Table Of ContentEscape to the World’s Most 500
Spectacular Islands
This guidebook leads you on an irresistible tour
of some of the most magnifi cent islands around
the globe—from tiny isles to island nations, and
from the well-trod to the totally uninhabited.
Whether it’s the history and charm of islands
like Mont-Saint-Michel (France) and Ocracoke 5
(United States) or the unspoiled vistas of far-fl ung
places like Antarctica and Polynesia’s Tuvalu,
you’ll discover a host of islands you’d love to 0
extraordinary
visit—or stay on forever.
0
The book includes contact information and
details on transportation and accommodations
islands
to make trip-planning easy. A geographical index
e
helps you fi nd destinations quickly.
x
Choose Your Own Island Adventure t
r
• Great escapes: unspoiled beaches, tropical
a
retreats, exotic hideaways
o
• Leisure and pleasure: sun worshiping, land
r
and water sports, nightlife
d
• Nature and wildlife: lush landscapes, nature
i
preserves, rare species n
• Cities and countries: vibrant metropolises, a
independent nations, city enclaves r
y
• History and mystery: ancient marvels, cultural
treasures, spiritual centers i
s
Find travel news & deals, expert advice, and connect with l
a
fellow travelers at Frommers.com
n
$19.99 USA/$23.99 CAN/£14.99 UK
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A
PUERTO RICO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
500
extraordinary
islands
1st Edition
By Julie Duchaine, Holly Hughes,
Alexis Lipsitz Flippin, and
Sylvie Murphy
Contents
Chapter 1 Beachcomber Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Aquatic Playgrounds 2
Island Hopping the Turks & Caicos:
Barefoot Luxury 12
Life’s a Beach 14
Unvarnished & Unspoiled 21
Sailing Along 32
Island Hopping The Bahamas Out Islands:
Out on the Water 36
Diving’s the Thing 38
Storied Sand & Surf 45
Archipelagos & Atolls 51
Chapter 2 Garden Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Beautiful Bounty 58
Island Hopping the Florida Keys:
Stringing the Pearls 62
Blooming Wonders 64
Wet & Wild 68
Island Hopping the Apostle Islands:
Return to the Wild 78
Manicured Gardens 81
Lush Life 85
Chapter 3 Wildlife Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Unique Species 94
Island Hopping the Galápagos Islands:
Intimate Encounters with
Extraordinary Creatures 100
Birding Meccas 103
Sea Life 116
Run Wild, Run Free 125
Island Reserves 130
Island Hopping the Maldives:
The Sunny Side 138
Chapter 4 Island Escapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
City Getaways 145
Island Hopping the Faroe Islands:
Nordic Retreats 152
Wild Things 154
Great Outdoors 158
Untouched Retreats 164
Beautiful Beaches 174
Island Hopping the Seychelles:
Indian Ocean Castaways 176
Islands to Get Stranded On 184
Places of Worship 189
Chapter 5 Treasure Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
American Classics 195
Jewels of the South Seas 200
Priceless Places 205
Island Hopping the Lofoten Islands:
Midnight Magic 206
Colonial Outposts 215
Civilization Unplugged 224
One of a Kind 227
Island Hopping the Shetland Islands:
The Furthest Isles 234
Natural Wonders 236
Chapter 6 Pleasure Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
Party Animals 246
Island Hopping St. Vincent &
the Grenadines: Trim the Sails 252
The Aristocrats 255
Beach Bums with Culture 263
Laid-Back Rhythms 269
Island Hopping the Whitsunday Islands:
Turquoise Bliss 272
Chapter 7 Leisure Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
Take a Hike 278
The Sporting Life 283
Amphibious Attractions 287
Island Hopping Around the Champlain
Islands: Vermont’s West Coast 288
Out & About 299
The Caribbean Unplugged 308
Remote Adventures 314
Island Hopping the San Juan Islands:
Orcas & Evergreens 316
Chapter 8 Islands of History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .323
Myth & Legend 324
Island Hopping the Dalmatian
Coast Islands: Nature &
History on Display 331
War & Intrigue 332
Otherworldly Landscapes 348
Exploration 349
Pirates 358
Prisons 364
Island Hopping the Orkney Islands:
1,000 Years of History 370
Pilgrims 372
Famous Islanders 378
Chapter 9 Islands of Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .387
Ancient Marvels 388
Island Hopping on Lake Titicaca:
Jewels in the Crown 392
Otherworldly Landscapes 397
Spiritual Centers 402
Historic Haunts 407
Island Hopping the Marquesas:
Mystical Spires in the South Seas 408
Chapter 10 Island Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .413
Capitals 414
Showcases 419
Island Hopping Around the Venetian
Lagoon: Watery Escapes from
La Serenissima 420
Chapter 11 City Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .429
Magnets 430
Parks 447
Island Hopping the Aeolian Islands:
La Vita Lava 454
Enclaves 458
Chapter 12 Island Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .470
Archipelagos 471
Going It Alone 476
Island Hopping the Cape Verde Islands:
Land of Mountains, Desert & Sea 482
Preserving the Old Ways 484
Hot Spots 489
Chapter 13 Ends of the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .494
Walk with the Animals 495
Island Hopping the Aleutian Islands:
North to Alaska 500
Remarkable Ecosystems 503
Historic Frontiers 507
Island Hopping the Cook Islands:
Truly Cast Away 512
Real Adventures 515
Geographical Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521
Alphabetical Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527
Published by:
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
Copyright © 2010 Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scan-
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6011, fax 201/748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., and/or its affiliates. Frommer’s is a trademark or registered trade-
mark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or
vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN 978-0-470-50070-5
Editor: Jennifer Reilly
Production Editor: Heather Wilcox
Photo Editor: Cherie Cincilla (with special thanks to Susan Barnes)
Interior book design: Melissa Auciello-Brogan
Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services
Front cover photo: France, Normandy: Le Mont Saint Michel with reflection in water
© Nagelestock.com/Alamy Images
Back cover photos: Moai on Easter Island, Chile © Russell Kord/Alamy Images; Giant
tortoise on the Galápagos © Blickwinkel/Schmidbauer/Alamy Images; Manhattan, New
York © Scott Murphy/Ambient Images/PhotoLibrary; Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands © Greg
Balfour Evans/Alamy Images
For information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support,
please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877/762-2974, outside
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Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that
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Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
vi
About the Authors
Julie Duchaine has been a freelance writer for the past 25 years. Most recently, she
contributed to Frommer’s 500 Places to See Before They Disappear, Frommer’s 500
Places for Food & Wine Lovers, and Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They
Grow Up. She lives in Milwaukee.
Holly Hughes has traveled the globe as an editor and writer. A former executive editor of
Fodor’s Travel Publications, she edits the annual Best Food Writing anthology and is the
author of the bestselling 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, 500 Places to
See Before They Disappear, 500 Places for Food & Wine Lovers, and Frommer’s New York
City with Kids. She has also written fiction for middle graders. New York City makes a con-
venient jumping-off place for her travels with her three children and husband.
Alexis Lipsitz Flippin is a writer and editor who lives in New York City. She is the author
of Frommer’s New York City with Kids, Frommer’s New York Day by Day, Frommer’s
Portable Turks & Caicos, and Frommer’s Portable St. Maarten/St. Martin, Anguilla &
St. Barts.
Sylvie Murphy has lived and worked in Rome as a travel writer and travel guide and
currently resides in Kansas City. She is also the author of Frommer’s Day by Day Rome
and a contributor to Pauline Frommer’s Italy.
Acknowledgments
Julie Duchaine would like to thank her editor, Jennifer Reilly, for her clear, helpful direc-
tions and good cheer. It helped a great deal in writing these reviews. Holly Hughes
thanks her family for crossing every bridge and hopping on every ferry with her. She’s
grateful to all the other Frommer’s writers who shared their own favorite islands—what
a great worldwide team you are! And she sends a million thanks to her editor, Jennifer
Reilly, for steering this complicated yacht safely into harbor. Alexis Lipsitz Flippin says
she could not have completed this fascinating and challenging assignment were it not for
the unerring good sense, unflagging support, utter graciousness, and reassuring seren-
ity of her editor, Jennifer Reilly. She is a dream to work for. Thanks, too, to her husband,
Royce, for his unflagging support. Sylvie Murphy would like to thank all her island-junkie
friends and family for their extraordinarily helpful tips and insights.
vii
An Invitation to the Reader
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful places. We’re sure you’ll find
others. Please tell us about them so we can share the information with your fellow travel-
ers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, we’d love to
know that too. Please write to:
Frommer’s 500 Extraordinary Islands, 1st Edition
Wiley Publishing, Inc. • 111 River St. • Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
An Additional Note
Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any time—and this is
especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call ahead for confirma-
tion when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held
responsible for the experiences of readers while traveling. Your safety is important to us,
however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a
close eye on cameras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.
Frommer’s Icons
We use six feature icons to help you quickly find the information you’re looking for. At the
end of each review, look for:
(cid:1)
Where to get more information
(
K
Nearest airport
Nearest boat service/port
0
Nearest train station
Driving information
L
Recommended hotels
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