The Water Issue

Trip Ideas
The Water Issue

Letter From the Editors

travel + leisure editorial director and editor in chief at the beach

Why do we travel for water?

Among our team of intrepid travelers, the ways we view and experience the world — and the things that drive us to pack our bags and go — vary greatly. One thing we have in common, however, is an innate desire to be in or near the water, whether we’re floating over a wave in the sea, reflecting in the stillness of a tidal pool, or gliding along the surface of an icy lake. For our digital water issue, we polled our editors to find out what exactly pulls them toward the tide.

Our lakes, oceans, and rivers are also some of the last frontiers, and we hope you read this issue with both exploration and environmental health in mind. These stories cover everything from wild ice-skating in Sweden to snorkeling in Florida��s far-flung Dry Tortugas National Park and visiting the moai on Easter Island, where residents built a more sustainable infrastructure during the pandemic tourism pause. With that in place, the entire ecosystem is thriving — and the statues, we hope, can be appreciated for centuries to come.

— JACQUI GIFFORD, Editor in Chief, and NINA RUGGIERO, Digital Editorial Director

Image Credits: Vancouver Island, Canada, Grant Harder; Antarctica, Carol Sachs

Cover Story

This Lesser-known Island Near Bali Is Quietly Opening Beautiful New Hotels — With Beachside Villas and Farm-to-table Restaurants

For miles, the only buildings we saw were traditional bamboo houses, their towering thatch roofs poking up above the trees. It was early September and my wife, Charlie, and I were driving south from Tambolaka Airport on the Indonesian island of Sumba. The place was still in the grip of its long dry season. All around us, a landscape of parched, golden grassland was dotted with villages. Buffalo grazed in the fields. Along the road we passed young men riding bareback on lean, sinewy horses. The rice fields were punctuated with billowing white flags to scare the birds away.

Float

Two people kayak in the crystal clear waters

The Longest Hiking Trail in the Caribbean Has an Even More Beautiful Sibling Trail at Sea

A family kayaking and paddle boarding on a lake

These Adventure Cruises Have Unexpected Perks for Kids — and We're Not Talking About Waterslides

Crystal Symphony Seahorse Pool & Jacuzzi

This Beloved Luxury Cruise Ship Is Back on the Water — With a Nobu at Sea and Epic Itineraries

Freeze

Aerial view of three people skating on a frozen lake in Sweden

These Swedish Lakes Turn Into a Winter Wonderland Where You Can Skate Past Castles and Pine Trees

Ice walking the Maligne Canyon in Jasper, Canada

This Canadian National Park Has a Magical Canyon Lined With Stunning Frozen Waterfalls

This Cruise Line Brought Back a Decades-old Route — With a Visit to the World's Northernmost Town

Reflect

Standing atop Fort Jefferson watching the sun set and the Milky way come into view over the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico

This Florida National Park Is One of the Least-visited and Most Beautiful in the U.S.

Islands and boats made from totora reeds on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia

This 3,200-square-mile Lake Straddles 2 South American Countries and Is Filled With Ancient History

Aerial view of a man walking on Botanical Beach in Canada

Vancouver Island's Magical Tide Pools Are Teeming With Marine Life — Here's What It's Like to Visit

Sip

Coffee drinks on ice and roasted coffee beans in Costa Rica

I Visited Panama to Try the World's Most Expensive Coffee — and Now You Can, Too

Overhead view of a rocky coastline and beach in Scotland

This Scottish Region Is Famous for Whisky That Tastes Like the Sea — How to Plan the Perfect Trip

LimeOut floating bar and restaurant in the US Virgin Islands

5 Floating Bars in the Caribbean for the Ultimate Tropical Cocktail

Conserve

View of a beach and water through a walkway

Mexico’s ‘Happy Coast’ Has Unspoiled Beaches, Rare Turtles, and Sunsets That Light the Sea on Fire

Aerial view of a couple on a beach in St Croix

The Largest U.S. Virgin Island Is Largely Unspoiled — Thanks to Its Eco-friendly Ethos

Moai statues on Easter Island, Rapa Nui, Chile

How One of the Most Isolated Islands Is Luring Travelers Back After a 2-year Pandemic Closure

T+L Trusted

An Isle Pioneer Inflatable stand up paddle board floating in a lake

The 10 Best Inflatable Paddle Boards of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Paddle boarding is one of the best ways to get outside and enjoy a lake, river, or ocean. Since some boats and traditional wood paddle boards are less portable due to their bulky nature, an inflatable paddle board is the perfect solution whether you’re traveling by foot, car, or airplane.