5 Islands Turning Tourists Away—And Where to Go Instead
It's a buzzword in the travel industry right now: overtourism. But while places like Amsterdam, Venice, and Barcelona may dominate the headlines, these islands and beaches around the world have lost sand, clear water, and wildlife as a side of effect of too many tourists. Some are closed permanently, others are just closed for now, and a few have limited entry to just 400 people at any one time. With this in mind, here are five popular islands—and the five places you should go instead.
GettyInstead of Boracay, Philippines...
2.1 million tourists visited Boracay in 2017, a staggering number considering it’s an island with no airport, measuring under four square miles. Ranked as best island in the world by our Readers’ Choice Awards, Boracay now is doing its darndest to ensure that its paradise is preserved in the face of growing popularity. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte commanded a six-month closure, beginning April 26, to upgrade sewage facilities, address illegal construction, and combat illegal fishing and reef destruction.
Getty... try Siargao, Philippines.
This island in the southeastern wilds of the Philippines, a one-stop hop from Manila just like Boracay, is home to 15 world-class surf breaks, including “Cloud 9,” which counts Kelly Slater and Anthony Kiedis among its fans. White sand beaches and azure water are standard for islands in the Philippines, but Siargao also has Magpupungko, an area of natural tide pools where locals and tourists alike come to relax.
GettyInstead of Maya Beach, Thailand...
Made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Koh Phi Phi island’s Maya Beach has soared in popularity and tourists since. The wave of attention has taken its toll, and the beach and waves are littered with trash, while visitors continue to flock to the area on overcrowded snorkel boats. The beach closes for cleaning in June 2018 and the preservation efforts are expected to take at least four months.
Getty... try Trang, Thailand.
The coast of southwestern Thailand's Trang province is speckled with island beaches, like on Koh Libong, Koh Mook, and Koh Kradan, that rival the natural beauty of Maya Bay, but see a fraction of the tourists. On the mainland, Hat Chao Mai National Park has the dramatic limestone cliff-ringed beaches of your dreams. Snorkel right off the nearby Anantara Si Kao's beach and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of a dugong swimming by.
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GettyInstead of Spiaggia Rosa, Italy...
Budelli's pink sand attracted so many day-trippers from Sardinia that the beach, which draws its color from crushed coral and crystal, began to pale. Too many tourists were stealing the sand and disturbing the landscape, so the Italian government closed the beach to visitors in 1994. Now only one man, Mauro Morandi, resides on the island as its caretaker, keeping in touch with the world and sharing the preserved beauty of the tiny Italian island with the world via Instagram.
Getty... try Pink Beach, Bonaire.
Bonaire's aptly named Pink Beach gets its color from the crushed shells of millions of microscopic bright pink sea creatures called foraminifera, and is one of many spots to enjoy the island's most popular sport: scuba diving. New flights to Flamingo International—yes, that’s the airport’s real name—from American Airlines, Aruba Airlines, and Sunwing now make it easier than ever to visit.
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GettyInstead of Lord Howe Island, Australia...
The entirety of Lord Howe Island, far out from the coast of New South Wales, is an UNESCO World Heritage site, with 70 percent of the land protected park preserve and the surrounding waters a marine preserve. The devotion to preservation also means that tourism is restricted to only 400 people at any one time, who mostly arrive to stay at luxury hideaways like the Capella Reserve. Travelers go to the trouble (and expense) of visiting are treated to the world’s southernmost barrier coral reef, diverse and rare flora and fauna, and scenery punctuated by the imposing Mount Gower.
Getty... try Rottnest Island, Australia.
On the complete opposite side of the continent from Lord Howe Island, Rottnest Island is a two-hour ferry from Perth, making for a perfect day trip. Blame the island's population of quokkas, friendly and harmless marsupials not found anywhere else in the world, for the unappealing name. They were mistaken for large rats by Dutch sailors in the 17th century. Visitors rent bikes to reach lighthouses, inland lakes (one of which is pink!), and ocean beaches with “snorkel trails” to showcase the preservation of the island’s surrounding reefs.
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GettyInstead of Fernando do Noronha, Brazil...
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fernando do Noronha has a tourist limit of 460 at any one time. Each visitor must pay an environment tax based on the length of their stay (for example, a four-day trip is an extra $42, paid at the airport). The archipelago far off Brazil’s east coast is the tip of a submarine volcano, making for extremely rich undersea life, with many species only found here, and a reputation as one of the world’s best places for snorkeling and scuba diving. The island’s famous tide pools are monitored even more closely, with a limit of 100 visitors daily, who are banned from wearing sunscreen to prevent the chemicals from polluting the water.
Getty... try Ilha Grande, Brazil.
This 119-square-mile island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro was once home to coffee plantations. Today, it’s a magnet for weekenders seeking clean beaches, like the two-mile, palm-fringed stretch of Praia de Lopes Mendes, which ranks at the top of our list of Brazil’s best beaches. Development restrictions on Ilha Grande mean the rainforests filled with sloth, monkeys, toucans, and macaws are preserved, and there’s just as much to see under the water, too. Magellanic penguins visit the island, thanks to the unique convergence of currents in the area that also brings humpback whales, orca, and sea turtles.