Orpheus Island

Orpheus Island Review

Nestled amid lush tropical gardens, this intimate island sanctuary offers various types of beachfront accommodation: Nautilus Suites; Orpheus Retreats; new, two-bedroom beach villas suitable for families and groups; and three eco-friendly safari-style tents, each with a platform floor, balcony, and queen-sized bed. Orpheus Retreats are immaculate, comfortable, and decorated with tasteful sophistication and an eye to intimacy: each has a private patio, lounge area, CD player, iPod dock, and new 32-inch TV screening movies on demand, as well as a mini-bar and bathrobes. Suites and villas have similarly sleek appointments but are considerably larger, and all but the eco-tents are air-conditioned. You won't want to spend long inside, though—there are coral gardens under cerulean water and white-sand beaches to explore. With a maximum of 40 guests on the island, you're not competing for equipment and activities: gourmet beach picnics, snorkeling excursions, hikes to the summit for sunset drinks, dives, and cruises to the outer reef are easily scheduled. Breakfasts are a la carte; lunches are served al fresco or packed into h picnic hampers for guests to take with them to the beach or on island explorations. Dinners showcasing local and where possible, organic ingredients and freshly-caught seafood are served nightly in the open-sided restaurant. Dining by candlelight on the beach and feeding local mullet and rays from the jetty are unforgettable Orpheus Island experiences.