Seychelles

Isolated in the Indian Ocean 1,000 miles off the coast of Kenya, the Seychelles archipelago contains some of the most pristine and spectacular tropical islands on earth. Even the enticing travel posters don’t do them justice. On the Inner Islands, glorious white beaches and crystalline turquoise waters are backdropped by dramatic cloud-wreathed peaks. And to the south, a chain of tiny atolls extends for hundreds of miles. The main island of Mahé contains theinternational airport, a majority of the hotels and morethan 90 percent of the country’s 75,000 population. Most of our recommended hideaways, however, are tucked away on more secluded islands, which can bereached from Mahé (or one from another) via plane or helicopter transfers of 15-20 minutes.

Daytime air and water temperatures seldom vary from the low to mid-80s, and as they are close to the equator, the Inner Islands rarely endure tropical storms or high winds. The more humid rainy season (when the ocean is usually calm) typically runs from November through April, though the downpours seldom last more than an hour or two before the sunshine breaks out again.

WHEN TO GO: The more humid rainy season (when the ocean is usually calm) typically runs from November through April, though the downpours seldom last more than an hour or two before the sunshine breaks out again.

CURRENCY: Seychelles rupee (SCR). Fluctuating rate valued at SCR13 = US$1.00 as of January 2012. Note: All of our suggested hotels quote rates in euros (€); €1.00 = US$1.30 as of January 2012.

U.S. EMBASSY: None. Contact Port Louis, Mauritius, Tel. (230) 202-4400.

DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels in Seychelles, dial 011 (international access) + 248 (Seychelles code) + city code and local numbers in listings.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for six months beyond end of stay) and visa. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov.