Travel Novice Island Hoppers: thrilling tips

Experience the ultimate adventure of island hopping and embark on an inner journey of self-discovery with experiences that capture the magic of the moment.

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How do you define an Island?

All islands that are smaller than Australia and the body of land surrounded by water are regarded as islands. Your dreamlike vision of what an island is can be expanded on with far greater value and make your island hopping considerably more interesting and awakening.

A group of islands is called an archipelago coming from the medieval Italian word “archi”, meaning principal, and the Greek word “pelagus”, meaning pond, pool, or gulf. Tiny little islands are called islets.

When questioning why Australia is not an island, the answer is given by Muzamil Reshi, an engineer and this was the most acceptable answer.

“The most technical difference between the continent and the island is that continents are part of the continental crust while islands are extensions of oceanic crust. Continents are formed because of tectonic activities while islands are formed by volcanic eruptions. ( we have some continental islands also which are formed of continental crust and not the oceanic crust, but since they are smaller in size and are surrounded by water so we call them continental islands and not the continents)”.

Muzamil Reshi

Do you know the difference between a Key and an Island?

Keys are made up of remains of old, historic coral reefs, which are low-lying islands of coral and eventually over time will be exposed. New coral reefs often surround these keys.

What is the difference between a Peninsula and an Island?

Large or small landmasses are known as a peninsula that is surrounded by water on only three sides, whereas an island is surrounded on all sides. India is a great example is India.

“Everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world.”

Guy Gavriel Kay

Naming the 6 different Types of Islands?

1. Barrier Islands

Barrier Islands are long and fairly narrow deposits of sediment and sand, running parallel to the coastline. Some people have built on the deposits, but they are not very stable, but these barriers can offer protection to the mainland from major storms. Wildlife thrives on these islands, stretching for kilometres, more than 150 and are separated by tidal inlets.

Examples of Barrier Islands are Padre Island, Texas, which is the longest and Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

2. Continental Islands

As the name suggests, these islands were once upon a time connected to the continent, but due to the lithospheric plates (also known as tectonic plates) shifting, through the centuries portions of land became separated from the landmass. These islands are now totally surrounded by water.

Another reason is the melting of the glacier ice thousands of years ago, where the level of the water rose and started to flood the lower-lying areas of the landmass. Examples of the Continental Islands are Greenland and Madagascar.

3. Tidal Islands

Tidal Islands can be reached from the mainland during low tide, but during high tide, they are completely submerged.

Being the most common type of island, these islands are connected to the mainland by artificial causeways, to enable tourists or inhabitants to get to the island when the tide is high and the island is totally surrounded by water.

4. Oceanic Islands – also known as High Islands

These islands have mostly originated from volcanic eruptions from the ocean floor. The tectonic plates split apart and the lava spews up, builds up and forms an island above the water’s surface.

Examples of Oceanic Islands are the Hawaiian Islands and Surtsey Island which is the southernmost point of Iceland.

5. Artificial Islands

As the title indicates, artificial, the island is man-made and not made by nature itself. Artificial islands have their good sides and their bad sides. You can imagine what the man-made island does to the ocean bed? On the same note, it provides extra needed land, such as the artificial islands in Dubai and the Netherlands.

Flevopolder in the Netherlands is the largest artificial island in the world. It was established in 1986 and became the 12th province in the Netherlands. The capital of this province is Lelystad and over 400 000 inhabit it. The seas and lakes were drained to form this artificial island.

6. Coral Islands

There are two different types of Coral Islands. The ones where over time, the coral skeletons, which are small sea animals build up from the seafloor and eventually have built up so high that they protrude out of the water and form islands. Then you get the ones where the coral reef grows around an Oceanic island and when this oceanic island begins to sink into the sea, the coral island takes its place. These are called atolls.

An example of the first type is the Bahamas and the second is the Aldabra atoll.

Why Islands are Sinking – Time to Visit is Now

The Solomon archipelago of islands is a good example of islands that are disappearing. They are made up of volcanic and coral types of islands. The Maldives are also on their way out and by 2100 they could be gone! Why are these islands valuable to visit now? You will see a bit of future history and it will make you more aware of how our world is changing, through global warming and climate change. Inhabitants have had to move out. Five Solomon Islands have already disappeared! The seas are rising! I call an island vacation an “urgency must”!

Another reason why islands sink is due to the base of the volcano from which they are made breaks apart or the land moving.

Interesting question people ask: “Can you swim under an island?” No, you cannot. They are attached to the ocean bed either by volcano mountains or Corel.

Why do islands have high biodiversity?

Island Biodiversity is different to that of the mainland. The species that inhabit islands are unique and quantitive. Over time the isolation of species on islands can encourage new characteristics as they adapt to their isolation. Some species develop uncommon adaptions such as the loss of the ability to scatter, incapable defence mechanisms, dwarfism, overgrowth and flightlessness. The different inherited traits within a species become concentrated in limited space, therefore population size becomes concentrated in restricted areas, becoming endemic. Islands have become the “hotspots” for the richest reservoirs of animals, birds and plants on our planet.

Madagascar is famous for its biodiversity! 70% of the species that occupy these islands are totally unique to the rest of the world. Over 8000 species. Have you heard of the docile Madagascar hissing cockroach? They are huge and can be 7.5 cm when they are fully grown. These are native to Madagascar and a good example of what we are talking about. Lemurs are also native to this island.

Fascinating Island Facts that will Captivate and Enthral you

1. PIG Beach – PIG Island or Big Major Cay in the Bahamas

Did you know there is an island just for swimming pigs? Totally uninhabited by humans. Yes, you can visit this island on a tour (Born Free Charters is highly recommended) and go and take a selfie with these pigs. Imagine the Instagram moment. Of course, these pigs love the tourist as they receive fresh veggies and fruit the tourist specifically takes over for them. One still needs to respect them as they are not pets, but wild. The Bahamas is a dream vacation with inimitable moments and encounters.

How they got there no one truly knows. They could have escaped from a sailboat sailing past or a shipwrecked boat where they swam to safety. Another tale tells that the pigs were brought to the island by sailors who dropped them off and planned to return to eat them.

2. Venice Island

Did you know that the Venice Island foundation was built from 10,000,000 underwater wooden logs? These logs are the roots of the island. Construction of Venice started in the 5th century AD after the fall of the Roman Empire. Nearly 1200 years later these same trunks still support central Venice.

Visiting Venice Island was one of my most exhilarating trips ever! I love Italy and have plans to return again. Have a look at the selection of different islands you can visit. Tripadvisor is a reliable source of information. They will also indicate the best hotels to stay at.

3. Baby Grave Tree in Tana Toraja, Indonesia

Did you know if a baby dies prior to the child teething, a hole is cut in the bark of the tree and the baby is placed inside? The tree continues to grow and the baby’s remains are swallowed by the tree. Tana Toraja is an octopus-shaped island in Eastern Indonesia. Their total population is approximately 1.1 million people. Although a large majority of the people are of Christian belief or Muslim, a large percentage have an animistic belief known as  Aluk To Dolo (“Way of the Ancestors”). Due to their ancestral beliefs, burial and death play a visual presence.

Visiting Tana Toraja is an island to add to your bucket list. The culture is so different to that of the Western World, yet so absurdly fascinating. They believe that death is welcoming and they live for the afterlife. Houses that look like overturned boats. Friendly people! Extremely safe, and economical and when you are there, make sure you attend a funeral ceremony!

4. The Island of Zakynthos – Greece

Did you know all Zakynthos Jews survived the Holocaust? When the Nazis occupied Greece, the mayor was instructed to provide a list of all the Jews on the island of Zakynthos. He wrote only two names, the island’s bishop and his name!

“Everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world.” – Guy Gavriel Kay. Zakynthos is the perfect imaginary island! The one you envisage in your dreams! Fiore di Levante, the Flower of the East. White sand, clear waters, turtles and once visited will be the best vacation on your bucket list!

8 Most Dangerous Islands in the World: don’t visit or you cannot visit

• Ilha Da Queimada Grande off the coast of Brasil is known as “snake Island”. All human life is prohibited from living or going here. Thousands of golden spearhead vipers, deadly are the only residents and they are everywhere on the island.
• North Sentinel Island is one of the archipelago islands in the Bay of Bengal. The Sentinelese people do not appreciate outsiders and will throw stones at you or shoot you with arrows if you even attempt to land on the island. They have not been vaccinated for any disease and any contact with them could put you at risk.
• Ramree Island in Burma. The secret was revealed and going to this island is ill-advised. In 1945 hundreds of people lost their lives. During the war, the British soldiers drove the Japanese into the deep mangrove forest of Ramree Island. A horrific surprise awaited them! The saltwater enormous crocodiles! Hundreds were eaten. The crocodiles are still there.
• Thilafushi Island in the Maldives is nicknamed “Rubbish Island”. Virtually the whole island is a rubbish dump. No beautiful beaches here! A total health hazard!
• Miyake – jima, one of the Japanese islands has continuous volcanic eruptions. Toxic sulphur vapours are a result of this volcano.
• Gruinard Island off Scotland was used during the Second World War by the British government for the biological testing of weapons. Anthrax was released on this island during the Second World War and it wiped out a flock of sheep. The island was so contaminated that it was deemed out of bounds for 50 years. “Dr Brian Moffat, archaeological director of an excavation of a medieval hospital near Edinburgh, said his team had encountered buried anthrax spores which can survive for hundreds of years.” Give this island a miss!
• Poveglia Island in the Venetian Lagoon, north of Italy is said to be “haunted” and has a dark, hectic past. During 1793-1814, this island was used as a plague quarantine station. Known as a “lazaretto”. As it is a small island Napoleon used this island to store weapons here. In 1922 a mental hospital was built and a doctor tortured and killed many of its patients. The hospital closed in 1968. Visiting the island is illegal!
• La Isla de las Muñecas Island, close to Mexica, is known as the Island of the Dolls! This is so creepy and I could not bear to visit! Hundreds of hanging, decomposing, decapitated dolls are everywhere. More than 50 years ago Don Julian Santana moved onto this island. He imagined a drowned girl or some say it did occur, but Don devoted his life to hanging these horrific dolls by the hundreds all over the island. Tourists do go to the island, but I cannot ever imagine myself doing so.

Best Exquisite Tropical Islands in the World

Every island is a personal experience, but here are some suggestions of some phenomenal, mind-blowing islands you can take off your bucket list as you visit

“Just take my hand, lead, dance with me…and I will simply follow the blueness of the water, the white waves rolling free…where the earth beneath my feet and stars make my heart whole again…in long and priceless moments of shared solitude…”
― Oksana Rus

1. Mauritius

The best beaches are along the west coast. Sand that is so fine and waters so crystal clear that you want to be there now! The accommodation that you will just love! There are so many hotels to choose from. Have you tried snorkelling or going on a catamaran to the Ile aux Cerfs, the paradise island? The Discovery Tour is exciting and yes you can do it!

This is an island destination you want to go on! The dodo and the giant tortoise are my favourites! Have a look at this chess set that was made especially for Mauritius! Isn’t it divine?

2. Bedarra Island, Great Barrier Reef

Escape with private solitude and restore relaxation to this stunning island among the Great Barrier Reef. Get to the island via a water taxi or helicopter. From Cairns airport, it will take you 45minutes via helicopter and you will be able to view the incredible scenery below. There are only 11 guest villas, each secretly hidden in the tropical rainforest, but with a magnificent view of the ocean. Some of the villas are closer to the beach, have plunge pools or are nestled in the trees. Bedarra Island Resort is fabulous for those who would like to escape for a while.

3. Sardinia, the second biggest island in the Mediterranean

Sardinia belongs to Italy and is mainly a mountainous region, yet the naked white sands and turquoise transparent waters surrounding the island allow one to snorkel, kayak, explore the coves and go out on boat tours. Life expectancy is higher than in most other places in the world, due to the food, wine and exercise of the inhabitants and because they are happy people with less stress. Colourful towns, mysterious ancient sculptures and beautiful hikes up the low-lying mountains make for a wonderful vacation. When tourists visit Italy, they do not know that Sardinia even exists or where it is.

As the island is larger, the accommodation selection is wider and will cater for every need. Have a look at booking.com and see which hotels are to your taste and budget.

4. Yasawa Islands, Fiji

These are islands we all imagined in our dreams! Yasawa Islands are an archipelago. Dramatic contrasts of peaks to sand, crystal glass-like waters and fine white sand beaches. The palm trees are there too, just to make the dream more perfect. Due to its astounding beauty, many Hollywood movies and series have been made here.

Tripadvisor has a lovely selection of hotels where you can stay on these exotic islands. Browse through and see which one suits your desires and budget.

5. Seychelles

Two trade winds hit the island twice a year, so visit Seychelles between April and May or between October and November. You do not want your stay in heaven interrupted. Enjoy the divine beaches or visit the famous Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market. Hike through the Vallée de Mai on Praslin which is also known as the “Garden of Eden”. There are over 4000 palm trees in these palm jungles and see for yourself the mammoth Coco de Mer which is endemic to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse. Have you ever seen these sea coconuts? We used to make a replica of them in my factory a couple of years ago. (The shape resembles the behind of a woman). 

Such beautiful, breathtaking scenery can be faced on numerous different hikes. My favourite is the Morne Blanc Trail. The waters radiate a kaleidoscope of rich blues and turquoise. Gentle giant tortoises are a sight to behold!

The accommodation is luxurious, a vacation that you will never forget! Have a look at Tripadvisor for the best rates and you can compare the different hotels.

6. Bora Bora

“La Orana”, hello; “Maeva”, welcome! Bora Bora inhabitants mainly speak Tahitian or French, but at the hotels, you will find they do speak English. View the technicoloured array of tropical fish, reef sharks, lemon sharks, dolphins, manta rays and among others sea turtles. Explore the ocean beds by snorkelling or take an outing on the glass-bottom boat.

Wanderlust along the long white stretched beaches and view the picturesque sunset as it teases you never take your eyes off the waters until it is gone.

Accommodation in Bora Bora is stunning! A true island experience. Have a look at booking.com and especially Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts