12 Foreign Islands That Most Americans Have Never Heard Of

The Canary Islands archipelago is located just off the coast of Morocco, but it's actually part of Spain. You can visit any of seven different tourist islands, but Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria are the most popular. The Canary Islands are about a four-hour flight from London, Paris, or Milan, making them a popular European summer destination. The currency in the Canary Islands is the Euro as well.

You'll find an active volcano, carnivals, golf, whale watching, seafood, national parks, beaches, spas, natural swimming pools, sand dunes, and a temperate climate on the Canary Islands—that's why they're such an ideal Caribbean alternative. Go in the late spring or early fall for pleasant temperatures and smaller crowds.

Located between Australia and Fiji, the nation of Vanuatu consists of about 80 islands, and is a popular destination for Australians and backpackers from all walks of life. On the main island of Efate, popular attractions include a trek up to the active volcano Mt. Yasur, a jungle walk to Millennium Cave, the natural swimming pool and waterfall at Mele Cascades, and snorkel and dive locations on Hideaway Island.

Vanuatu is famous for its bungalows, which must be approved by the Vanuatu Tourism National Accreditation Guidelines. This means they have to be built from local materials and stay true to the island's style, offering cooked meals, organized tours and activities, basic amenities, and cleanliness. Most are owned, managed, and operated by local communities. 

Forget Capri and the other islands off Naples. The best undiscovered Italian island is Ponza, a 70-minute ferry ride from Anzio. It's a popular vacation spot for Italians, and the time to go is in early summer before the crowds come, or in September when the crowds start to leave.

On Ponza, you can rent a whaler boat in town (you don't need a boating license) and tool around the island's coastline and surrounding minor islands, including its designated nature reserve, Palmarola. Ponza's local seafood and Mediterranean dishes rival even the most prestigious restaurants on the more crowded Mediterranean islands.

The Azores are about two hours by air from Portugal, but they look like they should be in the Mediterranean. And although the archipelago is a popular destination with Europeans, it's technically the closest point in Europe that can be reached from the United States. An East Coast flight takes only four hours, and there are direct flights available from SATA and Azores Airlines.

There are nine islands in the Azores that tourists visit, and they're characterized by volcanoes, fishing villages, vineyards, meadows, farmhouses, and crater lakes, all which make for a truly rare landscape. The two islands with direct flights from the U.S. are Sao Miguel ("The Green Island") and Terceira. Plus, everything is relatively inexpensive, so it's a great alternative to pricey, exotic getaways.     

These 300-plus islands in the Bay of Bengal are filled with palm trees and lined with white-sand beaches. The islands are a popular destination for North Indians who flock to the island from May to June and around the holidays; however, there are pleasant temperatures for water activities and sightseeing year-round.

Many of the remote islands are still inhabited by indigenous Andaman Islanders who do not welcome visitors—there have been arrow attacks on visitors who have attempted contact—but tourists have plenty of other island options. Havelock Island and Neil Island are very popular for diving and snorkeling, as their coral reefs are home to sharks, rays, and sea turtles. On Interview Island you'll find a population of feral elephants, and numerous islands are home to various exotic species of birds, marine national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Everyone's heard of Bali in Indonesia, but there are three little remote islands—Gili Air, Gili Trawangan, and Gili Meno—that harken back to what Phi Phi Island in Thailand used to be like. Popular among backpackers, the Gili Islands sit off the coast of Lombok and are known for their party scene, coral reefs, and beaches.

There are no motorized vehicles of any kind on the islands, just bikes and cidomos, small horse-drawn carriages. You might recognize the location from Instagram, as Ombak Sunset Hotel is known for its wooden swing structures in the water.

The nation of Micronesia has more than 600 islands, uses U.S. currency, and has four island states—Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk, and Yap. They are located north of Papua New Guinea, about 3,200 miles southwest of Hawaii.

Each of the four states offer different activities, from wreck diving on Chuuk to seeing ancient ruins and burial temples on Pohnpei. You'll find pristine beaches, snorkeling, relaxation, and tribal culture throughout the island states.

Popular among Australians, Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays island chain. It's very popular for honeymoons, family vacations, and holiday escapes, and there are direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns, as well as ferry service from Airlie Beach in Queensland.

On Hamilton Island, you can explore the surrounding Great Barrier Reef, world-famous Whitehaven beach, spas, and a golf course. 

This tropical African island off the coast of Madagascar is certainly moving on from its history as a pirate safe-haven. Today, Mauritius is known for the Black River Gores National Park (home to the flying fox), beaches, lagoons, and reefs. And, it's becoming an increasingly popular vacation destination for Europeans, especially Brits.

The south part of the island is home to fishing villages, a geyser, sugar cane fields, and Blue Bay Marine Park, while the north is home to Grand Bay, the main tourist destination, as well as markets, a Hindu temple, and botanical gardens.

Most Americans only visit Nassau or Atlantis when they come to the Bahamas, but there are actually 16 islands overall—and 14 of them are known as "The Out Islands."

These still-accessible spots are great for authentic island life, island hopping, solo travel, and water activities that you'd find in the rest of the Caribbean. From Andros, which has the highest concentration of blue holes in the world, to Ragged Island's population of just 72 people, these islands are relatively unexplored, especially by Americans.

Just off the coast of Cartagena (about a one-hour ferry ride) are the nearly 30 Rosario Islands, which are popular with Colombians and other South American tourists. Also referred to as the Coral Islands of Rosario, the archipelago is one of the country's Natural National Parks. Go for the day on a day-tour from Cartagena, or explore the island chain and stay a few nights.

You'll find a Caribbean flair on the islands, with crystal clear water, snorkeling, and the famous Playa Blanca beach on Isla Baru. If you're traveling with a larger group, consider hiring a private boat for the day and tool around the different islands, or opt to stay at one of the remote bungalows or villas on Isla Coralina. 

Despite favorable exchange rates and accessibility, Americans still tend to ignore vacations to Canada. And while Canada may not have as many warm months as other parts of the world, this group of 25 islands in the Bay of Fundy is certainly worth a trip when the weather is nice.

There are three main inhabited islands, open year-round, that make for a perfect island-hopping trip. Grand Manan is the largest island and is popular for whale-watching and its rugged shoreline. Campobello Island was frequented by the Roosevelt family—there's even a park named after FDR, Roosevelt Campobello International Park. And don't leave without a visit to Deer Island, popular for its beaches, sea kayaking, hiking, diving, and camp areas.