Ten Isolated Beaches for a Perfect Escape

Reading about these beaches in the cold of winter helps warm the spirit, if not the body.

Palm trees line the beautiful white sandy beaches of Vieques Island, which is seven miles off the east of Puerto Rico. The island is 21 miles long and is between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, a great combination for beautiful beaches. While Vieques is the home to the crowded beach of Sun Bay, there are around 50 isolated beaches perfect for rest and relaxation. Four wheel drive is the best way to travel the unpaved roads that lead to the isolated beaches. More than 100 types of birds and roaming horses are common sites on this island. Enjoy the sound of A truly unique experience is a visit to Phosphorescent Bay. Any movement of the water causes bright neon flashes of light to appear in the water (comparable to the light seen on a firefly at night). These are caused by very small organisms in the water. Nearby tourist attractions are nearby San Juan or the El Conquistador Resort. The best time to visit these isolated beaches are from July to October. To get to the Vieques Island from Puerto Rico take a plane from San Juan or a ferry from Fajardo.

Marco Island is located off the southwest tip of Florida. There are many remote, isolated beaches with hidden places and lagoons to explore. The beaches are clean and uneroded, ideal for digging for sea shells, sand dollars, or fishing. There are many areas of wilderness to explore on Marco Island, as well as more modern activities, such as golfing at one of the 39 golf courses located on the island. The two hour drive from Miami, which goes through the Everglades National Park, is well worth the trip. The best time to visit is from June to August.

Mantangi Island, a 240 acre privately owned Fiji island is full of private, isolated beaches. With only 11 bungalows (bures) for rent, the privacy and seclusion are perfect for a romantic get away or anyone else seeking privacy. The air is filled with the aroma of while orchids, hibiscus and other exotic plants. For an exceptional view of the beaches and area, a Tree house bure is available. An actual tree house made from a large Pacific almond tree, it is 30 feet off the ground. Other attractions close by include the famous Horseshoe Bay and tours to the island, Qamea. The best time to visit Mantangi island is from June to August. Mantangi island is located 190 miles northeast of the Fiji International Airport in Nadi.

Punalu'u Beach, which is southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii, offers rare black sand beaches. The black sand is formed by volcano lava hitting the ocean. The currents of the isolated Punalu'u beaches are strong, but it may be hard to resist at least wading in to see the green sea turtles up close. Some of the beaches here also have green sand. Visit from March to May or September to November for slow times.

The North Shore Beaches of Oahu, Hawaii, are a 45 minute drive from the fast paced tourist attraction of Honolulu. With only a few small towns and few busy hotels, this makes a perfect setting for the isolated beaches. Kahana Bay, very isolated, lined with pine trees is well worth seeing. Visit during June to August.

Little Cayman, one of the Cayman islands, has many underdeveloped beaches. The Cayman islands are on top of mountains partially submerged in the Caribbean. Famous for its diving sites, sharks, stingray, lobsters, caves, coral reefs, and great underwater photography opportunities are all part of the experience of the isolated beaches here. Visit during the off peaks months of May to October.

Galapagos Islands, located 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador, has many isolated beaches. It can be physically demanding visiting these, as tour ships go from island to island, and much time is spent hiking the terrain of the islands. Visit during the slow months of February to June and October.

Cozumel is an island 35 miles south of Cancun, Mexico. One of the top diving sites in the world, many of the visitors here are divers. A remarkable site for tourists here are giant sea turtles who lay their eggs on the beaches from May to September. Besides the beaches, visitors can explore the undeveloped jungle side of the island. Consider visiting from May to September if interested in the giant sea turtles.

Visit Cedar Point County Park, for view of an East Hampton beach in Long Island, New York. The narrow beach that connects Cedar Point lighthouse to the mainland is quite a view. The winters are cold in New York, consider visiting in the warmer months of April to November.

Vigie Beach, located on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, is a short five minute ride from the Vigie Airport in Castries. Almond and coconut treees fill this calm water beach. With little tourist traffic here, this beach is perfect for peace and quiet. The best time to visit Vigie Beach is during the week, as the beach gets more traffic on the weekends from the local residents. Local attractions near to the beach include Vigie Lighthouse, King George Gardens and The Natural Culture Center.

Sources:
www.visit-puerto-rico.com
The 100 Greatest Beach Vacations, Irene Korn
Cruising the Eastern Caribbean, Laura & Diane Rapp