Compare 576 Travel Destinations

Rapa Nui — one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth, 3,500 km from continental Chile. Home to nearly 1,000 moai stone statues including the 15-moai row at Ahu Tongariki, the quarry at Rano Raraku, the sea-facing Ahu Akivi, and the Birdman cult ceremonial village at Orongo. UNESCO Rapa Nui National Park covers 40% of the island. Sole air link is LATAM from Santiago (5.5 hr); the island's only town is Hanga Roa (~8,000 people). National park pass ~$80 USD.

A 21-island UNESCO archipelago of volcanic origin lying 350 km off the northeast coast of Brazil, reached only by a one-hour flight from Recife or Natal. The federal government caps the population on the main island at 470 visitors at any one time and charges a daily environmental preservation fee plus a national park entry, which keeps the place close to pristine. Praia do Sancho, accessed by a steep ladder down a cliff face, is consistently rated the world's best beach. Baia dos Golfinhos hosts the largest known resident colony of spinner dolphins on Earth, who arrive every dawn to rest after night feeding.

A 54-km-long island off the southern Brazilian coast with 42 distinct beaches — broad surf beaches at Mole and Joaquina, calm family bay waters at Jurerê, the bohemian Lagoa da Conceição lagoon at the centre, and the wild undeveloped south where Lagoinha do Leste requires a 2.5-hour rainforest hike. Florianópolis (locally "Floripa") is consistently ranked the highest quality-of-life Brazilian capital, settled by Azorean Portuguese in 1748 with fishing villages still preserving Azorean lacework, oyster farms (90% of Brazilian oysters come from this bay), and the lilting "Manezinho" accent. The 1898 Mercado Público's upstairs Box 32 oyster bar is the most beloved local institution. Public transit is genuinely mediocre — rent a car or rely on Uber. Beach scene is world-class; peak summer (December-February) is crowded and expensive.

Darwin's living laboratory — volcanic islands where giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions exist without fear of humans. A bucket-list wildlife destination.