THEISLAND
...community
th at ’smost cut off
from the world
Wherewouldyouhideoutif youhadjust
stageda mutinyandsetyourcommanding
officersadriftin a smallboat?ForFletcher
Christian,whotookcontrolof HMSBounty
in 1789,theanswerwasPitcairn,
a far-flungoutcropmidwaybetween
TahitiandEasterIsland.Hisdescendants
liveontodayamongthemixedAnglo-
Tahitianpopulationof 50.Pitcairnhasthe
fewestinhabitantsof anyterritoryonEarth,
andthere’snoairport.Yachtsandcruise
shipssometimesmaketheirwayherebut,
otherwise,if youwantto jointhetrickle
of visitorsto thistropicalremnantof
theBritishEmpire,you’llneedto book
a berthonthesupplyshipfromtheslightly
lessremoteFrenchPolynesianisland
of Mangareva.
Seewww.visitpitcairn.pnfor detailsof sailings
to Pitcairn,andothertourismessentials.THE ISLAND
...that brings the
Caribbean to E urope
Few people outside France and Italy have heard of Cavallo,
and that’s just how its residents like to keep it. This small, low-rise
French island in the straits between Corsica and Sardinia
is blessed with sculpturally smooth rocks that perfectly frame the
dozens of sandy coves that the coast is folded into. The water
needs only a hint of sun to turn a dazzling Caribbean blue.
Since the jet-set heyday of the 1960s, visitors to Cavallo have
included Petula Clark, Catherine Deneuve, Princess Caroline
of Monaco and Beyoncé. At least, we think so – discretion is
part of the island’s appeal. Though it’s privately owned,Cavallo
has one hotel (www.hoteldespecheurs.com) and several
villas to rent, including some engagingly Flintstones-style ones.
Search villa rentals at http://www.cavalloisland.com, and find details
of boat and helicopter transfers from Corsica and Sardinia.TRAVEL FOR ISLANDS
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48 August 2019