You seem drawn to a very specific “window” in a destination’s evolution:
- remote but still accessible,
- culturally intact,
- small-scale tourism,
- strong nature/ocean identity,
- some comfort possible,
- but before mass infrastructure and influencer tourism arrive.
That phase is rare — and temporary. Once airports, roads and Instagram exposure align, it changes quickly.
Based on the places you mention, you’d probably love destinations that are:
- archipelagic,
- difficult enough to self-limit tourism,
- with strong local identity,
- and where logistics still create natural friction.
Here are some of the best remaining examples by region.
Philippines
Siargao — but
outside General LunaMain town already exploded after Bali-style tourism arrived. But:
- Pacific coast villages north of General Luna,
- Bucas Grande,
- Dinagat Islands,
- Camiguin,
still retain that frontier-island feel.
Especially Dinagat:
- surreal limestone islands,
- almost no international tourism,
- beautiful reefs,
- very underdeveloped infrastructure.
Could become the “next Siargao” within 5–10 years.
Batanes
Probably the most unique part of the Philippines.
- closer culturally to Taiwan,
- dramatic green cliffs,
- typhoon-isolated,
- tiny tourism scale,
- very peaceful.
Feels almost like a Pacific version of the Azores.
Still protected by remoteness and weather.
Japan
Japan has surprisingly many places in that “pre-discovery” phase.
Yaeyama Islands (Okinawa Prefecture)
Especially:
- Iriomote,
- Yonaguni,
- Hateruma.
Subtropical jungle, reefs, empty beaches, tiny villages.
Iriomote especially feels like:
“what Okinawa might have been decades ago.”
Accessible but still wild.
Ogasawara Islands
Probably one of the most fascinating remote island destinations on Earth.
- 24-hour ferry from Tokyo,
- no airport,
- UNESCO nature,
- whales, dolphins, jungle,
- very limited development.
The lack of airport has preserved it completely.
Mozambique
This is very aligned with your Mentawai taste.
Bazaruto Archipelago
- dhow culture,
- sandbanks,
- turquoise Indian Ocean,
- low-density luxury,
- African + Portuguese atmosphere.
Still feels remote despite high-end lodges.
Quirimbas Archipelago
Even more frontier feeling.
Northern Mozambique near Tanzania.
Tiny islands, Swahili culture, ruins, reefs.
Tourism remains fragile because access/logistics are hard.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Honestly one of the strongest matches for you.
It has:
- volcanic jungle,
- colonial decay,
- almost no mass tourism,
- extraordinary biodiversity,
- raw authenticity.
And importantly:
tourism there still feels accidental rather than industrialized.
Príncipe especially is protected by:
- tiny scale,
- expensive access,
- environmental limits.
Very few places remain this untouched while still being relatively stable politically.
Cabo Verde
Depends heavily on island.
Avoid:
- Sal,
- Boa Vista,
if you want authenticity.
More interesting:
- Santo Antão,
- Fogo,
- Brava.
Especially Santo Antão:
- dramatic volcanic hiking,
- Creole culture,
- minimal resort tourism.
Feels much more real and lived-in.
Azores
You’d probably love:
- Flores,
- Corvo,
instead of São Miguel.
The Azores are entering rapid growth now though.
Still beautiful, but definitely moving beyond the “hidden” phase.
Flores still has that isolated Atlantic-edge feeling.
Caribbean
Very hard to find truly “before tourism” anymore, but some exceptions exist.
Dominica
Probably your best Caribbean match.
Not Dominican Republic.
Dominica:
- jungle island,
- volcanic,
- rivers/waterfalls,
- little beach resort culture,
- eco-tourism focus.
Feels almost like a Caribbean version of parts of Indonesia.
Providencia (Colombia)
Tiny Caribbean island near Nicaragua.
Very relaxed Afro-Caribbean culture.
Still relatively under the radar.
Polynesia
Marquesas Islands
Possibly one of the last truly remote Polynesian experiences.
- huge volcanic islands,
- almost mystical atmosphere,
- difficult access,
- little luxury tourism,
- very strong Polynesian identity.
Feels radically different from Bora Bora-style tourism.
Micronesia
This may actually be your strongest future region.
Yap
- traditional culture still very alive,
- stone money culture,
- manta rays,
- low tourism numbers.
Pohnpei
- jungle ruins,
- Nan Madol,
- huge waterfalls,
- very undeveloped tourism.
Feels adventurous and mysterious.
Palau
More developed, but still exceptional outside the main diving circuit.
The key thing is:
the “Mentawai feeling” usually exists only briefly between:
- impossible to reach,
- newly reachable,
- globally discovered.
You seem especially attracted to phase 2.
And honestly, that’s probably the sweetest moment a place can have.
