Thinking of going somewhere hot to heat things up with your other half? Sounds fun... until you think about your average vacation destination and imagine pushing your way through tourists and tourist-minded-merchants around every corner you turn. Irritation and passion are not a good mix.
Seems Andros is your answer. Andros Island is the largest island in the Bahamas, but somehow it is the least densely populated and nearly untouched by tourism. No wonder Andros is a hot spot for honeymoonersits far, far away from real life, in more ways than just geographically. Its one of those few hidden havens that you want to get to before the rest of the traveling population does. One other little detail about Andros that makes it a great place to fall in love or stay in love: the island is bursting with aphrodisiacs- from the plant life, to the food and of course, that steamy, sweat-inducing climate. Heres how I hunted down some libido lifters.
One night, I went on a group hunting trip for land crabs- a reputed local specialty known to rev up the libido. Land crabs are giant, grayish crabs with claws reaching 4 to 5 inches in diameter. These crustaceans live in holes in low-lying areas near salt water and wetlands and are extremely sensitive to motion, scattering back into their holes at any movement. This obviously causes some trouble with hunting, along with those vicious claws. But the two tricks are torchingshining bright flash lights in the crabs eyes to stop them in their tracks, and picking them up in just the right way, grabbing them by the back and tilting them away to avoid pinching. Once cooked, we bit right into the shells, dipping gooey dough into the fat that dripped out of the crab. Sounds like a tough way to get in the mood for love, but somehow the thrill of the chase helped!
Another local food great for piquing passionsconch. The part called the noodle is meant to turn you on. Try this delicious conch salad recipe on your next date night.
Not into seafood? Andros is crawling with aphrodisiac herbs and plants like the Love Vine and bark from the Gumbo-limbo tree, used in the aphrodisiac bush tea.
Of course beyond what you put in your mouth, romance seems to saturate the sweaty air as you take a long lazy day trip relaxing on a Bone Fish boat as you watch and learn the catch and release technique from the pros, take a leap like the locals do into the Blue Hole, the return to your home-like Small Hope Bay Lodge and indulge in a seriously intoxicating Black Monkey cocktail.
It's not uncommon for tourists to decide to stay a few days (or years). Even if you don't find love, you will no doubt fall in love with Andros.
More content on Island Beauty
The World's Most Beautiful Beach Art ... from Jersey (Photos)
7 of the World's Strangest Beaches
Top 7 Sustainable Travel Destinations