Secret Islands From Around The World

The Torres Strait Islands

Image Source: CNN

The Torres Strait Islands are actually 300 separate islands between Cape York and Papua New Guinea. You'd be extremely lucky to ever see these with your own eyes as most are uninhabited and those that are require permits. Aboriginal descenders live on the islands, as do the Melanesian.

Holbox Island, Mexico

Image Source: Reddit

Holbox isn't as secretive, or difficult to get to as the Torres Strait islands, although it is a three hour ferry ride from the party isles of Cancun. You aren't allowed to drive on this island, and you can only travel via your feet (or animal). It's a great holiday to see a wide range of birds.

Yaeyama Islands, Japan

Image Source: Japan Today

The Yaeyama Islands are found more then 400km away from the main Japanese island of Okinawa Main Island. It's been well looked after and titled a National Park to protect its beaches and vegetation. There is a somewhat primitive feel to the islands, they haven't been developed in a long time.

Ulleungdo, South Korea

Image Source: Reddit

It's believed that this island was formed more than 2.5 million years ago following a volcanic eruption. People choose to try and come here to cleanse themselves as there is no pollution. It's also popular for hikers and is becoming a popular destination for exploring fishermen.

Iles du Salut, French Guiana

Image Source: Reddit

Also known as the Salvation Islands, which is ironic when you know that Napoleon used to banish prisoners here. Since this period however, they've become more of a place of relaxation filled with palm trees. You can visit some of the old prison buildings which have now been restored.

San Blas Islands

Image Source: Reddit

The San Blas islands are 400 strong and extend along the entirety of Panama's southern coast which is almost 140 miles. They are all under the control of Panama, ending just before the Colombian border. If you're imagining a beautiful sunny beach, white sand, sunshine, palm trees and blue seas, then this is the place.

Penghu Islands, Taiwan

Image Source: Reddit

The Penghu islands aren't in as high numbers as the the San Blas Islands, with only 90; and offer a mix of history and the option to enjoy the sunshine and beaches. You'll find ancient temples dedicated to the Taiwanese god Matsu and a wide range of traditional Taiwanese culture.

Hog Islands, Honduras

Image Source: Hog Island

The Hog Islands are another group of land masses that were once used by groups of those imprisoned (or supposed to be). It was eventually used as a home by pirates including the notoriously known Henry Morgan. Besides its history, you can now find a secluded island surrounded with coral reefs.

Con Dao Islands, Vietnam

Image Source: Reddit

The Con Dao islands are 16 strong, and they are also now recognised as a national park. They can be found off the south coast of Vietnam and are a great place for those who love to explore to travel to. From jungles to beaches, both filled with amazing wildlife, this could be the place for you.

Ssese Islands, Uganda

Image Source: Reddit

Ssese consists of 84 separate islands that stretch along the northwest of Lake Victoria. You won't be doing much of anything here, in fact, you're looking at relaxing and that's all. The waters aren't suitable for swimming as they can carry diseases, and if that doesn't get you then the hippos or crocs might.

Desroches Island, Seychelles

Image Source: Reddit

The Seychelles itself is already a secluded country as it is, so finding an island off an island, I'm sure you'll understand what this will be like. There is literally nothing on the island, except a 5 star resort, no shops and no restaurants. You'll be coughing up a heck of a lot of money to visit here.

Scrub Island, British Virgin Islands

Image Source: Reddit

This island has only recently been habitable, previously only being explored in very small amounts. However, a few years ago, the Scrub Island resort opened and its now a Caribbean Paradise island with private beaches, an award winning spa and a marina; there's also a wide range of wildlife.

Culebra, Puerto Rico

Image Source: Puerto Rico

Culebra is often overlooked as a result of Puerto Rico's other popular island destination, Vieques. But if you're looking for a laidback, island getaway then it might be for you. You can swim in its luscious seas, enjoy time on the untouched beaches and even go snorkelling with some turtles!

North Sentinel Island, Bay Of Bengal

Image Source: Reddit

Possibly one of the most publicised secret islands, the North Sentinel Island has become infamous for its inhabitants. The Sentinelese are a little tribe that have been known to be particularly hostile towards any outsiders. You shouldn't and won't get the chance to come here, and you probably wouldn't want to.

Niihau, Hawaii

Image Source: The Boston Globe

Niihau is the given name for this island, a word that also means forbidden. There are some native inhabitants to the island, however if you want to visit here then you'll have to be very lucky to get a permit to visit the island. One family has owned the island for years and since 1952 it's been incredibly secretive.

Fort Carroll Island, Baltimore

Image Source: Reddit

It seems bizarre to say that FCI is actually a man-made island, one that was made for the purpose of protecting Baltimore during the civil war. It was then briefly used as a checkpoint during World War II but, since 1958 when it was bought it has been left virtually untouched.

Bouvet Island, Norway

Image Source: Reddit

The icy terrain on Bouvet Island means that its basically impossible to make it a habitable place for people to live. To give you some context, over 90% of the island is covered by glacier ice, and at the center of the glacier is an inactive volcano crater that's also filled full of ice.

Ile Saint-Paul, France

Image Source: Medium

There are very few people allowed to step foot on this island; in fact there's only one set of buildings, a scientific research cabin, usable. There's limited land space and the water around the entry crater is incredibly shallow so it can be difficult to even get there. There's a massive amount of birdlife though!

Poveglia, Italy

Image Source: Reddit

Poveglia was once a bustling (yet secluded) island that was eventually quarantined in the 1300's to keep people with the plague away from others. It was again used to quarantine people in 2022 and after this as a mental hospital. No wonder people claim this is one of the most haunted places on earth.

Poison Gas Island

Image Source: Japan Experience

Japan removed an island from maps in 1925 and used it in order to develop mustard and tear gas believing the US and Europe were doing the same. Workers weren't made aware of this and many were poisoned. These days all that on the island is the factory, now a museum and a load of rabbits?

North Brother Island, New York

Image Source: Reddit

Even most New Yorkers don't know this place exists, most of the structures on the island are broken brick remains of half century old buildings. It originally held the first known typhoid carrier in the US and then later as a rehab centre for teenage addicts. These days its unused due to its fragility.

Isla de las Muneca, Mexico

Image Source: Reddit

If you're afraid of dolls then this place is definitely not for you, it's not called the Island of the Dolls for no reason! It has a creepy backstory too, a young girl drowned in a lake, so a man began hanging dolls all across the trees. Tens of thousands of them, and then he was found in the same lake. No thanks.

Snake Island, Brazil

Image Source: Reddit

If you're a sufferer of Ophidiophobia, or fear of snakes, then you definitely want to avoid finding yourself on this island. The island just off the coast of Brazil is covered in the most dangerous and poisonous of snakes in the whole of the world. There's even laws that try to stop you going here.

Surtsey Island, Iceland

Image Source: Reddit

The Surtsey Island is another made following a volcanic eruption as recent as 1963. The entire island is something of an anomaly in the world, and used as a laboratory to study the ecosystem of an island less than a century old. You'll likely never visit here yourself, the public are banned from entering.

Heard Island, Australia

Image Source: Reddit

You're probably thinking that doesn't look like Australia, and you wouldn't be completely wrong. Heard Island is found 4000km away from southern Australia. Its a mountainous island and the habitat for penguins seals and and other ice cold animals. Its also a World Heritage site and its illegal for people to visit the island.

Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean

Image Source: Reddit

Unless you're a high ranking official within the US government, you'll never find yourself visiting the Diego Garcia Island. Originally used by the British Army frm 1973 when the removed all the native inhabitants, its now under the rule of the US army and visitors can't be within a 3 mile vicinity of the island.

Albatross Island, Australia

Image Source: The Guardian

This island is known for exactly what you're thinking; it houses what is believed to be nearly 50% of the entire population of Albatross in the entire world. It also houses penguins amongst other wildlife and only permitted citizens are allowed to visit the island in order to protect the habitat.

Morgan Island, South Carolina

Image Source: Atlas Obscura

Morgan Island has been an uninhabited island for centuries and is instead now the home to thousands of Rhesus monkeys. They were all moved here from Puerto Rico as they were transferring Herpes B to the population around them. Only researchers are now allowed to visit the island.

Navassa Island, The Caribbean

Image Source: Vox

The Navassa Island's owners have long been in dispute, with both the US and Haiti both claiming to be its rightful owners. The US have now claimed its a Wildlife Refuge and so the 12 miles surrounding the island are now restricted to the public. Again, only researchers are now allowed entry.

Barren Island, India

Image Source: Reddit

The Barren Island can be found within the Andaman Islands, one of the most popular tourist destinations. Your best shot at viewing this island is via a ferry or boat as the island is off limits to visitors. If you were lucky, you'd see beautiful coral reefs, however India's only active volcano might keep you out.