Being a castaway isn’t so bad if you happen to be stuck on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast. The palm-fringed islands of this area would easily fit into Robinson Crusoe’s tropical tales. Sprinkled like jewel-toned gems in the beautiful turquoise seas, these islands are certainly off the radar. Expect to take a plane, a boat, or a helicopter ride to get to the hidden secrets of the Caribbean Coast. Trust us, the jaunt is well worth it; paradise is far-flung for a reason.

This region of Nicaragua is awash with private boutique properties, tucked among soaring and swaying palms. Siestas are snoozed on breezy hammocks or under beachside palapas. Hibiscus bushes burst with flourishes of pink and red. Local waters produce a bounty of shrimp, lobster, and fish. Fresh fruit abounds, satisfying your sweet tooth. Orange mangoes dangle from lush trees, and coconuts are plucked fresh and cut open to sip on its refreshing water. In the evenings when the sky is ablaze in a palette of rich purple and pink, opt for a rum cocktail as reggae music gets your feet tapping.

Trek through thick jungles and wander on pristine, shell-strewn beaches that seem like no one has even set eyes on them before. The hermit crabs that scurry across the sands are in higher numbers than people. Aside from the tiny fishing enclaves where the multilingual locals speak Creole, Spanish, and English, these islands are mainly uninhabited.

Driftwood and coconut groves frame the beaches of the Corn Islands, and under the sea it gets even better. Sheltered reefs are warm and wonderful, home to a colorful cast of fish. Learn about the endangered Hawksbill turtles that nest on these little islands and see the tiny ones hatch and make their way to the surf on the sugar-white sand.

Let your everyday stresses drift away as you float happy as a mermaid in the aquamarine sea of Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast.