A tiny independent island nation in the South Pacific, Tuvalu received about 2,000 annual visitors in 2019, according to UNWTO. The small archipelago consists of nine islands and is inhabited by fewer than 12,000 people.

So what can you find here apart from a scarcity in population, white sand, palm trees and lack of city infrastructure? If that isn’t enough, the waters around the atolls are home to tropical marine life, and as such snorkelling and diving are the main activities here. There are also several historic world war two sites to explore.

Despite its remoteness, English in addition to the local Tuvaluan language is widely used. Tuvalu is very much a place where you can unwind as there is a total lack of a fast-paced atmosphere.

Fiji Airways services Tuvalu’s one international airport. There is not much else to do, but if sand and sea are your vice, then this may be your ideal getaway destination.

Marshall Islands

A chain of atolls stretching along the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the Philippines, the Marshall Islands receive about 6,000 visitors a year, primarily because of being difficult to get to. But once you reach the US associated state, the clear waters, pleasant climate and low crime rate will have you lapping this place up in no time.

Marshallese society emphasises family and community connections. It is matrilineal, meaning land is passed down the generations from the mother. Its major attraction is the local flora and marine wildlife, making the waters around the Marshall Islands ideal for diving. And there are many sites: the country comprises 29 atolls and five islands, an area of 180 sq km that is home to a population of just over 60,000.

The main port of entry is Majuro. Two airlines service the island on international flights: United Airlines and Nauru Airlines, while Air Marshall Islands flies between the different islands within the nation.

Kiribati

In the centre Pacific Ocean sits the independent Republic of Kiribati, an island group that occupies a vast ocean area of 313 square miles (811 square km) total land mass. Only 20 out of the 33 islands are inhabited and it is said to be “the only country situated in the four hemispheres”.

Kiribati is made up of three smaller island groups: Gilbert Islands in the west, Line Islands in the east, and Phoenix Islands in between. Latest numbers see the nation receiving about 6,000 annual visitors. The eastern side offers world class fishing (game and bone fishing). For cultural experiences, Gilbert Islands in the west is the place to be, as well as Kiribati’s capital Tarawa where many historic sites can be found, including memories of world war two’s Battle of Tarawa.

This patch of the Pacific can be reached via three international gateways on Tarawa, Kiritimati and Kanton Islands. Fiji Airways and Nauru Airlines both service to Tarawa.

Montserrat

The Caribbean’s Montserrat has been recovering from a succession of volcanic eruptions that took place in the late 1990s, when the Soufrière Hills Volcano reduced the south of the island to a modern day Pompeii. The capital, Plymouth, was abandoned, and the south quickly became an exclusion zone where tourists are not permitted.

Only in recent times has the British Overseas Territory’s capacity for tourism slowly recovered, though so far the mountainous island with its rainforest hills receives about 8,000 annual visitors. Most of them come for the tranquil atmosphere that is a signature of the Caribbean, and for day trips to the volcano. Hiking and birdwatching are also high on the list.

Visitors arrive from Antigua by plane or ferry. Make sure to check the schedule as daily services are not always available.

Niue

Considered the world’s smallest independent nation, Niue is an island in the South Pacific sitting north of New Zealand, surrounded by Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga. In contrast to its neighbours, Niue isn’t a real island but an atoll formed of raised coral. This may explain its moniker, “The Rock”.

The name may suggest the type of holiday-goers it attracts. Niue is not a sandy, beachy destination. The tiny Pacific nation attracts adventure seekers for exploring caves, swimming, snorkelling, climbing and hiking, dolphin and whale watching.

From July to October, humpback whales can be glimpsed in Niue’s waters nursing their young as part of the yearly migration. The same waters are also a permanent home to large pods of spinner dolphins. It requires some effort to get there, especially since there is only one flight in and out of the island per week, but once on The Rock you will be one of around 10,000 annual visitors to have found a hidden gem.

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