A warm and sunny beach, blue sky, the relaxing sound of waves, healthy food, and a lot of quiet time will teach you how to draw from the inside to find real happiness.
Stop the never-ending race of trying to find happiness somewhere in the future, in that desired relationship, that new job, that new house or car.
Happiness is not in any of those; it is here, right now; we need to learn how to see it and embrace it.
These tropical islands offer perfect wellness retreats, personalized menus for your meals, movement classes, hot springs, Yoga private or group sessions, organic produce meals, daily massages, mountain views and water sports, and wi-fi in case you feel like doing something else in your free time.
Cebu, Philippines
The Philippines has one of the most beautiful islands in the world, with 7640 islands under their flag; that’s to be expected.
While Metro Cebu on the main island is the second largest metropolitan area in the Philippines, there are 167 surrounding islands and islets that make for perfect meditation and wellness retreats away from the noise and hustle of the big city.
With its international airport, Cebu Island makes it convenient for you to find your way toward your much-needed wellness resort; you don’t want to start your meditation and wellness programs by stressing about getting there or getting lost.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Cebu, Philippines
Located on one of the islets of the main Cebu island, people describe it as paradisiac, chilled, and calm.
El Nido, Philippines
El Nido is a Philippine municipality on Palawan island.
It’s known for white-sand beaches, clear waters, coral reefs, and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of tiny islands with limestone cliffs.
The Best Wellness Resorts in El Nido, Philippines
A relaxing paradise on El Nido’s main island but away from the center of the municipality.
Vellago Resort offers accommodations with 24-hour solar power, spa treatments, daily fitness classes, and vegetarian meals.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Coco Resort is a wellness resort that offers peaceful and comfortable accommodations in El Nido.
It features an outdoor swimming pool located just 30 m from Corong-Corong Beach. Not to mention that it is more affordable than other wellness resorts in El Nido.
You’ll get daily breakfast, beautiful beaches, and a complete spa treatment.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
This might be a bit of hidden treasure waiting for you to go and discover it.
When travelers think of tropical islands in Asia, they usually go for Phuket in Thailand. Bali in Indonesia or El Nido in the Philippines.
But you won’t hear much talk about Vietnam other than Hanoi or Ho Chi Ming.
Phú Quốc is a Vietnamese island off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand.
It’s known for white-sand beaches and resorts, most of which are along the palm-lined southwest coast.
More than half of the island is part of Phú Quốc National Park, which features mountains, a dense tropical jungle, hiking trails, and wildlife.
In our opinion, Phu Quoc is the ultimate destination for tropical islands in Asia to enjoy wellness workshops, outdoor excursions, and nutritional consultations.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Emerald Bay Resort & Spa is located along the coast of Khem beach and has a private beach.
The purpose of a wellness and mindful retreat is to have complete peace of mind.
On the wellness front, there’s an all-spa inclusive precisely what you need; make one payment and ensure you will receive your room, breakfast, and full spa service.
They go above and beyond to make you feel relaxed.
Sabah, Malaysia
This is another island that is not very popular among tourists.
It’s great for anyone looking for a mindful wellness retreat where you can get spa treatments, meditation sessions, massage, practice yoga, and breath in nature.
Sabah is a Malaysian state occupying the northern part of the island of Borneo.
It’s famous for its mountains; its 4,095m-tall Mount Kinabalu is the country’s highest peak, crowned with distinctive granite spires.
There are beaches, rainforests, coral reefs, and abundant wildlife all around Sabah, much of it within parks and reserves.
The Best Wellness Retreats in Sabah Malaysia
Set amidst a nature reserve overlooking the South China Sea, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa is an ideal place to forget about city life and give your mind a break.
Tropical Islands in Europe for a Meditation Retreat
Europe and tropical islands are two words that usually don’t go together.
The reason is that Europe is not geographically located in the earth’s tropical zone.
However, there are a couple of islands in Europe that will, without a doubt, give you that tropical feeling because they have sandy beaches, blue skies, and a lot of vegetation.
Here’s a list of the best tropical islands in Europe.
La Gomera, Canary Islands
La Gomera is the second-smallest of the main islands of Spain’s Canary Islands,
The island’s scenery is marked by volcanic mountains crossed by hiking trails, perfect for a daily hike to relieve some stress in the various trails.
In the higher part of the island, you’ll find dense forests of ferns in the mists of Garajonay National Park, full of subtropical plant species, the perfect place for a life-changing retreat.
The Best Wellness Resorts in La Gomera, Canary Islands
Surrounded by 70,000m² of gardens and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Each room at the Jardín Tecina comes with a private terrace. They offer views over the sea, the swimming pool or the gardens.
The Isles of Scilly, UK
They’ve been called the tropical islands by newspapers like the guardian, and you’ll see why when you visit.
White sandy beaches, blue water, and green vegetation around, it feels as if you are enjoying Caribbean wellness retreats.
Tresco Abbey Garden is on the island of Tresco and is home to many subtropical plants.
The Best Wellness Resorts in The Isles of Scilly, UK
Unfortunately, there are few options to stay, probably because it is not a mainstream island destination.
While this might be a letdown if you were thinking of going, it might be a blessing in disguise.
This means that if you find a place to stay, you’ll for sure enjoy peace here; perfect for practicing meditation and yoga, perfect for giving your busy mind a break.
Make sure you pack all your essentials for your meditation sessions.
This is the best location we’ve found on the Isle of Scilly.
Tresco has one of the best-organized wellness retreats with daily spa treatments.
From meditative yoga to beach boot camps, wild swimming to mindfulness, discover a haven of restorative relaxation amidst Tresco’s stunning natural environment.
Madeira, Portugal
This archipelago comprises 4 islands close to the northwest coast of Africa, close to the earth’s tropical zone.
The island it’s known for its wine and warm subtropical climate.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Madeira, Portugal
They might not offer yoga classes or massages, but the location is peaceful, overlooking mountains and the sea, perfect for morning meditation for serious yogis.
Porquerolles, France
Probably you’ve never heard of this one, but don’t worry, most people haven’t. When most think of traveling through Europe, they think of the mainland only.
To get to Porquerolles, you must take a 1-hour ferry ride from Toulon.
When you arrive, you’ll be met by white sand, pristine beaches, clear waters, and a lot of vegetation.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Porquerolles, France.
There are not many options to stay on the island; if you want to visit this place, we recommend you book well in advance; people who try for months before they get lucky can book accommodations on the island.
This hotel does not offer wellness activities such as massages or meditation classes; if you’re traveling here to work on your mindfulness, don’t forget your meditation essentials.
Tropical Islands in Africa for a Meditation Retreat
Nosy Be, Madagascar
This is a true tropical paradise.
Nosy Be is an island off Madagascar’s northwestern coast. In the southeast, the forests of Lokobe Reserve are full of chameleons, geckos, and frogs.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Nosy Be, Madagascar.
Palm Beach Resort & Spa is located on Nosy-Be Island. Overlooking the ocean, the resort features an outdoor infinity pool, buffet restaurant, spa, and wellness center.
Nestled on the East Coast of Nosy-Be, Manga Soa Lodge is situated amongst a tropical garden and offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The lodge features an outdoor pool, a restaurant, and a private beach area.
Praslin Seychelles
An actual tropical island, this island is known for its palm-fringed beaches. It used to be a hideaway for pirates and Arab merchants.
The minute you land on this tropical island, you’ll be welcomed by lush vegetation and white sandy beaches.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Praslin, Seychelles.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Being near to the equator, the islands are warm year round.
The Best Wellness with wellness programs Resorts in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Moheli, Comoros
Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is an autonomous island that forms part of the Union of Comoros. It is the smallest of the three major islands in the country. It is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Moheli, Comoros
This is a tiny island, so there are not a lot of hotels to choose from, so you have to book well in advance if you want to visit.
The fast that is so secluded and quiet makes it perfect for a meditation and wellness retreat.
Sao Tome Island
This tropical island is famous for its imposing Sao Tome Pico, the highest mountain in São Tomé and Príncipe at 2,024 m elevation.
The island is covered in vegetation and home to many bird species.
The Best Wellness Resorts in Sao Tome Island
Mumbo Island Malawi
Mumbo Island is a pristine and deserted tropical island floating on the expansive waters of the Lake Malawi National Park
The Best Wellness Resorts in Mumbo Island Malawi
Tropical Islands with Mountains
Tropical Islands with mountains is a particular search, but one that you should look into if you’re looking for an island that provides easy activities, such as a hike, that will improve your overall wellness.
Mountains are suitable for the soul, the perfect place for a long weekend writing down and working on your personal goals.
If you’ve used any mindfulness app or read any meditation and wellness article or book, you’ll know that surrounding yourself with trees, plants, and the sound of nature are good to keep you grounded at the moment and give your mind a rest.
Here’s a list of The Best Tropical Islands with Mountains for a wellness and mindful retreat.
- Phu Quoc, Vietnam
- Sabah, Malaysia
- Hawai, US
- Saint Lucia
- Moorea French Polynesia
- Saint Kitts
Tropical Islands in the US.
If you’re in the US and looking for a tropical getaway, you might be happy to find out that you don’t have to leave US territory to enjoy a peaceful tropical retreat.
There are a couple of islands in the US territory that have it all, white beaches, blue waters, mountains, and blue skies.
They’re perfect for unwinding, relaxing, and having the wellness and mindfulness retreat, you need in these times of stress.
- Santa Catalina
- Hawaii
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- Guam
The US Virgin Islands are the perfect place for Caribbean wellness retreats.
What is The Cheapest Tropical Island to visit?
The Cheapest yet most beautiful tropical island in the world is Corn Island in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is near Costa Rica, and you can even find a private island called Calala Island; here, you can
Why is it so cheap?
Well, overall, Nicaragua is not the most popular Caribbean destination, and those who do visit Nicaragua mostly visit the part of the country on the pacific ocean; the pacific coast’s best beaches are well known.
With so little room demand on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, hotels have to make a more reasonable offer to attract tourists.
Getting to corn island from the US is relatively easy; fly to Managua international airport, and take a domestic flight to Corn Island.
2 hotels offer a complete resort experience.
One night in any of these hotels goes for something around US$70, breakfast included; we’re talking about a room for two.
I would recommend a three-night minimum stay; this is what you need to enjoy the island.
You’ll enjoy a white sand beach like no other
These are the two most expensive hotels on the island.
If you are traveling on a budget, you can go for hostel-like hotel rooms for as low as US$20 a night for a couple.
Just do a quick search on Booking.com or Airbnb.