Trip Advisor unveils travelers’ choice islands for 2013: Santorini

Santorini island.
Photo JL

Trip Advisor announced the winners of its inaugural Travelers’ Choice Islands awards, based on millions of valuable traveler review and opinions on the site.

The awards recognize more than 100 islands across the globe including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the U.S.

Santorini, with its black volcanic-soil beaches, whitewashed houses and astonishing view, has been raked number five in the list of top 10 islands in the world by the web site TripAdvisor.

Santorini island: Oia village
Photo JL

Number one was Ambergris Cay, Belize’s largest island,  a popular destination for scuba divers. Other top vote getters were St. John’s in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bora Bora, in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, which is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef, and is popular for its overwater bungalows and San Juan Island in the U.S.

Santorini was tops in Europe, a list that also included the Greek islands Kephalonia, Naxos and Zakynthos.

Santorini island: Overlooking Caldera.
Photo JL

TripAdvisor’s lists of the top islands:

World:
1. Ambergris Caye – Belize
2. St John, US Virgin Islands – Caribbean
3. Bora Bora – French Polynesia
4. San Juan Island – United States
5. Santorini – Greece
6. Isla Mujeres – Mexico
7. Moorea – French Polynesia
8. Koh Tao – Thailand
9. Easter Island – Chile
10. Nosy Be – Madagascar

Europe:
1. Santorini – Greece
2. Cephalonia – Greece
3. Island of Capri – Italy
4. Naxos – Greece
5. Mainland, Orkney Islands – Scotland
6. Island of Gozo – Malta
7. Zakynthos – Greece
8. Jersey, Channel Islands – Britain
9. Isle of Skye – Scotland
10. Fuerteventura – Canary

Source: Trip Advisor