The amateur photographer who wows Instagram with amazing holiday snaps from Majorca to the Maldives

If you weren’t desperate before to fly off to an exotic location for a spot of post-lockdown lolling – you will be after gazing at these sensational holiday snaps.

They capture sugar-white beaches, turquoise waters, impossibly romantic castaway islands and breathtakingly beautiful bays from Majorca to the Maldives. What makes the pictures all the more impressive is that they were taken by an amateur – Brazilian doctor Thiago Lopez, who often shoots with nothing more than a smartphone.

His talents haven’t gone unnoticed though. He’s been posting pictures from his travels to Instagram for over eight years and has amassed a whopping 422,000 followers.

Tranquil: Spiaggia dei Conigli (aka Rabbit Beach) on the Italian island of Lampedusa

A panoramic view of the Maldives from a seaplane

Thulhagiri Island Resort in the Maldives

On the left is a panoramic view of the Maldives from a seaplane. On the right is the heavenly Thulhagiri Island Resort in the archipelago

The two dinky islands that comprise Maafushivaru hotel in the Maldives. Thiago reveals that his photographic arsenal consists of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Phantom 4 Pro drone

The two dinky islands that comprise Maafushivaru hotel in the Maldives. Thiago reveals that his photographic arsenal consists of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Phantom 4 Pro drone

The 36-year-old told MailOnline Travel: ‘My passion for travel began 10 years ago with my first international trip to California and my first Instagram post took place long ago. My profile was created unpretentiously, with no goals.

‘It was a time with few travel profiles. It is very gratifying to realise that over these more than eight years on Instagram, many people identify with the way I travel and how I show the world through my eyes.

‘In this sense, the numerical question has always been secondary, both concerning the number of people who follow me and the number of countries visited.

Anantara Dhigu Resort in the Maldives, which is one of Thiago's favourite places to stay. Wonder why?

Anantara Dhigu Resort in the Maldives, which is one of Thiago’s favourite places to stay. Wonder why?

A spot of wanton lolling caught on camera by Thiago's drone at Anantara Dhigu

A spot of wanton lolling caught on camera by Thiago’s drone at Anantara Dhigu

Thiago said: 'Big cities hardly conquer me. I can say I’m passionate about islands and summer.’ Pictured is a hammock at Anantara Dhigu

Thiago said: ‘Big cities hardly conquer me. I can say I’m passionate about islands and summer.’ Pictured is a hammock at Anantara Dhigu

‘It’s nice to have a video in the gallery seen by over two million people and when it happens spontaneously, it’s even more rewarding.’

Thiago, who’s been an anesthesiologist for 10 years, reveals that his photographic arsenal consists of an iPhone 11 Pro and a Phantom 4 Pro drone.

He said: ‘Both have incredible stabilisation and image capture quality. I don’t use a professional camera or tripods. I prefer to capture spontaneous moments, in such a way that I hardly ever appear. The most important thing is the landscape, the nature, the moment and not me.

Calo des Moro beach in the south-east corner of Majorca. A real gem of a spot, as this mesmerising image shows

Calo des Moro beach in the south-east corner of Majorca. A real gem of a spot, as this mesmerising image shows

The black volcanic sands at Praia A Mare in the Calabria region of Italy

Navagio Beach - also known as Shipwreck Beach - on the coast of Zakynthos, Greece

Pictured on the left are the black volcanic sands at Praia A Mare in the Calabria region of Italy. On the right is Navagio Beach – also known as Shipwreck Beach – on the coast of Zakynthos, Greece

The wooden bridge to the enticing pine-clad Agios Sostis island from the Zakynthos mainland

The wooden bridge to the enticing pine-clad Agios Sostis island from the Zakynthos mainland

Cala Luna on Sardinia which, with its sugary sands and epic natural caves, is truly a sight to behold

Cala Luna on Sardinia which, with its sugary sands and epic natural caves, is truly a sight to behold

An eye-catching sandbar leads to Malacory Island in the Sulu Sea in the archipelagic Palawan region of the Philippines. This stunning castaway set-up is located about 90 minutes by boat from Coron Town

An eye-catching sandbar leads to Malacory Island in the Sulu Sea in the archipelagic Palawan region of the Philippines. This stunning castaway set-up is located about 90 minutes by boat from Coron Town

‘Drone imaging is a therapy, mainly for the adrenaline of piloting the drone itself and checking later that the aspect seen from above is completely different and makes the place even more beautiful. I keep learning to this day and I know only the basics of the device, but I can still be entertained every time I use it.’

And what are his favourite spots? Generally locations with lovely landscapes.

Thiago, who lives in Niterói in Rio de Janeiro, said: ‘As you can see from the pictures, I prefer to travel to places with nature, be it sea, mountains, waterfalls, lakes or places near forests. Maybe that’s why I’m passionate about Italy, a country with beautiful beaches, islands, mountains and lakes. Big cities hardly conquer me. I can say I’m passionate about islands and summer.’

Thiago said: 'I don’t use a professional camera or tripods. I prefer to capture spontaneous moments, in such a way that I hardly ever appear.' Pictured here is Hong Lagoon in Thailand

Thiago said: ‘I don’t use a professional camera or tripods. I prefer to capture spontaneous moments, in such a way that I hardly ever appear.’ Pictured here is Hong Lagoon in Thailand

Ilha Grande island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, known for its pristine beaches and lush vegetation

Ilha Grande island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, known for its pristine beaches and lush vegetation

The Palawan archipelago in the Philippines is an Instagrammer's dream come true

The Palawan archipelago in the Philippines is an Instagrammer’s dream come true

Pictured is the incredible El Nido Resorts Apulit Island in the Philippines

Pictured is the incredible El Nido Resorts Apulit Island in the Philippines

The Palawan archipelago contains 1,780 islands. This picture was taken near one of them - Coron Island

The Palawan archipelago contains 1,780 islands. This picture was taken near one of them – Coron Island

His favourite places to stay, meanwhile, are – the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris (pictured here); Petani Bay Hotel on the Greek island of Kefalonia; Xales De Maracaipe in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil; The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and Anantara Dhigu in the Maldives (also pictured here).

For now, of course, Thiago’s travels are on hold – and we can only offer a ‘watch this space’ regarding his next trip.

He added: ‘The question everyone asks: where to go after the pandemic? I honestly don’t think about travelling right now, and I don’t even make plans. I live in a country with many social problems, that has increased even more by the issue of the disease and I believe that having health at that time is more important than any trip. 

‘So my focus right now is to keep working at the hospital, helping people in the way that I can in this difficult phase, and when all this is over then yes… we can first try to learn something important about how we have lived, try to change what needs to be changed and then maybe dream again with new landscapes and experiences.’ 

  • To see more of Thiago’s incredible photographs visit his Instagram page   
Hong Island in Thailand isn't, as this breathtaking picture shows, too shabby

Hong Island in Thailand isn’t, as this breathtaking picture shows, too shabby

The jaw-dropping Shangri-La Hotel in Paris

The Fiordo di Furore (Fjord of Furore) on Italy's Amalfi coast

On the left is the jaw-dropping Shangri-La Hotel in Paris – one of Thiago’s favourite places to stay. On the right is the Fiordo di Furore (Fjord of Furore) on Italy’s Amalfi coast



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