Plettenberg Bay is known to South Africans simply as "Plett."

The cool, one-syllable nickname perfectly suits the town, which felt like it could easily be a too-pretty-for-you, hoity-toity vacation spot but instead remains welcoming and down to earth, eager to share its magic with anyone who stops by.

It's only 25 kilometers from neighboring (and equally as pretty, but in her own way) Knysna. Because the two are so close, we decided to stay in Knysna and check out Plett as a day trip but, we loved it so much that we found ourselves back more than once.

We were quickly captivated by the cute and quirky shops, charming main street with unreal ocean views, expansive white sand beaches and beach bars that felt like local spots, even to visitors. 

But the highlight for both of us was Robberg Nature Reserve, where we hiked along cliffs and up dunes and across a thin strip of beach with waves lapping at both sides to climb up a perfectly untouched island. It's name, of course, is The Island.