
Mauritius, Africa —
Back in 2013 we called Mauritius "the best Africa destination you know almost nothing about." Word's getting out.

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil —
The number of visitors is restricted on Fernando de Noronha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "The lucky few are rewarded with unrivaled beaches and waters filled with dolphins and sea turtles," says TripAdvisor.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia —
White sand beaches and blue lagoons are two reasons Bora Bora held onto ninth place for a second straight year.

Phuket, Thailand —
Although the Thai island of Ko Tao didn't make the list this year, another Thai favorite did: Phuket, with its fabulous diving and easy access to imposing rock formations.

Mallorca, Spain —
Spanish painter Joan Miró was captivated by the Mediterranean light of the island of Mallorca. So are many Europeans who flock to the No. 6 island's beaches.

Bali, Indonesia —
Bali is best known for its beaches but it's also got a unique system of rice terraces that are UNESCO protected.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos —
Locally known as "Provo," Providenciales is the most developed island in Turks and Caicos. Most of its infrastructure is found along the 12-mile Grace Bay beach.

Jamaica —
Jamaica didn't rank in last year's top 10. Now it's vaulted into third place.

Santorini, Greece —
The Greek island of Santorini, the remains of an exploded volcano in the Aegean Sea, has black sand beaches and picturesque villages.

Maui, Hawaii —
With more than 80 beautiful beaches and only about 131,000 year-round residents, the 2016 "best island" title holder is Maui.



