Tourists tend to flock to Virgin Gorda for its beauty, Anegada for the lobster and Jost Van Dyke for the vibrant bar scene — crowds will be thinner in Cooper Island, but it does not mean it is any less worthy of dropping anchor. Boasting pristine beaches, excellent diving conditions with a 'wreck alley' to explore, a solar-powered brewery, and many more, Cooper Island is the perfect place for a quiet recharge away from the hustle of Road Town.

Tucked into the Akamas Peninsula’s rugged coastline, the Baths of Aphrodite — a mossy grotto where water trickles into a shallow pool — feels more like a quiet woodland chapel than a grand spa. According to legend, this was where the goddess bathed and first locked eyes with Adonis. The site’s magic lies in its simplicity: a single ancient fig tree drapes shade over the spring, its roots tangled in the rocks like something from a Pre-Raphaelite painting. More than just a photo stop, the baths anchor the Aphrodite Natural Trail, a network of walking routes through the peninsula’s botanical gardens and coastal cliffs. The easiest (200 metres) path winds past oleanders and carob trees to a babbling stream, while longer hikes like the 5-kilometre Adonis Trail reveal sea views and hidden coves. Practicalities are well managed: a car park, clean toilets, and a no-frills café sit near the entrance, while the Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe (15 minutes’ drive) adds context for mythology buffs. Come early to beat the coach tours; dawn light through the fig leaves makes the grotto glow.

The Great Grey Owl is a staggering 2.5 m tall Great Grey Owl, carved of wood. It was adopted as the symbol of Pajala in 1995. The owl was threatened with extinction in the early 1970s and the only nesting sites were to be found here in the Pajala commune.