Best Islands in the World 2016, Boracay and Maui

Do you want to travel to the best island in the world? Conde Nast Traveler, world-renowned online travel magazine named the tiny island of Boracay, Philippines and Maui, Hawaii as the 2016 Best Island in the World and Best Island in the US, respectively. Through their Readers’ Choice survey, they ranked the best islands in the US and in the world.

Boracay Is Best Island in The World

Calling an “itty-bitty island” (because it only has less than 4 square miles land area), the magazine described Boracay as a “tropical idyll” with “gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets.” Aside from the beach however, the island’s night life which has grown throughout the years is another reason why tourists are drawn to it.

In the past, getting to Boracay took quite an effort. These days however, daily direct flights service the island from Manila and other major hubs in the country. From Caticlan, Aklan, passengers take a quick pump boat ride to the various stations in the island.

Conde Nast singled out White Beach as the place to be if one wants to feel powdery white sand between their toes, or enjoy a dip in the crystal clear water.

Palawan and Cebu Among Top 20

Two other Philippine islands landed on this year’s list: Palawan in second place, and Cebu in fifth place. Other islands on the Top 20 list include Bali, Indonesia and Santorini, Greece.

Boracay only made it to top 12 in 2014 and top 13 in 2015. Palawan held the title of best island in 2015.

Best Island in the US is Hawaii’s Maui Island

Together with the Readers’ Choice for islands outside of the US, readers also voted for the best island in the United States. Some of the top 10 choices came from the continental US, but four out of the ten choices were part of Hawaii’s islands.

Maui is Hawaii’s second-largest island. It bested Oahu, where Honolulu is located, to the top spot in the list. Conde Nast described Maui as an island that “boasts rugged terrain, volcanic beaches, and the towering Mt. Haleakala.” The main attraction of the island is its natural environment.

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