When we think of being marooned on a desert island, pop culture quickly fills in the blanks: Tom Hanks and his volleyball companion in 'Cast Away' (2000), the pages of 'Robinson Crusoe,' or survival shows like 'Survivor' and 'The Island with Bear Grylls.'
While few of us would volunteer for a real-life survival scenario, the idea of going off-grid on a remote tropical island definitely has a certain romantic pull. Yet beyond the scripted drama and fantasy lies a real test of resilience, adaptability, and the very human urge to reconnect with nature, and possibly ourselves.
But if it actually happened to you, how easy would survival really be? And what are the odds you’d make it back home in one piece? Dive into this gallery to find out what it takes to outlast paradise.