Beach scene with tall palm trees, sandy shore, calm water with a boat, and a partly cloudy sky.

Vilanculos, Mozambique, Africa

Vilanculos Beach Lodge

Beach view through open doorway with stone bathtub, small side table with bottles, wooden chairs, and a towel hanging on the wall.

Benguerra Island, Mozambique, Africa

Kisawa Sanctuary

View from outside a wooden structure showing a bedroom with a white bed, glass walls, greenery outside, and a small pool in the foreground.

Bacalar, Mexico, North America

Boca de Agua

A tropical resort scene featuring a swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery, palm trees, and thatched-roof huts, overlooking the ocean on a cloudy day.

Vilanculos, Mozambique, Africa

Sussuro

Indoor view of a room with large glass sliding doors opening to an outdoor patio, overlooking a beach with ocean waves, green bushes, and trees, with a thatched roof ceiling.

Sumba, Indonesia, Asia

Sanubari

A treehouse with a glass window and a hammock hanging inside, surrounded by lush green trees and foliage.

Bagaces, Costa Rica, North America

Rio Perdido

Aerial view of a tropical beach resort with turquoise water, white sandy beach, numerous palm trees, and resort buildings with pools surrounded by greenery.

Tetiaroa, French Polynesia, Oceania

The Brando

Know a place that belongs here?

Not everything makes the list. We look for places with character, a strong sense of place and something that makes them worth knowing.

How we choose