Dust Off Your Swimsuit; The World’s Best Island Has Been Named
Off the back of the best cities in the world countdown comes a list for those looking for sunshine, sand and clear waters.
Condé Nast Traveler readers cast their votes for the best island in the world (outside of the US), and the results are a mixed bag of classic getaways and a few surprises to boot, with three of the top five islands belonging to one nation. So, where is this magical place?
Well, while you can eat a delicious meal at the base of a waterfall, explore some of the world’s most revered beaches, and partake in some of the most adventurous holiday activities on offer, the Philippines also offers a superlative taste of island life.
[related_articles]34903[/related_articles]The islands of Boracay and Palawan have taken out the first and second spots on the list. The same islands have ranked highly among travellers before, also placing in the top two in last year’s list, albeit in reverse order. So what makes these islands so special?
Let’s start with Boracay. Nestled between lush green mountains and clear-as-day oceans, this slice of paradise emphatically ticks all of the boxes. Feel like a scenic hike? Can do. Water exploration more your jam? Snorkel and scuba ’til your heart’s content. Just want to lay around and drink cocktails on the beach? Boracay’s got your back.
In second place is Palawan, its eight kilometre long underground river makes it a must-visit, while Cebu – another Filipino island most famous for its cascading waterfalls – also cracked the top five. Travel between these three islands is easy as, so you can definitely see three of the world’s five best islands on one trip.
Australia’s own Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands came in at number four with its 74 islands being dubbed some of the best diving spots in the world. It’s true, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef literally changes lives.
There were also some classic beach destinations on the list with Turks and Caicos, Spain’s Mallorca, Crete in Greece and Bali all cracking the top ten.
[related_articles]9908,2437,4478,4526[/related_articles]Check out the full list of islands below.
Conde Nast’s Best Island in the World: Readers’ Choice Awards 2016
#20 St. Lucia
#19 St John, USVI
#18 British Virgin Islands
#17 Santorini, Greece
#16 Ibiza, Spain
#15 Tahiti, French Polynesia
#14 Sardinia, Italy
#13 Catman Islands
#12 St. Barts
#11 Mykonos, Greece
#10 Bali, Indonesia
#9 Crete, Greece
#8 Bermuda
#7 Turks and Caicos
#6 Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
#5 Cebu, Phillipines
#4 Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands, Australia
#3 Mallorca, Spain
#2 Pallawan, Philippines
#1 Boracay, Philippines
