But that doesn’t mean you’re totally out of luck if you want to walk in the footsteps of your favorite caped crusader. Some recent superhero movies have still chosen island locations for filming or inspiration, so in honor of the release of Avengers: Endgame and National Superhero Day on April 28, here are eight comic book movie filming locations you can visit right now.

Themyscira, Wonder Woman – Amalfi Coast, Italy

The quest to find a location that could serve as the perfect hidden Amazonian paradise was difficult for Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and the production designers. They wanted cliffs overlooking a beach big enough for a fight scene, but most of the beaches that fit their needs vanished beneath the tide.

Italy’s Amalfi Coast checked all of the boxes, and with a little CGI help, cliffs were added and Diana Prince’s home island was brought to life. However, as thousands of tourists learn each year, the Amalfi Coast’s beauty isn’t much of a secret.

Cuba beach battle, X-Men: First Class – Jekyll Island, Georgia

Georgia’s Tybee Island was the first pick for the climactic sandy showdown in X-Men: First Class, but the production designers instead chose Jekyll Island because a Google Earth search showed it had bluer waters. After adding 300-500 palm trees — that proved difficult to keep alive — they had their Cuba.

What tourists regularly find on this barrier island is 10 miles of beach, four golf courses and a very well-preserved ecosystem that promises plenty of wildlife encounters.

Thanos’ hut, Avengers: Infinity War — Ifugao, Philippines

You won’t actually find a mad titan unwinding in the province of Ifugao, but you will see the Banaue Rice Terraces, which are the real-life inspiration for Thanos’ “vacation” spot at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. Every year tourists travel to the Philippines to visit the terraces, where tour guides offer hiking and backpacking tours, and mumbakis conduct traditional healing rituals.

Black Panther’s Warrior Falls — Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

In Black Panther, Warrior Falls is the setting of an epic battle for the throne of Wakanda. In reality, the scene took place on a sound stage in Georgia and was enhanced with the magic of CGI, but the production team used Iguazu Falls, the world’s largest waterfall system, for inspiration.

Featured in other movies like Moonraker and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the Iguazu Falls have attracted tourists from all over the world. Visitors can access the falls from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, and there are different options for exploration and viewing the unique islands in the Iguazu River, including walkways and helicopter tours.

Odin’s final resting place, Thor: Ragnarok – Lofoten Islands, Norway

“Remember this place… home.” Odin offered this final parting advice to Thor and Loki, referring to a vast green field in Norway. The scene was actually filmed on a field in Atlanta and an image of the Lofoten Islands was used to add the background scenery through CGI. Odin might as well have been talking about the real Lofoten Islands, though, because the array of adventures, from fishing and scuba diving to skiing and surfing, make this destination a must-visit.

Asgard forest, Thor: Ragnarok – Cedar Creek Falls, Queensland, Australia

When Hela returns home to Asgard, Heimdall leads the people through the forest and waterfalls to a safe haven in the mountains. The forest and falls are located within Cedar Creek Falls in Queensland, Australia, and the sanctuary is nearby Tamborine Mountain.

Visitors to Cedar Creek Falls can take walks around the falls and check out the flora and fauna, or bring a towel and sunscreen to spend some time in and around the rock pool.

Bruce Wayne’s meeting with Aquaman, Justice League — Djúpavík, Iceland

Bruce Wayne had to trek through ice and snow to visit the rural village of Djúpavík for the sake of recruiting Arthur Curry (AKA Aquaman) to join the Justice League and save the world. However, most visitors should travel to Djúpavík in the summer for a day of hiking and viewing the Djúpavíkurfoss waterfall. Or stay longer and enjoy the area’s peaceful solitude, which has inspired bands like Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men to write and record songs there.

Arthur Curry Lighthouse, Aquaman – Hastings Point, New South Wales, Australia

The construction of Arthur Curry’s family cottage and lighthouse at a popular spot in Hastings Point didn’t come without controversy. Residents are extremely proud of everything their small town offers, from surfing to whale watching. In fact, when the Curry lighthouse scenes began filming, Aquaman director James Wan called New South Wales “magical” after witnessing whales breaching at night.

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From Maui to Mykonos, these island destinations promise relaxed attitudes and buzzy bars, beaches and nightclubs. If you seek sun, sand and diversity, pack your sunscreen and sunglasses and head to any one of these 15 gay-friendly islands.

Aruba

Like its Dutch neighbors, Saba and Curaçao, the popular island of Aruba embraces diversity. Dance the night away at Oranjestad newcomer @7, a vibrant nightclub with five different party areas. LGBTQ-friendly hotel options include Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort or gay-owned Little David Guesthouse.

Cuba

Cuba’s gay community has come a long way in recent years. With Raúl Castro’s daughter, Mariela, leading the Cuban National Center for Sex, the country is becoming increasingly more LGBTQ-friendly. Most of Cuba’s gay social scene takes place on the streets. Check out Vedado, Havana’s once mafia-run gay district or Mi Cayito, the unofficial gay beach.

Curaçao

This teeny island just off the coast of Venezuela doesn’t hold back with its hospitality for gay travelers. “With exceptional gay-friendly hotels and attractions, [Curacao] encourages gay and lesbian travelers to visit the island and experience its ‘live and let live’ atmosphere for themselves,” says the Curacao Tourist Board. Most of the hotels on the island are gay-friendly; Baoase Luxury Resort is a favorite stay for luxe-seeking couples. Same-sex marriage is also legal.

Florianópolis, Brazil

Florianópolis is a hot destination with a party-hard scene. Think Ibiza, done South American style. In late February, tourists descend upon the small city for Carnival, for parties, parades and the rhythmic dance of samba. Praia Mole, a beach on the east side of the island, buzzes with beautiful gay men.

Grand Canaria, Canary Islands

Carnival is a big draw for LGBTQ travelers, with an incredible Drag Queen festival and a major contest that attracts the hottest gay talent from all over Europe. The gay social scene descends upon Yumbo Centre, a four-story mega shopping and leisure center packed with bars, cafes, restaurants and a large outdoor area for events. Stay nearby at Gay Paso Chico in Playa del Ingles, which is within walking distance of Grand Canaria’s most famous gay beach, Maspalomas, located at Kiosk #7 (aka, The No. 7).

Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is by far the most popular of Spain’s four Balearic Islands. The small Mediterranean island is infamous for its vibrant nightlife scene. Most of the island’s gay culture assembles on the south end of the island, where clubbing reigns supreme. Head to the terrace at Bar MonaLisa for cocktails and the occasional celebrity sighting. Then nurse your hangover the next day at Es Cavellet, the gay nudist beach at the southern end of the island.

Key West, Florida

Key West is a gay mecca. It was one of the first places in the U.S. to elect an openly gay mayor (Richard A. Heyman in 1983). With its thriving gay nightlife scene, large local LGBTQ population and a number of gay-friendly guesthouses, this destination is all about queer inclusiveness. Check out Island House, a men’s-only, clothing optional property that OUT Traveler called, “The Best Gay Resort In The World.”

Maui

Since the 2013 passing of the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act, Maui has been a popular pick for same-sex destination weddings and honeymoons. For queer travelers in search of sun and surf, check out the weekly beach party at Little Beach in Makena each Sunday for clothing-optional fun. Or plan to visit the first weekend in October for Maui Pride.

Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos has long been an escape for well-heeled gays. In addition to wild club and beach parties that happen almost every night during high season (July to early September), the island is home to several LGBTQ-friendly hotspots, including Jackie O’s and Kastro. By day, gay sun worshippers flock to Elia Beach.

Phuket, Thailand

Thailand is a welcoming country for LGBTQ travelers. Phuket has a host of gay-friendly resorts — Mom Tri’s Villa Royale is a favorite — and occasionally hosts dance parties like TropOut. The Patong area, aka “Paradise Plaza” area has a small, but robust party, go-go bar and massage parlor scene.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is often considered the most gay-friendly island in all of the Caribbean. The nightlife in San Juan is bar none, with most of the LGBTQ scene centering around the popular Condado oceanfront district. Be sure to stop by Circo, a small but hip venue that packs in crowds for dancing, go-go boys and elaborate Drag shows. Same-sex marriage is also legal here, making it a hot spot for destination weddings.

Saba

Although this Dutch Antilles island may be tiny and isolated (5 square miles!), it’s one of the Caribbean’s most gay-friendly destinations. Its population of 1,500 welcome LGBTQ travelers, who come primarily for the island’s scuba adventures. Book through gay tour operators Alyson Adventures and Undersea Expeditions. Saba is perfect for gay travelers looking for a low-key alternative to the usual island party atmosphere.

St. Barth

There isn’t a super huge gay scene in St. Barth, but this glam spot of paradise is still a favorite destination for gays who are welcomed everywhere. Gay men strip down at Saline Beach and get down at Le Ti St-Barth. Since most visitors opt to stay in villas, swank house party invites abound. There’s a reason this Caribbean island is a celebrity hot spot — no matter your sexuality.

St. Maarten

The hilly bifurcated Dutch/French Caribbean island is a hotspot for LGBTQ travelers. Say goodbye to tan lines at clothing-optional Cupecoy Beach on the Dutch side (straight sun worshippers are welcome too). For a festive night on the town, check out the French fare drag shows at L’Escargot. Then, tuck yourself into an oceanfront room at Belmond La Samanna, set to reopen December 10, 2018.

Tahiti

Famous for its black-sand beaches, the largest island in French Polynesia is welcoming to gay visitors. There are a handful of locations in Papeete that attract gay visitors, including the risqué Mahu District, where strip clubs and drag shows abound. Be sure to stop by The Piano Bar, which combines the best of both worlds into unforgettable performances.

For more travel inspiration, check out GayCities, the largest LGBTQ travel guide. (Think Trip Advisor, but for a gay market.)

The post 15 of the Most Welcoming LGBTQ-Friendly Islands appeared first on Islands.

That said, some are just a bit more memorable and much more photogenic than others. A few are world-famous (featured in songs, movies and even a diet) while other are unsung gems. What unites them? That feeling of awe you get when you kick off your flip-flops, throw down your beach towel and think, “Now this is paradise.”

Here is our list of the 20 best and most famous beaches around the world.

Camps Bay Beach – Cape Town, South Africa

For sheer drama, it’s hard to beat this wide arc of sand located on the Atlantic just seven minutes from Cape Town. Backed by the craggy Twelve Apostles mountain range, Camps Bay is popular with the young, beautiful and successful who swim, surf, sip and shop (there’s also a palm-lined promenade), especially on weekends and throughout the peak season from November to January.

Enjoying a sundowner cocktail here is a must, as west-facing restaurants and bars offer superb views.

Horseshoe Bay Beach – Bermuda

Walking along Bermuda’s famous crescent-shaped Horseshoe Bay Beach, or even on the clifftop trails above it, is a sightseeing must. Named for the shape of its inviting bay, this scenic beach in Southampton parish is perfect for lazy sunning or playful splashing (you can rent towels, boogie boards and snorkel gear).

During Bermuda’s cooler months (November to March), Horseshoe Bay remains popular, as visitors snap photos of its pale-pink sand and grab a cocktail and snacks at the on-site café. One caveat: Expect crowds when cruise ships are in port.

Makena Beach – Maui, Hawaii

Sometimes driving a bit further down the road is worth it. And, on Maui, that means passing by Kihei and Wailea Beaches, where resort developments are abundant, and heading to Makena State Park, instead.

Nicknamed Big Beach, this super-photogenic, 1½-mile stretch of golden sand is South Maui’s largest and offers great views of Kahoolawe Island and the Molokini Crater. The unpredictable shore break can be dangerous, however, so you’ll need to heed the posted warnings at the lifeguard stations before deciding to swim. And when the surf is way up, pack a picnic, sit back, and watch the expert boogie boarders at play.

Ipanema Beach – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro boasts a pair of famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana, but it’s the former — celebrated in the sexy 1960s Bossa nova hit, The Girl from Ipanema — that captivates visitors with its breathtaking views. The sand is pale gold, and the landmark, emerald peaks you’ll find yourself gazing at for hours are known as “Two Brothers.”

Brazilians love to show off their toned bodies, so expect skimpy swimwear and lot of tanned lines. Be sure to leave wallets and valuables safely in your hotel: Despite their beauty, Rio’s beaches are known to be frequented by petty thieves.

Pampelonne Beach – Saint-Tropez, France

Beach clubs, big yachts and beautiful bodies (from Brigitte Bardot to David Beckham) are all synonymous with Saint-Tropez’s most famous beach. The beach was put on the map by Bardot and her director husband Roger Vadim in the 1955 film And God Created Woman.

Everything you’d expect to find on the French Riviera, from striped umbrellas and chaises to skimpy bikinis (tops are optional), are here in abundance, as are odes to excess, such as convertible sports cars, designer sunglasses and champagne on ice. If your wallet can handle it, go ahead and soak up some “joie de vivre.”

Trunk Bay Beach – St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Being able to wade into blissfully warm water, pull on your mask and find, and snorkel — really snorkel amid abundant coral and technicolor fish — is a big draw for any beach. The fact that this coconut palm-lined strand on low-key St. John ranks among the most beautiful (and most photographed) island beaches in the Caribbean is a bonus.

As part of Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay Beach offers access to a 225-yard underwater snorkeling trail (gear rentals are available), but plan for an early-morning visit, if you’re seeking tranquility. This beach is popular with cruise-ship passengers from neighboring St. Thomas.

Whitehaven Beach – Queensland, Australia

When Oprah Winfrey and Aussie chef Curtis Stone threw a beach barbecue during her 2011 Ultimate Australian Adventure, they did so on this sweeping, 4½-mile stretch of white silica sand in Queensland’s Whitsunday islands. It’s accessible solely by boat, seaplane or helicopter, so the approach is part of the experience.

The sight of this slender, jungle-backed beach, along with Hill Inlet to the north, where tidal shifts create gargantuan sand art, is the definition of breathtaking.

Maya Bay Beach – Koh Phi Phi leh, Thailand

If Maya Bay looks familiar, that’s because it had a starring role in the 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. Sheltered at the end of a dramatic bay and cradled by 300-foot cliffs on the southern Thailand island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, it’s accessed via a day trip (often in a long, traditional, wooden tail boat) from neighboring Koh Phi Phi Don that includes a stop for snorkeling in surreally pale water at one of the most exotic beaches in the world.

Everyone wants to see it, so Maya Bay does get crowded. For the best photo opportunities (sans the multitudes), visit in the early morning.

South Beach – Miami, Florida

The sand is soft and white — an ideal complement to the dazzling Art Deco skyline of Miami Beach — and the aquamarine water is warm and inviting. But what truly makes South Beach special is the never-ending parade of people: models and wannabes, athletes and artists, locals and tourists.

As brilliant sunshine saturates the beach’s quirky and colorful lifeguard stands, put on a pair of dark sunglasses, and ogle the sky. You’ll spy barely-there bikinis and Speedos, brazen tattoos and more than a few bare breasts (all perfectly legal).

Shoal Bay East – Anguilla

Almost any of Anguilla’s 33 sugar-white beaches could be on this list, but Shoal Bay East tops them all because of its ability to feel both social and secluded. At its heart, this strand is lined with locally owned bars and restaurants that create a lively ambience, especially on weekends, as visitors enjoy upbeat Anguillan music, rum-laced libations, tasty seafood and barbecue and impromptu dips in the irresistibly clear-turquoise sea.

Walk the entire two miles, and you’ll round “the bend,” a wide expanse of sand that offers splendid views of boh Upper Shoal Bay and Lower Shoal Bay.

Beach Below the Ruins – Tulum, Mexico

How many beaches can claim to have a postcard-perfect view of 13th-century Mayan ruins? This one, located about 80 miles south of Cancun, can, and it’s the ideal spot to cool off after exploring the preserved structures of this ancient coastal city, among them the hulking cliff-top Castillo fortress.

There are no facilities, so wear your bathing suit under your clothes, and your reward will be gentle surf, vibrant, blue-green sea and a memorable perspective on how the Mayans relaxed more than 700 years ago.

Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece

What do you get when you mix a Greek island dotted with ancient, windswept cedar trees and tides that create hundreds of rippled white and pink sand islets surrounded by shallow aquamarine lagoons? A true natural wonder.

Set on a peninsula about 45 miles from the port of Chania on the southwestern coast of Crete, Elafonissi is accessed by wading through the sea. Visitors enjoy swimming and strolling, sunning and snacking (there are umbrellas, showers, food vendors and lifeguards on the eastern end). It’s just one of those places that’s so beyond ordinary that it almost seems like a dream.

Bondi Beach – Sydney, Australia

Before or after work, when Sydneysiders make time to play, many head to this picturesque, urban oasis just six miles from the downtown business district to swim, surf, soak up some sun and grab a flat white (like a latter but with less milk and more espresso).

The beach, which curves for more than a half mile and is backed by boutique and café-lined Campbell Parade, is also home to the famed Bondi Icebergs pool and the starting point for a scenic, coastal walk along sandstone cliffs to Bronte.

Grace Bay Beach – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

The pure-white sand and clear-turquoise water of the best-known bay on Providenciales are so sublime that dozens of resorts have opened her over the past two decades. And while that has made this curving, three-mile ribbon of sand a popular destination for travelers in search of upscale relaxation, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Add in calm waters (thanks to a barrier reef about a mile offshore), ample watersports and chic, sea-view bars and restaurants and Grace Bay Beach — named for Grace Jane Hutchings, the wife of a Turks and Caicos commissioner in the 1930s — is just about perfect.

Anse Source d’Argent – The Seychelles

Some beaches have an aura that uniquely their own. Anse Source d’Argent, one of the most famous beaches in the Seychelles, grabs your full attention the moment you set eyes on it. Granite boulders, in swirling shapes Dr. Seuss might have imagined, and gently swaying palms jut up from soft, white sand.

Located on La Digue Island and lapped by the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean, it faces west for immaculate sunsets, making this one of the best island beaches.

Santa Monica Beach – Santa Monica, California

California’s surf culture extends along its entire coastline, but nowhere does it co-mingle with land-based activities so enjoyably as on this vibrant stretch of sand due west of Los Angeles.

With its circa-1909 pier — restored in the 1980s and now home to Pacific Park (with its solar-powered Ferris wheel) and a trapeze school — and beachfront hotels, abundant dining options and 8½-mile jogging and biking path connecting to Venice Beach, Santa Monica ranks among the country’s most entertaining urban beaches. And the sunsets are magical: searing displays of orange and magenta that seem to go on forever.

Tortuga Bay Beach – Galapagos, Ecuador

Some beaches are just perfect for sunning, and you don’t have to be a human to know that. Dozens of marine iguanas and small clusters of sea lions swim ashore to stretch out and catch some rays on this pristine act of talcum-soft sand located on the southern coast of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

People can enjoy it, too, but we must walk a 1½-mile path to mingle (and pose) with these fearless creatures. You’re also likely to spy sea turtles and bright-red Sally lightfoot crabs in the surf and blue-footed boobies and frigate birds on land at one of the most exotic beaches in the world.

Lido Beach – Venice, Italy

Yes, Venice has a beach — a pretty amazing one, at that. The Lido di Venezia, open to the public and stretched out along a seven-mile sandbar facing the Adriatic Sea, is home in season (May to September) to regiments of umbrella-topped beach loungers, neat rows of wooden cabanas and the historic Hotel Excelsior dating to 1908.

Lido also hosts the annual Venice Film Festival (in early September), when A-listers arrive via sleek Riva motorboats. Anyone can cross the lagoon via local “vaporetto” (water busses) to spy on the glamorous action.

Matira Beach – Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The idyllic islands of French Polynesia — of which Bora Bora is the most storied — are home to thousands of beautiful beaches. But many are located on remote motus and atolls or are part of upscale resorts without public access.

Not Matira Beach, a curve of champagne-hued sand centrally located at Matira Point and offering access to the blue mosaic of Bora Bora lagoon. Sun and swim here, or take a spin on a circle-island Jet Ski tour. Then, enjoy lunch at one of Matira’s locally owned snack shacks or at the InterContinental Le Moana Resort adjacent to the beach.

Pink Sands Beach – Harbour Island, Bahamas

This Bahamian beach’s name doesn’t bend the truth one bit: The spot really boasts an amazing shade of pink sand, thanks to the rosy-hued shells of tiny sea creatures called Foraminifera. The color is amplified by a backdrop of vivid, teal water.

Flat, wide and ideal for swimming, sunning or strolling, this three-mile-long beach embodies the natural beauty of tiny Harbour Island, where bikes and golf carts are the main modes of transportation (neighboring Eleuthera is the gateway). When you’re hungry, head for a seafront eatery (Sip Sip is a fave), and order the local specialty: conch fritters.

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Try out Thailand, one of the most popular destinations in the world and especially among Southeast Asia. Can’t make the trip to Paris? Montreal in Canada has a similar French vibe with its own unique culture, too, with local festivals surrounding art and comedy. Portugal also offers some of the most affordable vacations while still having similar aesthetics to more expensive destinations like Spain and Greece.

Wherever you’re looking to celebrate the happiest, most important time of your lives, you’re sure to find a destination fit for you and your partner with our list of best affordable honeymoon destinations.

Jamaica

The Spanish colonized Jamaica shortly after Christopher Columbus discovered the exotic, tropical isle in 1494. The British later snatched it away, laying the groundwork for the cultural melting pot that eventually gave the world Rasta, reggae and Red Stripe. But the Spanish are invading again, this time with huge, all-inclusive resorts that lure couples craving bargains.

You don’t even have to stay at one of the new Riu, Iberostar or Gran Bahia Principe resorts strung along the north shore between Negril and Ocho Rios — their mere appearance has brought down hotel rates across the island. Sandals resorts were founded in Jamaica, and their seven on-island oases are offering all sorts of incentives, including spa credits, free nights and rates up to 65% less than before the Spanish invasion.

And with budget airlines like JetBlue, AirTran and Air Transat now flying between North American cities and Montego Bay, as well as expanded service by other air carriers, Jamaica is now among the cheapest places to reach in the Caribbean.

Thailand

Southeast Asia’s favorite destination is the kind of place where it almost doesn’t matter how much money you spend, making it one of the best budget honeymoon destinations. Even slumming it can seem like luxury in tropical paradises like Phuket and Ko Samui.

Thailand’s biggest bargain is accommodations, especially at the more popular destinations where the choice in hotels can sometimes overwhelm. Fierce competition has brought room prices down to levels that seem too good to be true. Flying around Thailand is fairly inexpensive, too, and never takes very long. Flights between Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai take about an hour and can cost less one way than most comparable flights in the U.S.

Ireland

With the average price of a hotel night falling over the past two years, Dublin has gone from being one of the most expensive capitals in Western Europe to one of the best values. Even so, the Irish metropolis remains relatively expensive compared to the rest of the Emerald Isle, especially the breathtaking west coast with its quaint villages, wind-swept scenery and green that seems to stretch forever.

Our advice: Skip Dublin, and fly straight into Shannon Airport, and you’ll save both money and time (it’s an hour closer to the United States than Dublin) without sacrificing the attractions for which Ireland is known: welcoming locals, thriving musical culture and rugged natural beauty.

Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula encompasses a huge area: Cancun and Cozumel islands, the mainland Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen and Tulum) and inland spots like Chichen Itza and Merida, which means there are plenty of choices for staying, eating and playing. Each destination has its own distinct vibe.

Cancun is all about beaching, bargain shopping and crazy nightlife. Fronting the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Cozumel is a holy grail for the diving crowd. Playa del Carmen is smooth and sophisticated while Tulum and Isla Mujeres offer two takes on beach-bum paradise: the former, eco-minded; the latter, isolated (in a good way). The average price of a hotel room has plunged across the Yucatan during spring and summer.

Five-star hotels generally offer the deepest discounts. Or you can make like Indiana Jones in a thatch-roof jungle bungalow at the Mayaland Hotel, near Chichen Itza. Down in laid-back Tulum, there are good beachfront rooms for less, and even the high-end places, like the rustically romantic Posada Luna del Sur, can fit you in for an affordable price, depending on the season.

Montreal, Canada

If you crave a honeymoon with a French “joie de vivre,” but Paris seems too pricey, then why not consider Montreal? A compact city with top-grade public transit, Montreal makes it easy for guests to explore the city without renting a car. Base yourselves in Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), and you can walk to Notre-Dame Basilica, the St. Lawrence riverfront and the renovated Marche Bonsecours market, with its bars, restaurants and boutiques.

Or purchase a three-day occasional card for unlimited travel on the city’s extensive metro and bus networks. Many of the coolest attractions and events in the city are actually free. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Redpath Museum won’t cost you a dime — neither will many of the events staged during the city’s famous comedy festival. Likewise, the annual Montreal International Jazz Festival includes more than 350 free concerts.

Honolulu, Oahu

Given its high-priced island economy and its distance from the mainland, the 50th state has always been one of the pricier domestic destinations. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find good value. Couples dreaming about a Hawaiian honeymoon should consider Honolulu and the island of Oahu, home to icons like Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and the Banzai Pipeline surf break.

Honolulu’s hefty hotel stock means rates are available that fit every budget. Dining can be affordable, too, especially when you join the locals at the low-priced lunch joints and bakeries of Honolulu’s Kapahulu neighborhood and the city’s Saturday farmers’ market. The city and its lush, tropical surroundings also boast many free festivals and special events that highlight the island’s multicultural heritage.

Portugal

Portugal tops nearly everyone’s list of the most affordable holiday destinations inside the Euro zone, beating out neighboring Spain and equally sun-splashed Greece. But it’s not just the value that’s been giving this coastal country such attention: One of the last Western European nations to modernize, Portugal retains much of its bygone charm.

This land of ancient castles and endless olive groves, chromatic fishing villages and funky urban neighborhoods is just now being complemented by chic beach retreats and some of the best golf courses in the world. The European Consumers’ Organisation recently selected Lisbon as Europe’s best vacation destination, just ahead of Barcelona, Spain.

One of the reasons is that a full week at a five-star hotel in Lisbon can run about the same price as just one or two nights at a luxury hotel in other European capitals. In addition to reasonable hotel rates, Portugal is known for relatively low rental-car rates, restaurant prices and greens fees.

Brazil

Brazil has finally embraced the all-inclusive with the same passion it puts toward soccer. Brazilian backers have hooked up with SuperClubs to launch Breezes properties at prime honeymoon locations, including the musical city of Bahia on the north coast and the super-chic Buzios beach-resort area near Rio de Janeiro.

Despite its reputation as a high-priced city, Rio can actually be very reasonable. After all, the most popular activities are absolutely free: people-watching and parading up and down Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. And you don’t have to stay right on the beach: Hotels a block or two behind the strand are often hundreds of dollars per night cheaper than the Sandside ones while offering the same level of room and service.

Australia

The Aussies have long believed everyone deserves a great holiday, and they accommodate with dining, sleeping and travel options for every budget. Hitting up the Land Down Under has everything you’re looking for.

Want to explore nature and see the wildlife Australia has to offer? Check. Interested in marine life and one of the world’s greatest natural wonders? The Great Barrier Reef is there. Hungry? You can’t go wrong with the wide variety of foods, from pan-Asian food to local cuisines. Be sure to check out the wine Australia has to offer at Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley, too.

Balkans

Europe’s long-lost corner may not seem like the most obvious spot for a honeymoon, but the Balkans have really come into their own in recent years as a low-cost alternative to pricier Mediterranean destinations. In particular, Bulgaria and Croatia have emerged as standout locales where money goes further than elsewhere on the continent — and they have as much culture to offer as their better-known neighbors in Western Europe.

Bulgaria blends Roman ruins, ancient Orthodox churches, Greek-like cuisine and Black Sea beaches with incredibly low prices on just about everything. Croatia is just as eclectic, with a gorgeous mix of Adriatic islands and beaches, fortified Renaissance towns and inland national parks with white-water rafting, hiking and boating on jade-colored lakes.

Puerto Rico

This island remains one of the Caribbean’s best value getaways, not the least because U.S. citizens don’t have to invest in a passport to get there. Flights from the States haven’t dropped that much in price over the past few years, but accommodations in Puerto Rico definitely have. You’ll also save bucks on many of Puerto Rico’s popular outdoor activities.

Surf schools at world-renowned Playa Rincon range are considerably less than other surf spots like Hawaii. Top-ranked scuba outfitters offer one- and two-tank dives for extremely competitive prices out of San Juan. Rental cars are another great value. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, not only are roads and driving conditions very similar to back home, so are rentals.

Sri Lanka

This teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean is on the opposite side of the globe from North America, so airfare isn’t cheap. But once you reach the ancient land of Serendib, the island is very affordable. Imagine all of the exotic delights India has to offer: palaces and ancient temples, palm-shaded beaches, game reserves with wild elephants, leopards, incredible cuisine and exotic shopping.

In a smaller, more manageable space, Sri Lanka makes for one of the best affordable honeymoon destinations.

Turkey

With more than 3,400 miles of shoreline, Turkey has a lot of coast to choose from. And it’s on three different seas: the Mediterranean, Black and Aegean. Much like neighboring Greece, the coast is sprinkled with ancient ruins and picturesque villages, chic waterfront resorts and white-sand strands framed by pine forests and turquoise bays. The main difference is price.

Plan accordingly, and you could end up paying half as much for a Turkish honeymoon as an equivalent Greek getaway. Turkey’s seaside resorts are an especially good bargain. The Greek isle of Santorini may be breathtaking, but, over on the Turkish shore, you can snag a great room in places like Antalya, Bodrum or the new hipster hangout of Cesme for significantly less.

A beach honeymoon in Turkey easily combines with a stopover in one of Europe’s iconic capital cities (London, Paris, Rome). Or you can fly straight to Istanbul and, spend a couple of days beside the Bosporus in a city that has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years.

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Start planning for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with our 5 Best Things to Do in Tokyo.

Read more about the world’s best beaches:

10 Best Beaches in Hawaii | 7 Most Remote Beaches in the Caribbean | 10 Best Beaches in Fiji

The post 10 Best Rio de Janeiro Beaches appeared first on Islands.

Read more in our Ultimate Best Islands to Live On Guide.

Tonga

Vancouver Island

Tuvalu, Fiji

Lombok

Hvar, Croatia

Roatan, Honduras

Palau

Dominica

New Zealand

Florianopolis, Brazil

The post 10 Best Islands to Live On for Starting Over appeared first on Islands.

Maho Bay, St. John by Matt Erickson

Rincon, Puerto Rico by Melissa Veltman

Siesta Key, Florida by Holli Ellis

Roatan, Honduras by Cortnee Farris

Oahu, Hawaii by Tanya Androsoff

Na Pali Coast of Kauai by Cynthia Hedgecock

Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas by Jaroslava Vojtassakova

Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo, Maldives by Peter Fadhuoo

Bora Bora by Gail Donaldson

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil by Luiza Fontaine

The post Photo Contest 2013: Top 10 Best Beach Photos … So Far appeared first on Islands.

MAKES 1 COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lime (cut-up, middle removed)
• 1 tsp organic sugar
• 2-3 oz. cachaça

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In the bottom of a rocks glass, muddle the sugar with the lime wedges.

2. Fill the glass with ice and add cachaça. Stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge, if you wish.

The post Island Cocktail: The Caipirinha appeared first on Islands.

It begins one frozen january night on an unlikely island — Manhattan. I’m at my favorite speakeasy, PDT (“Please Don’t Tell”). You enter by stepping through a phone booth inside a hot-dog store — seriously. The weather must be making me reckless, because I order a caipirinha (kye-peer-EEN-ya), the national drink of Brazil. The zingy blend of Key limes and a powerful liquor called cachaça (ka-SHA-sa) warms me. But something’s not quite right.

My eyes aren’t watering. My throat isn’t catching fire. This is not at all how I remember the drink. The last time I consumed a caipirinha was when I lived in South America. On a dreamy island in Rio de Janeiro’s bay called Ilha Paquetá, I had five of the adventurous yet delicious cocktails before realizing, to my surprise, that I could no longer walk. Next thing I knew, I was waking up on the beach, splayed out like a starfish. Entirely unlike the drink I experienced 20 years ago, the one in front of me is downright gentle.

“What happened to this stuff?” I ask.

“That’s Leblon,” says the bartender. “It’s a new premium brand.” He explains that the cachaça is made in special copper-pot stills and then aged for several years in oak cognac casks.

Premium? Aged? Has the dreaded caipirinha become civilized? What’s become of the real thing? This is my excuse to escape the slush along New York’s curbs for the Brazilian islands so I can find out for myself.

A few weeks later I’m in Rio, at the symbolic home of the city’s serious cocktail lovers, a bar called the Academia da Cachaça. I’ve been invited here by Eliana Pessanha, a caipirinha connoisseur with a mane of blond hair. Lined along the walls, enticingly backlit, are 300 brands of the cane liquor.

“For centuries the caipirinha was a poor man’s drink,” Eliana explains, “only for sweaty rural laborers and poor Carnival revelers.” Upper-crust Brazilians turned up their noses, regarding it much the way Americans view moonshine. “But lately it’s become quite trendy. Handcrafted, artisanal versions of cachaça are taking over.”

I’m shocked to see what’s on the drink menu. Some of the aged cachaças cost up to $100 a shot. There are mango caipirinhas. Passion fruit. Papaya. Am I ordering a stiff drink or a smoothie?

“In the United States, people drink only the lime caipirinhas,” says Eliana. “But lime doesn’t go well with food. The flavor is too strong. Down here, we think anything is possible.”

Clearly, there’s a whole world of taste waiting to be discovered.

Over the next week, as I island-hop off Brazil’s coast, I sample a dazzling array of exotic — and pricey — fruit caipirinhas. I sip caipirinha with pineapple and mint on the sands at Foro Island. Caipirinha with fresh blueberries in the beach town of Búzios. I toss back açaí caipirinha, strawberry caipirinha, even a Red Bull caipirinha.

Finally, I return to my old caipirinha island haunt from 20 years earlier, Ilha Paquetá. Stepping from the ferry, I’m amazed to find that almost nothing has changed. Cars are still banned. The colonial facades continue to crumble. The island is also, I’m told, a holdout of the old-school lime caipirinha. In the dusty lounge of the Lido Hotel, a grinning, elderly bartender wearing a soccer singlet whips up a classic brew with a brand called 51, a mass-produced cachaça that’s barely more expensive than water.

“With a caipirinha, the cheaper the cachaça, the better it tastes,” he opines while pulverizing the lime and sugar with a wooden pestle. He slides over the glass. Cautiously, I take a sip.

Oh yes. This is the caipirinha I remember from all those years ago. The raw concoction scalds my throat and packs a wallop like a baseball bat to the back of the head. I can’t confirm that cheaper is better, but it certainly brings back the memories. I’m older now, and slightly wiser. I stop at one. This time around, I don’t want to wake up splayed out like a starfish on the beach.

Get the recipe for Brazil’s Real Caipirinha »

The post Brazil’s Real Caipirinha: The World’s Toughest Drink appeared first on Islands.

A couple of days ago on my flight in from Recife, as the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha came into view, the Brazilian passengers let out a collective gasp of joy. Ask a Brazilian about Fernando de Noronha, and you’re bound to hear how Guia Quatro Rodas, the Brazilian equivalent of a Michelin Guide, determined that the three best beaches in the whole beach-loving nation are located here ; how the small Atlantic island is home to the largest viewable concentration of spinner dolphins in the world ; how there is no better place in Brazil for snorkeling, scuba diving or surfing; and how the island is perfectly safe for visitors — it doesn’t even have snakes.

Brazilians seem to imagine Fernando de Noronha as more Eden than Eden — all splendor and no serpents — complete with dive shops and surf rentals to enable the experience. Unfortunately, islands like this are never truly Edenic because humans have long-since arrived. People have done to Fernando de Noronha things that must have made sense at the time: The Portuguese turned it into a penal colony in the 18th century , for example. Later, to stem prisoner raft building, the wardens cut down the virgin forests. And in the 20th century, the tegu lizard was brought in as part of a dubious rodent-control scheme.

Still, the fact that a beach-obsessed country would rate this island’s beaches the best in the nation is enough to make me think there might be something to the Edenic reputation. So, hoping to learn what Brazilians know about the place and to discover how much of their awe an outsider can access, I’ve been approaching Fernando de Noronha as the Brazilians do. I meander down to the shore each morning, smear on sunscreen, swim in the surf, kick a soccer ball along the sand and gaze happily at well-formed women wearing tiny bikinis. Conceição Beach is a splendid place for all such activities. It’s within walking distance of the populated northeast end of the island — yet it’s quiet enough to feel isolated and idyllic. Fringed with jungle and home to lively surf, Conceição curves out from the shadow of the iconic Morro do Pico , a volcanic black monolith that soars 1,000 feet over the island’s northern shore.

“The sea to make much strong this day!” I announce to random Brazilians lolling on the sands of Conceição. My Brazilian language skills aren’t so great, so I’ve been getting by with “Tarzan Portuguese” — 80 percent bad Spanish, 5 percent rudimentary Portuguese (pronounced with a bad Spanish accent) and 15 percent passable English — all delivered with chirpy, Mr. Rogers-style optimism. “I much like to do bath as fish in water of here!” Presumably impressed with my efforts, a few Noronhense locals mention that I should come to the luau at Conceição later tonight, when the moon is full. At least that’s what I think they say.

So that evening I walk the 20 minutes inland to my pousada (inn) to don my luau finery (a clean shirt and my best flip-flops). On the way back to the beach, however, I am distracted by a Christians-versus- lions level of spectator excitement emanating from a small concrete grandstand in Vila dos Remédios, the island’s biggest settlement. At a glance, this village looks like an old Truman-era military base that has been repainted, outfitted with a few new houses and restaurants, and passed off as a town — and that’s pretty much what it is (though some of the more traditional-looking buildings were built in the 18th century using prison labor). A pair of World War II-era cannons sit rusting in front of the local administration building, their barrels aimed at a dive shop. The air here smells like flowers.

The crowd noise, I soon discover, is the collective frenzy of 200 Noronhense fans who have gathered to watch a local soccer match. Though the game consists of area husbands and fathers and boy- friends split into two four-man teams on a small concrete court, the energy level rivals anything one might see at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. In the sold-out grandstand, drummers pound out samba rhythms on tambores; chubby little girls dance in their seats and wave green-and-yellow pompoms; a shirtless, gray-bearded man sells cold cans of Skol beer and guaraná soda from a styrofoam cooler; and pre- teen boys in yellow scrimmage vests chase after balls that fly over the fence and roll downhill toward the sea. By the end of the game I’m screaming “porra!” along with the crowd when- ever anything exciting happens. (The word, I later learn, means “sperm,” though at an applied level it’s an all-purpose expletive that can be used when-ever anything bad, good or neutral happens on, off or near the field.)

My journey to the full-moon luau resumes when the soccer game ends, but I’m quickly sidetracked by the accordion-and-triangle sound of forro music reverberating up from the Bar do Cachorro at the sea- side edge of the Remédios cobblestones. I had learned the basic forro dance steps just a week ago in Rio, where northeastern country music has caught on among young hipsters, so I stride into the bar’s open courtyard and take the prettiest girl I see out onto the dance floor. Simpler than samba, forro was developed when U.S. soldiers stationed on the Brazilian mainland threw dance parties “for all” during World War II. On the floor, seasoned dance moves resemble a sensual swing step mixed with salsa (though, admittedly, my neophyte rendering makes it look like a two-step barn dance with a few big-band-era spins thrown in for good measure).

For better or worse, Marianna — the beer-commercial-gorgeous woman I’m forro-ing with — is married to a beer- commercial-handsome civil engineer named Mauricio, who lives with her in São Paulo and speaks great English (but doesn’t like to dance). Between sets, Mauricio and I discuss whether or not the prisoners who once lived here might have found any pleasure amid such a splendid setting.

“Probably not,” Mauricio says. “Two hundred years ago this wasn’t paradise; it was considered wilderness.”

“So when did being stuck on an exotic island stop being a punishment and start being a fantasy?” I ask.

Mauricio shoots me a wry grin. “Probably around the time the bikini was invented.”

When the forro band packs up, my new friends are too sleepy to hike out to the luau, so I trudge to Conceição Beach by myself. When I arrive, the moonlight has rendered the coastline in subtle shades of silver and gray — dark rocks and darker shadows, tall clouds and shimmering waves. I hike the entire strip of beach but find nothing resembling a luau. Undaunted, I stretch out in the sand and listen to the pulsing roar of waves, breathing in the salty-fresh scent of sea spray as I watch the beacon atop Morro do Pico send its spooky beam out into the half-lit night. Luau or no, I have stumbled into a charmed moment. I feel lucky to be here.

Of all the quirks I’ve noticed about life on fernando de noronha, by far the most perplexing is this: Almost all the people on the island drive noisy little fat-tire dune buggies. Locals drive them and tourists drive them. Government officials drive them and so do the research scientists. Standing alongside the paved motorway that spans the island’s 4-mile length, watching the ongoing stream of odd little vehicles, I feel like I’ve been beamed into an episode of The Flintstones.

I rent my own dune buggy after three days on the island because I want to understand this ridiculous automotive spectacle and because — let’s face it — walking all day in the equatorial heat can be tiring. My true commitment to this machine comes not when I sign the rental papers but 15 minutes later at the island’s only gas station, when an inspired bit of Tarzan phraseology convinces the station attendant that I want $30 worth of petrol. Thus burdened with a full tank of gas on an island with four miles of paved road , I elect to visit all the beaches on the island. Along the way, I pick up every hitchhiker I find, which proves to be a great way to meet local teenagers and entertain them with scintillating quasi- Portuguese small talk: “Where you to go?” “I of the United States!” “You dog have much cute!” “What are it name?”

Despite occasional environmental disruptions (including the felling of the forest cover) during the island’s 200-plus years as a Portuguese and Brazilian penal colony, the island’s functional isolation kept it undeveloped and relatively pristine. Outmaneuvering casino developers, Brazil’s conservationists persuaded the government to declare 70 percent of the island a National Marine Park in 1988. Strict environmental laws now limit the number of tourists who can visit the island at one time, and all visitors are required to pay a conservation tax that increases over time. Visitors and locals alike are forbidden to build campfi res, feed the wildlife or remove plants and animals (including seashells). Swimming and surfing are allowed only at designated beaches. Thanks to these restrictions — as well as the island’s geographic location along warm African currents — wildlife now thrives on Fernando de Noronha.

As I take my Barney Rubble tour of the island, bumping the dune buggy down rugged dirt roads that branch off from the main highway, I find that the finest beaches here are invariably the least accessible. My favorite proves to be Praia do Sancho (Sancho Beach) on the cliff-fringed northwest shore of the island. The beach can only be reached by climbing down a series of iron ladders. There are no beer vendors or toilet facilities here, just turquoise surf swirling across tan sand under the largest bird-breeding colonies in the South Atlantic.

In the trees that line the cliff, I spot white-crowned black noddies building nests with bits of seaweed. Over the water, frigate birds and brown boobies swoop and bicker over fish. At the edge of the surf, a three-foot tegu lizard wearily drags its tail through the sand as if walking off a hangover. Noronha skinks mate on the volcanic rocks of the shore, pulsing like jugulars on the sand-flecked boulders.

Though Sancho Beach was rated the finest in the country by Guia Quatro Rodas (just ahead of adjacent Porcos Beach, and Leao Beach to the southwest), I am alone here for nearly an hour before a middle-aged couple clambers down the ladders and greets me with a friendly barrage of unintelligible Portuguese.

“The dragons of here is much cute and funny!” I reply. “As to walk after drink many beers!” Perhaps unsure what to make of all this, the couple backs away slowly, and I soon have the beach to myself again.

Over the course of an afternoon, in fact, I discover that few Brazilians linger here very long. Despite its guidebook reputation, Sancho’s difficult access and wilderness setting don’t lend them- selves to Brazilian obsessions like sun-bathing, picnicking and sand sports. I hadn’t imagined I’d have such a storied beach to myself, but I manage to spend most of the afternoon here in very happy solitude.

While the drier reaches of Fernando de Noronha host diverse and abundant wildlife, the island’s marquee creatures swim in its warm, clear seas, which can provide visibility up to 150 feet. In addition to spinner dolphins (which, by law, you cannot approach in the water, though you can let them approach you), local reefs and shipwrecks are rich with stingrays, eels, squirrelfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish and puffer fish. Unique to the area are the yellow-and-blue donzelas-de- Rocas (territorial herbivores that tend their eggs like chickens). Black-and-turquoise triggerfish also thrive in Noronhense waters, perhaps because they have such a keen taste for dolphin poop.

I rent a full kit of snorkeling gear and plunge into the waters of Baía do Sueste (in keeping with the island’s no- nonsense nomenclature, the bay is located along the southeast coast). Here I spy queen angelfish, yellow goatfish and small lemon sharks, but sea turtles are the biggest draw. They nest on the island’s beaches and can grow to the size of a kitchen table. Scientist-supervised turtle hatchings attract crowds of cheering tourists on Fernando de Noronha’s beaches, and finding the creatures in a place like Baía do Sueste is generally no problem. Starstruck snorkelers follow them around the bay like photographers at a movie opening. Joining the snorkel paparazzi, I fin my way along the shoreline as the turtles tilt and glide beneath me. I stop counting the creatures after 30 and concentrate instead on imitating their graceful underwater maneuvers. When daylight begins to fade, I wade ashore tired and happy.

A couple of days later, on my last full morning on the island, I awaken before dawn and drive my dune buggy out to the trailhead near Baía dos Golfinhos — Dolphin Bay. I hike through the darkness until I reach the edge of the coastal cliff, where I join three sleepy biologists scanning the waters for signs of activity.

This ritual is a time-honored activity for visitors to Fernando de Noronha because Dolphin Bay is one of just two places in the world where spinner dolphins live year-round (the other is Hawaii’s Kealakekua Bay).

On a good morning, over a thousand dolphins play, mate and rest in the waters. Since animal lovers proved unwavering in their compulsion to leap into the water and swim after the dolphins, tour boats were banned from the bay in 1986. Now this cliff top is really as close as you can get to it all.

As dawn breaks on the island, a busload of 20 or so São Paulo teenagers traipse in and join me on the overlook. Prepared for the morning interlopers, the biologists hand out binoculars and quietly explain the dolphin habitat to the teens, who ask questions and snap a few pictures. I consider asking some questions of my own — “What dolphins here to eat?” “Where dolphins make funny during not here?” — but ultimately decide against it.

At 6:41 a.m., a biologist spots a daisy chain of dorsal fins arcing along the near shore. The São Paulo teens shriek with excitement, brandishing their binoculars and cameras, but the dolphins quickly disappear beneath the water.

One hour passes, and the teens get restless and wander back to their bus. The day grows warmer and brighter. Another hour passes. Two Italian hikers arrive and glance at their watches. But I’ve been on Fernando de Noronha long enough to know that if you cultivate the right blend of patience and openness, the island will present itself to you on its own terms. So I continue to wait … and wait.

Finally, at mid-morning, the dorsal daisy chain reappears along the near shore, followed by another, larger pod of spinner dolphins. Then another. And another. Within minutes there are so many dolphins leaping and cavorting in the bay that I hardly know where to focus my attention. It’s a spectacle so intricate and majestic and weirdly nonchalant that I just stand there, enraptured, and watch until it ends.

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