PRIVATE ISLAND ESCAPES

If you don’t want to share your Caribbean escape with faceless crowds, hop to an island of your own. Secluded accommodations, top-notch cuisine and round-the clock-activities are just the beginning at these private island retreats. Words by Lindsay Thompson

KAMALAME CAY, BAHAMAS

No more than 70 guests at any one time are welcomed to the family-run Kamalame Cay to enjoy its deserted beaches, gin-clear seas and stellar cuisine. With world-class bonefishing flats, the barely-explored Andros Great Barrier Reef just a mile away, and the only overwater spa in the Bahamas, it’s a destination packed with bucket list experiences, whilst the cottages, bungalows and beach villas, tucked into coconut groves or positioned on a secluded stretch of oceanfront, are the stuff dreams are made of. www.kamalame.com

JUMBY BAY ISLAND, ANTIGUA

Lying two miles off Antigua’s coast, Jumby Bay is a 300-acre haven of pristine beaches, sumptuous private villas and romantic hotel rooms and suites, where slowing down, unwinding and savouring the simple pleasures in life is easy. Accessible only by boat and without a car in sight, it’s about what isn’t there as much as what is – but for those who can’t relax and do nothing, there are tennis courts, two fresh water swimming pools, miles of hiking and biking trails, an abundance of watersports, a lively kids camp and a superb spa. www.jumbybayisland.com

EUSTATIA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Surrounded by the translucent waters of the British Virgin Islands, Eustatia is a 35-acre private hideaway and the ultimate playground for watersports enthusiasts. Equipped with the best kite surfing, wakeboarding and sailing gear available and with experienced instructors on staff, your feet may barely touch the pristine beaches. Choose between four individually designed and decorated homes that are dotted across the lush hillside - all offer awe-inspiring views, soothing ocean breezes, temperature controlled mattresses and luxury linens – and sit back and relax while a world-class chef prepares three meals daily. www.eustatia.com

PETIT ST. VINCENT

On Petit St. Vincent, a 115-acre slice of paradise at the southern tip of the Grenadines, low-key luxury is the order of the day. Scattered across the hills and fronting the beach, the 22 stone and timber cottages and beach villas offer complete privacy and endless sea views. With no WiFi, cellphone or TV reception it’s a delightful digital detox and a chance to turn the focus outward: spend days scuba diving, deep sea fishing, hiking or island hopping and evenings dining al fresco on the freshest local seafood and organic fruits and vegetables. www.petitstvincent.com