At Tahiti’s Le Taha’a

resort, guests find

a balance of privacy
and Polynesian
­immersion.

The best
Private
islands islands
�

ultimate escape. that’s the feeling Best

of the
that the island is yours — all yours. world
You pass the day seeing only a hand-
ful of people, or no one at all, as you
bask in the quiet relaxation that only a
private island can offer. And yet you’re
not a castaway on a deserted outpost.
Instead, a soft massage, a gourmet din-
ner and a glass of wine await your whim.
We considered more than 100 private-
island resorts to bring you these 12
­destinations — from accessible favorites
like the BVI’s Peter Island to one of the
most stunning resorts in Tahiti. Come
tim mckenna

find the perfect island to call your own.

by chris tauber

86 Ap r i l/ M a y 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om Ap r i l/ M a y 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om 87
 the best
The amenities on
Frégate Island
blend in with the
Seychelles’ beauty.
Tautau
� tahiti If you don’t want to be
seen here, you won’t be. The staff
of Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa on
this motu facing the “Vanilla Island”
of Taha’a is used to the paparazzi-shy,
so you can land in a private helicopter
and get private meals prepared in your
private villa, on a private motu or in a
private canoe. But when you’re ready
to interact with Polynesian experi-
ences, the executive chef will discuss
how he cooked that day’s fish in the
local spices; the dance instructor will
Few islands do a teach you the fast Ori Tahiti or slow
­better job of offering Aparima dances; and the masseuse
world-class luxury will work “black gold,” locally grown
while preserving the vanilla, into your skin. All of this is
natural environment. in an iconic private-island setting —
88
48 over-water suites and 12 beach villas
with a backdrop that’s Tahiti at its most
picturesque. You choose when, or if,
you return to the real world. letahaa.com
Frégate Island
� seychelles This island was a par-
adise before the Frégate Island Private
resort was built — and it still is. Few
islands, private or otherwise, do a better
c o u r t e s y f r é g at e i s l a n d p r i vat e
job of providing world-class luxury to
their guests while preserving the natural
environment. Reserved sanctuary areas
on the island help boost populations of
rare magpie robins and terrapins. That
love of nature carries over to the Rock
Spa, run by what locals call a madam
dibwa, “fairy of the forest.” All treatments
are drawn from the fruits and vegetables
Ap r i l/ M a y 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om
 the best
grown organically on Frégate. While you
could actually eat any of those treat-
ments, better to try the Seychelles cre-
ole dishes at the Plantation Restaurant.
The beauty of it all is barely interrupted
by 16 villas, each with a swimming pool
measuring from 33 to 60 feet in length.
It’s an ideal way to soak your body while
soaking up paradise. fregate.com
Matangi
� fiji As if half-square-mile horse-
shoe-shaped Matangi island isn’t hidden
enough, Fiji’s only treehouse accom-
modations put the privacy literally over
the top. Nestled in the foliage, these
three split-level bures transport guests
into the jungle. They and the other 10
Fiji’s only ­treehouse bures all have beach views, of course.
accommodations put For an even more private beach expe-
the privacy at this rience, take a picnic lunch and snorkel
private-island resort gear over to Horseshoe Bay (and check
­literally over the top. it off Patricia Schultz’s official 1,000
Matangi, Fiji
90
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. " 6 *
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0 '
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Deluxe Maui condos from $145*
Presenting five distinctive and spacious condominium resorts
with Outrigger’s renowned island hospitality. Choose from
Places to See Before You Die list). If you a spacious studio, one- or two-bedroom suite and let your
do crave more human interaction, take Sonora Island, Canada island adventure begin.
a boat ride west to join the excited div- Call 0653*((&3 or visit outriggercondos.com.
ers in the incredible Somosomo Strait *Rates valid through 12/21/09. Subject to availability. Taxes not included.
at the famous Great White Wall dive
site. You’ll have to climb down from
your treehouse, though. matangiisland.com
Peter Island
� british virgin islands Gloating
isn’t the best reason to visit Peter Island.
But it can be fun, especially as you lie
down for your Tropical Lime and Ginger
Buff scrub in your private spa bohio over-
looking Big Reef Bay. You can imagine
the passing yachtsmen saying, “Wow,
how can I get there?” The answer: only ride to Palfrey Island. The staff will
on the resort’s boat, and only if you do the work; your job is to do, well,
have a reservation. If you really want whatever you want. lizardisland.com.au
to inspire envy, “buy out” all 52 rooms
and three villa estates on this 3-square- Sonora Island
mile L-shaped island for your own epic � Canada British Columbia is dot-
event. Newly renovated ocean-view and ted with private islands — for fisher-
beachfront junior suites plus new Indian men. But Sonora Resort has a bit more
medicinal treatments in the spa keep this than a cabin and a fish-cleaning station.
favorite spot fresh amid the BVI’s classic This all-inclusive Relais & Chateaux
sites. Politely wave back to those yachts- luxury outpost includes guest rooms BN_005439_ISL0509.indd 1 2/13/09 4:53:40 PM
men — or board the resort’s Silmaril sail- in 12 rustic-yet-modern lodges on the
ing yacht and join them. peterisland.com otherwise undeveloped and road-free
Sonora Island. Across its 64 square
Lizard Island miles, the beauty of the Canadian wil-
� australia The lizards are big; derness is everywhere. Bald eagles and
the clams are giant; the staff smiles are black bears live among the red and yel-
huge. During your stay on 4-square- low cedars while orcas and porpoises
mile Lizard Island off northeastern cavort offshore. The wildlife gets its
Australia, the helpful staff members own privacy when the resort closes
will do everything short of carrying you November through April. But in the
on the three-hour hike to Cook’s Look. summer, guests can respectfully observe
the animals. An eco-adventure boat
c o u r t e s y mata n g i r e s o r t; o p p o s i t e : s o n o r a r e s o r t
Leaving the Azure Spa to go snorkel-
ing in the Giant Clam Gardens, but tour goes to a nearby river where fami-
left your mask behind? “I’ll take care lies of grizzly bears catch salmon. No
of it for you,” says Noel, the deckhand need to fish yourself if you don’t want
and guide. Here the 40 villas have no to; chef Matthew Stowe will be happy to
locks, and the Great Barrier Reef has serve you his fresh catch. sonoraresort.com
no end to its wonders. If you do get
lonely on this island national park, Pamalican Island
visit the only other development here, � philippines Like a nesting doll, the
the Lizard Island Research Station. Amanpulo resort here offers a retreat
Find out about the scientists’ efforts within a retreat. Already Pamalican Island
to study and protect coral reefs. Or if floats alone among the 7,000 islands of
you want to be even more alone, pick the Philippines, resting in the quiet sea
up a fresh meal and enjoy a dinghy in a group of islands known as Palawan.
Ap r i l/ M a y 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om
 the best

Dhigu, Maldives

From the air, Pamalican looks like a green

comet ringed with pure white sand. Walk new room upgrades, a new fleet of boats, over the water. They’re the only such Casa Ventanas at the end of a 150-foot
along that beach, and in 90 minutes you’ll new chefs and new environmentally accommodations in the Cook Islands, private dock — does have some limita-
have circled the entire island, maybe see- conscious initiatives. The vibe, though, and all a direct flight from Los Angeles. tions. So the real magic is in striving for
ing baby sharks and nesting turtles along hasn’t changed since the resort’s incep- To enjoy the lagoon, step onto a wind- no limits. aprivateisland.com
the way. To fully escape even the few other tion some 35 years ago. That means a surf board, hop into an outrigger canoe
casitas here — 40 cottages in the native longtime staff, an unspoiled natural or jump in for a snorkel. You may never Star Island
style of bahay kubo dwellings — book the environment and a classic island lifestyle want to towel off — until you smell that � bahamas The promise of a new
Nature Villa. The four-bedroom mini- (no crowds, no TV and please, no cell night’s authentic feast sizzling in the umu “green” retreat in Eleuthera is why Star
compound has its own open-air dining phones). Enjoy any of the 13 suites right kai earth oven on the beach. Few have Island made this list. Imagine a private-
pavilion, courtyard and beach, with a staff on the beach of this 1 ¼-square-mile had yellowfin tuna like this. Fall asleep island resort that draws all of its power
of three. Retreat any more, and you’d island, or truly make yourself at home in to the rustling of the coconut grove and from solar shingles and small wind tur-
be Robinson Crusoe. amanresorts.com a secluded rental house. Then kick back the ripples of the lagoon. You’ll feel one bines and that has a marina with no gas,
on a 2-mile-long, often deserted white- with the water. aitutakilagoonresort.com only sailboats and solar-powered elec-
Veli and Dhigu sand beach — because that is timeless trical plug-ins. That’s what developer
� maldives In this island nation dot- Cayo Espanto

ted with 80 resorts, it’s impossible to
pick just one that’s the best — so here
are two. Anantara’s Veli and Dhigu
islands in the South Malé Atoll of the
Maldives are connected by long walk-
ways and free shuttles across the lagoon,
sharing their collective eight restau-
rants and two spas among the guests
of more than 100 bungalows and villas.
Island chief Didi will kick off a night of
dining with a story of the Maldives’ his-
tory. To learn more about the Thai and
fusion dishes, sign up for the Anantara
Cooking School. To claim a piece of
the Maldives just for the two of you,
enjoy a private meal just off Dhigu on
an uninhabited speck of sandy paradise
c o u r t e s y a n a n ta r a d h i g u, ma l d i v e s
Caribbean. meridianclub.com
— with table and umbrella. (OK, that Akitua
makes three islands.) anantara.com � cook islands Only one resort
lets you stay on the stunning Aitutaki
Pine Cay Lagoon: the appropriately named
� turks & Caicos Other places say Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. Built
they’re “Old Caribbean”; the Meridian on the small sand teardrop known as
Club on Pine Cay means it. Of course, Akitua, 29 bungalows put guests steps
there’s a lot that’s new about the resort: from the water; seven more are actually
� belize This hideaway in the cayes of
Belize could grant practically any wish,
except for smoked fish. So when a Cayo
Espanto guest requested that, the chef
constructed a smoker. Same thing hap-
pened when another guest wanted a
Christmas tree. The resort flew one in.
After all, a private island with only six
villas — including the new over-water
David Sklar imagined in his designs for
Star Island, which stands for Sustainable
Terrain and Resources. The 20-bungalow,
48-hotel-room resort still plans to have
the amenities travelers expect, including
a spa. Set to open late
this year, the promis-
islands.com/best
ing island could be an �
See 100+ resorts
inspiring example. � book your stay
­s tarislandbahamas.com � Read “Best” lists

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Immerse yourself in the spirit of the Hacienda, where there’s

honor in hospitality and a respect for the rhythm of life.
Explore the Endless Luxury.

www.haciendatresrios.com ~ (800) 224.4231 ~ info@haciendatresrios.com

CONSULT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT

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