by whalers in the 1700s where you can still drop off a letter today. 14 of 15 La Gomera, Spain elzauer/Getty Images Find a bit of peace on La Gomera, the smallest of the Canary Islands. The island, which is also a national park, is home to dazzling black-sand beaches, and even though it's small, it has a terrain so varied you’ll feel like you’re in a whole new place with each step. Get here by taking a flight from either Tenerife or Gran Canaria. 15 of 15 Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territory David Forman/Getty Images Travelers who are feeling a bit bold can head to super-remote Tristan da Cunha. The island, which sits in the very middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, is also an active volcano, but that hasn’t stopped a few hundred people from taking up residence here. Getting to Tristan da Cunha takes some work, including obtaining permission to visit, but you can reach this bird-watching utopia via cruise ship. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit