Ratua Private Island

While not perfect, this place is very special. It was in transition to new owners when we were there, so a few things needed to be updated and I'm sure they will be. That said, part of the charm is its rusticity, so I really hope they don't make it too schmick. The island is the perfect size - big enough to really explore (see cows, sheep, goats, ride horses, hunt for crabs in the mangroves, etc) and have villas well apart. The people are amazing: we will remember locals like Johnny, Sale, Henry, Sam, Ollie and many more for a long time, who were like friends to us. The locals who did the fire show were great too - personalised, not slick like you'd get in Fiji. Just an incredible adventure if you have kids - highly recommended.

We spent an amazing 6 days on Ratua which were absolutely magnificent. The setting is a turquoiuse lagoon, the huts are rustic open air style but that made it special. The staff were amazing. Our teenage boys went out fishing with Sam and caught two big yellow fin tunas (30kg and 18kg!). Short boat trip to Malo Blue hole and then everyday snorkeling, kayaking and swimming. We did a daytrip to Santo to see Champagne Beach and Nanda blue whole which were stunning. A highlight was the kava legend evening in the last day and a fire show by local performers. We had sunshine every day. Apparently the resort has just changed ownership and the new owner wants to upgrade it significanlty. I hope it doesnt loose its charm, the pacific island layed back style and the little bit of imperfection it has now is just perfect in itself.

The images wont do it justice not unless you experience this one of a kind island for yourself. It is truly paradise on earth and made for a very special holiday for our family. What makes Ratua so special? It has to be the many experiences that you just become in awe of. The traditional villas give you a taste of how island living should be, blending in perfectly with the tropical environment. And these villas are located only a few short steps away from your own private beach, perfect for a morning snorkel. Experiencing sea life will not stop their, and swimming / paddleboarding with the turtles is an unforgettable experience (and yes, one of my turtle encounters took place only 50 metres off Ratua Island.....truly jaw dropping). The poise and grace of these turtles only adds to the tranquility that you are surrounded with on the island. Even if the water is not your thing, although it is pretty hard not to dive in with 4 different shades of beautiful blues staring back at you every moment on the island, there is plenty to keep you busy on land. We enjoyed an incredible spa treatment in the over water spa while our daughter experienced navigating the island on horse back followed by a very unique end to their horse riding trek....swimming with the horses! yes, you heard me right! What makes all of the above experiences possible...the people. Our hosts were incredible and we are grateful to have met them. The people of Ratua play a critical part in making the Ratua experience what it is and i can not fault them. All our needs were taken care of and we already miss the beautiful people we met (I must admit it was quite emotional leaving by boat on the last day). It truly does feel like the land that time forgot...we would return in a heart beat. I think you will be hard pressed to find any place on earth that delivers the unique experience that Ratua does... Go on.... "time is the only currency you spend without knowing your final balance"....and time spent on Ratua is sooooo worth it

We didn't get there! We were left standing on the wharf! We'd arranged to go to Ratua for the weekend - we'd made arrangements, organised transport, done shopping and packed all our things. We arrived at the wharf at 9am as instructed. At 9:15, with no boat in site, we sent a message asking if the boat was on its way and were told our booking had been cancelled and staff sent home because there weren't enough guests this weekend. Nobody had thought to let us know. We said we were disappointed to not have been told earlier, and they said that it would not have been financially viable for them for us to come. This was in spite of us having agreed to pay a considerable amount for transport, accommodation and meals, and also requesting information on other packages we could purchase while there. I just hope the staff were still paid and all the food they told us they'd prepared didn't go to waste.

We have just had an incredible 6 night stay Ratua Resort. I still can not get over how flat the water is there, it made snorkelling a dream. The staff were friendly, always with a smile on their face, they organised wonderful activities for us and the food they made was absolutely delicious (an all inclusive resort) The spa is seriously gorgeous, a villa over the water and the masseuse are brilliant. We stayed in Buffalo a vintage teak villa with its own beach, we loved spending the evenings sitting on the veranda watching the sunset and watching the fish jumping around and we can’t forget all the turtles 🐢 What more could you ask for.