Ordered from nearest — out to see the real thing
Sorted from closest to furthest, with an honest note on which is half a day, a full day, or a trip that needs plenty of travel time.
1
If you only make one trip off the beach, make it this one. Wuzhizhou is a small coral-fringed island off Haitang Bay that the Chinese call "the Maldives of China," with water so clear you can see the sandy bottom and shoals of fish. It's the most famous coral diving and snorkelling spot in Sanya.
The island has a full range of watersports — snorkelling, scuba, jet-skiing, parasailing, sea-walking — plus the famous photo spots like the "love" sign and the seat at the water's edge. Your ticket includes the round-trip ferry, but most watersports cost extra. The island is very close to the Haitang Bay resorts, about 30 minutes by road to the pier. I'll be honest: it gets very busy — take the earliest ferry to catch the island while it's still quiet and the light is good. For more, read our full Wuzhizhou Island guide.
2
Tired of the beach sun and craving cool shade? Yanoda is the answer — a large tropical rainforest park in Baoting, about 35 km from downtown Sanya, around 45 minutes by car. The moment you enter the forest the temperature drops, the air turns humid, and you're walking among streams, waterfalls and towering trees.
The highlights are the gorge boardwalks that thread past waterfalls and boulders, a glass skywalk jutting out over the valley, the water-play trail (踏瀑戏水) where you wade through water running over the rocks, and ziplines, with touches of Li ethnic culture along the way. Be honest with yourself about the weather: on rainy days the paths get genuinely slippery, so wear grippy shoes and bring a rain jacket. For the full picture, read our Yanoda Rainforest guide.
3
If you want serious diving and a break from the crowds at Wuzhizhou, Boundary Island is the other option. It's an island off Lingshui county, about 90 km from Sanya; the name "Boundary Island" comes from its position marking the divide between southern and central Hainan. The water is clear, the coral healthy, and it's a major PADI training base for the island.
It has the same full menu as Wuzhizhou — coral diving, fishing, jet-skiing, parasailing and a dolphin show. Honestly, it's noticeably further than Wuzhizhou: you take a car or train to Lingshui first, then a ferry. If you're staying at Haitang Bay and only have a day, Wuzhizhou is far more convenient. But if you've come specifically to dive, or you want an island with fewer people, Fenjiezhou is worth the journey.
Want to understand who Hainan's original people are? Binglanggu, or Areca Valley, is a cultural park that tells the story of the Li and Miao peoples, Hainan's indigenous ethnic groups. It sits in Baoting, about 28 km from Sanya, roughly 40 minutes by car. The name "Areca Valley" comes from the groves of areca (betel) palms that fill the site.
Inside are traditional boat-shaped houses, demonstrations of Li weaving (an intangible cultural heritage), the facial tattoos of older Li women, and a large outdoor show that retells local legends. To be honest, this one rewards travellers who want more than a photo stop — if you're genuinely curious about the culture it's a treat, but if you're after pretty beaches it isn't the place. It pairs neatly with Yanoda, as the two are close together.
Nanwan Monkey Island is a wild macaque reserve on the Nanwan Peninsula in Lingshui county, about 90 km from Sanya. The best part is the cable car about 2,138 metres long across the bay, a ~10-minute ride, looking down on Xincun fishing village with its rafts spread across the water — a genuinely lovely view.
The island has thousands of wild monkeys roaming freely, plus monkey shows and feeding points. Honestly, this trip is best for families with kids or anyone who especially loves animals; if you just want the sea, there are far closer options, and you do need to allow a fair bit of travel time each way. One warning — the monkeys here are expert thieves, so don't hold plastic bags, food or anything shiny in your hands, and mind your bag.
If you want to see a side of Hainan that isn't a resort, take the train up to Haikou, the provincial capital at the very north of the island. It feels completely different from Sanya — a real working city, with cheap food and genuine history.
The highlight is Qilou Old Street (骑楼老街), a district of old arcade shophouses blending European, Arab and Southeast Asian architecture, their upper floors projecting out to shelter the walkway below: easy to wander, photogenic, and full of authentic Hainan food. The other draw is the Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark (海口火山群) south of the city — a UNESCO Global Geopark of extinct volcanic craters you can climb. Be honest about the timing: Haikou is a long day — the train there and back eats 3–4 hours — so start early if you want both the old town and the volcanoes.