HOT LIST: Worth the Trek

By Emma Gregg

Five fabulous, eco-friendly island destinations you’ve probably never heard of.

Where land and sea meet, natural wonders occur. Thanks to their imaginative approaches to sustainability, these remote islands are leading the way to a greener future.

ISLETAS DE GRANADA, NICARAGUA: BIRDS, MONKEYS AND VOLCANO VIEWS

How many of us have dreamt of creating our own island hideaway, tucked among the trees? That’s exactly what drew an eclectic assortment of settlers to the islets scattered around Lake Nicaragua’s Asese Peninsula at the foot of Mombacho Volcano. There are said to be 365 in all – one for each day of the year – including Castillo San Pablo, whose 18thcentury fortress was built to defend the lakeside city of Granada against Caribbean pirates, and Jicaro, a low-key-luxe haven for birdwatchers and other nature lovers.

Rich in vegetation, around threequarters of the islets are occupied – some by private homes, others by restaurants or ecolodges. The most alluring spots are totally off-the-grid with solar panels and natural ventilation. Day trips by boat from the beach southeast of Granada zip you from islet to islet, landing here and there.

PRÍNCIPE, SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE: AN EDEN IN THE GULF OF GUINEA

Bilingual in Portuguese and Principense Creole, the little-visited island of Príncipe is every inch an Equatorial hideaway. The smaller partner in the two-island African nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, this lush UNESCO Biosphere Reserve has a three-million-year-old volcano at its heart and lower slopes smothered in wildlife rich rainforest. With more endemic species than the Galápagos, this could well be the most biodiverse forest in Africa.

For adventurous ecotourists, there are rare turtles, whales and birds to discover. Green turtles hatch on the beaches between November and March, and the migration season for humpback whales is from July to October. All through the year, guided forest walks offer the chance to spot giant sunbirds and the world’s largest canaries, São Tomé grosbeaks. Local conservation projects monitor these precious creatures, and the islanders’ blossoming artisan cocoa-growing and chocolate-making project adds delicious flavour to any visit.

EL HIERRO, CANARY ISLANDS: WHISTLES, WIND POWER AND WINE

If you hear a melodious whistle in the razor sharp ravines of El Hierro, don’t assume it’s a bird calling to its mate. There’s every chance it’s a pair of local shepherds, having a neighbourly chat.

Silbo, a language of tonal whistles, is one of the oddities that make this remote Spanish island intriguing. Early settlers invented it as a means of communicating over vast tracts of roadless terrain and present-day aficionados are keeping it alive. Skilled whistlers claim a vocabulary of more than 4,000 words.

Culturally unique, El Hierro, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and Geopark, is also a boutique wine region and a renewable energy pioneer. Its wind turbines and hydroelectric plant are designed to harness and store enough power to supply its entire population of around 11,000. What’s more, light pollution is impressively low in the region. Think beautifully starry nights to admire while sipping a glass of local wine.

GHIZO, SOLOMON ISLANDS: UNDERWATER MIRACLES AND LOCAL CONSERVATION

In the waters surrounding Ghizo, one of the world’s most underrated scuba diving destinations, colourful tropical fish are so abundant that generations of locals have simply taken them for granted. But in recent years, there has been a change. As in many remote island communities, fishermen and scuba divers alike have noticed a decline in certain species, due to overfishing and climate change.

With assistance from the World Wildlife Fund, communitybased conservationists are turning things around. Local fishermen have become citizen scientists, collecting data on the size of fish caught around their idyllic Pacific home. Other new initiatives include an aluminum can recycling project that is cleaning up Ghizo’s seagrass beds – a crucial habitat for manatees. Eco-friendly diving trips are helping, too, by giving the islanders a solid financial incentive to keep the marine environment healthy and pristine.

SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES: AN ARTS FESTIVAL INSPIRED BY NATURE

© TREMOR / CARLOS BRUMMELO

When a festival is named after a seismic event, you know it’s out to make waves. Tremor, one of Europe’s most fascinating annual gatherings of experimental musicians and artists, aims to stimulate and inspire. As well as offering freewheeling concerts in the charming town of Ponta Delgada, it takes participants by the hand and leads them into São Miguel’s lush, leafy hinterland landscapes for out-of-town performances and exhibits. Some take place on clifftops, others in lakeside meadows, and each celebrates nature in a different way. For an extra dash of adventure, many locations are kept secret until the day of the excursion.

It’s a fitting concept for São Miguel, one of the most ecoaware islands in the Atlantic. Even outside festival time, there’s much to discover here, from satisfying forest hikes to boat trips during which wild dolphin sightings are practically guaranteed.