Archipela-Go! Awesome Island Holiday Ideas

You know what’s underappreciated? Holidays on an island! Yeah, sure, you hear all the time about luxury island holidays. But most people stick to what they know, which is holidays in cities and in the country. It seems we still much prefer to be places where it takes hours to walk from one shore to the other. Maybe it makes us feel safer.

So, as you’ve probably inferred, this is a pro-island holiday article. But I’m going to take it a little further by talking to you about archipelagos. That’ll be an extensive group of islands, all next to each other, usually just off a country’s coast. Going to an archipelago allows for one of life’s most truly underrated experiences: island hopping!

There are some awesome archipelagos out there you can visit. Here are some of the most interesting ones.

Svalbard

Svalbard! I could type that name out all day. What an awesome name. It means “cold edge”, which very aptly describes this group of islands found halfway between Norway and the North Pole.

I’ll be honest with you: I’m starting a little extreme here. This is a cold place, being in the Arctic ocean and all. 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers. Two-thirds of the islands are national parks, all largely untouched by humans. (There are only about 2600 inhabitants here!) There are Arctic foxes and reindeer galore, and about 500 polar bears roam the land. Local law actually requires residents and visitors to carry hunting rifles outside the settlements. They’re required as a last-resort defense against the bears.

I’ll freely admit to you that it doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, despite its evident beauty. But I’m sure there’s some tougher readers who are salivating right now.

The Canary Islands

People usually don’t say they’ve gone to the Canary Islands. This is because people tend to go to one island and stay there, the most popular being Teneriffe and Gran Canaria. But all of the Canary Islands are filled with beautiful architecture and stunning skies.

This Spanish archipelago have a poor rep among some refined English-speaking holiday goers. The aforementioned islands are very popular amongst the newly-18s who want somewhere cheap and exotic to go and get plastered. And it’s true that there is a big, loud party culture in those place. But don’t tar the whole place with that brush.

There’s majestic mountains and quaint pueblos galore. The place is also rich in art and culture. And the weather! It’s some of the best in the world. Consider visiting one of the lesser-mentioned islands, such as Lanzarote. Lanzarote holidays can often be found at cheaper prices!

Florida Keys

Yes: this is the home of the Key lime pie. So you can expect warm sun, friendly faces, funky Caribbean communities, and darn good pie.

Snorkelers and divers from all over the United States come here. Did you know there’s only one living coral barrier reef in the entire United States? It can be found right here in the Florida Keys. There’s also an astonishing butterfly conservatory. And for those who are a bit more bookish, there’s the Ernest Hemingway House. This is a museum made from the house that Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway actually lived in for much of his life. But don’t worry: it’s not the house in which he killed himself. So that shouldn’t mess with your calm, Caribbean holiday vibes.