If you’re in need of a secluded beach getaway, then Barbuda is the place to go. Located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, the 62 square mile island is known for endless pink-speckled sand and graceful frigate birds. I visited with my family in 2010 for a warm weather escape.

There are only a handful of places on the island with accommodation, so we chose to stay on Josiah’s Bay in beachfront cottages. Coco Point Lodge is the famous luxury resort on the island; it was closed for renovations at the time of our visit, but locals will proudly tell you that Princess Diana frequented the hotel and now has a beach named after her.

We spent our days lazing in the radiance of the sun with nothing but the lull of the waves and a couple of thick novels by our side. When wandering along the shores, we frequently stumbled across shiny conch shells half buried in the sand and distorted driftwood worn smooth by the sea. My family and I were the only guests renting on the property, and we could have walked along the beach for miles and miles without seeing another soul.

To take a break from the beach one day, we hired a local man for a tour of the island’s only town, Codrington. As we approached, colorful buildings emerged into view; the quaint streets were quiet without tourists. We stopped into the bakery and a few small craft stores before visiting the ruins of the Codrington family slave plantation from the seventeenth century. Roaming through the town gave us a feel for how untouched Barbuda truly is.

If you’re looking for an adventure-packed destination rich with nightlife, then Antigua, Barbuda’s larger sister island famous for its sailing week (which I experienced in February), may be the better fit for your next vacation. However, Barbuda is one of the last islands in the Caribbean with very little development and tourism infrastructure, but it won’t stay that way forever. Visit soon to enjoy tranquil deserted beaches and blaze new travel trails.

Mariah Dennis is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program

All photos courtesy and copyright Mariah Dennis