Top 10 Best Beach and Island Destinations in The Philippines

The best thing about living in a tropical country is that it's summer all-year round, which means it's always a perfect time to put on a swimsuit, grab refreshments and just lie and bask in the perfect moment of relaxation under the warmth of the sun. If you are planning a quick beach getaway with your family or friends or a tourist visiting the wonderful country of the Philippines, here are some of the top beach or island destinations that you should definitely visit!

1. Bantayan Island, Cebu

This place is a tropical paradise which boasts beautiful white sand beaches and rich waters and also and a wonderful escape for the ones who are into adventures and fun as parts of the island offers scuba diving, snorkeling and the famous Skydiving in Santa Fe.

Photo courtesy of ChasingWonders

From Cebu, take a bus at the north terminal heading to Hagnaya Port in the town proper of San Remigio. Going to Bantayan takes about three hours and it costs Php160. Once at the port, board a public ferry heading to Santa Fe.

2. El Nido, Palawan

Famous for its extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem, El Nido is found at the northern part of Palawan and has been ranked among CNN's list of Most Beautiful Beaches in the World for 2 years running. Aside from the beautiful lagoons and limestone cliffs, El Nido also offers wide range of activities for tourists such as scuba diving in Snake Island or Helicopter Island, snorkeling, relaxation at their white sand beaches and amazing experiences like the swimming the secret lagoon, eating bird’s nest soup, island hopping tours and a great party scene.

The popular island has a number of bars to choose from like the New Zone Disco Bar, Rasta Bar, Pukka Bar and etc.

Photo courtesy of Goway

3. Boracay, Aklan

Boracay has long been known as the Country's Best Beach Destination as it offers everything for everyone to enjoy -- soft, powdery sand and iconic sunset views and not to mention, water sports, scuba diving, snorkeling, wonderful accomodations and a great nightlife with different bars, restaurants and parties you could choose from. People from all over the world usually visit Boracay during Labor Day (May 1), famously known as Laboracay.

Though known for being a great island for a beach party scene, some parts of Boracay still offers peace and tranquility for those who enjoys alone time or being away from the crowd.

Photo courtesy of Cocoloco

To get to Boracay, fly into Caticlan or Kalibo then take a vehicle to Caticlan Jetty port for the 10-20 minute boat ride to Boracay.

Boracay may still be closed at the moment due to recent rehabilitation but is sure to be beautiful as ever once opened to the public again.

4. Panglao, Bohol

This island is a much more peaceful option compared to El Nido and Boracay. The beauty of the fine white sands and crystal clear blue waters never fails to draw in more crowd and tourists looking for relaxation and recreation.

There are certainly many things to do around the island like exploring the underground lagoon at Hinagdanan Cave, taking pictures with the famous chocolate hills in Carmen, eating the best seafood on a floating restaurant boat while while being serenaded by Filipino musicians and enjoying the best diving spots in the Philippines as it is known for its abundance of marine species all over the island

Photo courtesy of gites.fr

Panglao Island is accessible from Bohol, which you can reach by flying into Tagbilaran Airport. There are a bunch of affordable accommodations as well as more posh resorts in the vicinity so it won’t be too hard to book a stay somewhere near the beach, no matter the budget.

5. Anawangin Cove, Zambales

This cove is the most popular among Zambales’ neighboring coves as it is the most developed and the nearest one from Pundaquit, the town proper of San Antonio, Zambales. It's greatly known as a camping destination for those who yearn to escape the hustle and bustle of the Manila life or anyone who simply want to isolate themselves from the world for a while and just be in touch with nature through pitched tents. Consider this cove as your rainbow after the storm, the light at the end of the tunnel because every bit of experience you'll have on here is amazing!

Photo courtesy of Parana

To get there from Manila, catch a Victory Liner bus bound to Iba, Zambales, and get off at San Antonio Public Market (P250).  Alternatively, you may also travel by bus to Olongapo City, and then board another bus to San Antonio. Take a tricycle to Pundaquit (P60 per 2 pax, or P30 per pax) and then rent a boat to Anawangin or Nagsasa Cove.

6. Samal Island, Davao del Sur

The Island Garden City Of Samal (IGACOS) is just an hour away from Davao City, the capital of Mindanao. It is home to beautiful beaches as well as world-class resorts including Chemas Resort, the newly-opened Club Samal resort, the famous Pearl Farm, and the Paradise Island.

Many activities await you in Samal like different watersports, snorkeling and even cliff jumping for the adrenaline junkies. You can also spend the day hopping from one island to another as their are many boats that also offers Island Hopping services.

Photo from www.gites.fr

Getting there from the city is easy, you can either go to Sasa Wharf or Sta. Ana wharf and just pay the barge fees for as low as P10 or if you are bringing a car with you, the fee starts at P200 depending on your vehicle and passenger count. There are also boats in nearby wharfs along Sasa road or near Insular Hotel that could take you to specific resorts such as Pearl Farm, Paradise Island, Isla Reta and etc. and also prepare a budget for Resort entrance fee that ranges from P20 - P100 depending on the resort.

7. Caramoan Island, Camarines Sur

This is an island located in the lower eastern part of Camarines Sur in Bicol. Apart from an abundance of flora and fauna, it also has a 4,000-hectare limestone forest.  There are a number of islands to head to, each with diverse marine life, as well as a bunch of lakes and caves. Tourists usually go to Matukad Island, Lahos Island, Cagbalinad Island, and Minalahos Island. 

Photo courtesy of https://www.awnwtravel.com/

Its islands have already taken the spotlight for being the location of several Survivor seasons but apart from that, they are almost unspoilt and unknown to local and foreign travellers. An array of adventures including scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, rock climbing and caving await anyone who dares to travel this far out of the rest of the province. Some of the main attractions here include Gota Beach in Lahos Island, which completely disappears during low tide, and the coral pebbled Tayak Beach in Malarad Island.

8. Malapascua, Cebu

A haven for scuba divers aiming to have an encounter with the Thresher Sharks. The island has been synonymous to this species of shark since it is the only known place in the world that guarantees daily sightings for shark of this kind. It is approximately five hours away from the Cebu City. It boasts of world-class diving spots and white sand beaches, making it a popular travel destination for both local and foreign tourists, divers and non-divers alike.

Photo courtesy of www.ignacioizquierdo.com

Cebu City is where tourists usually touch down before going to Malapascua. From Cebu City, catch a bus in Cebu North Terminal going to Maya Port for a four-hour ride. Buses depart almost every hour, fare ranges from P150.00 to P200.00 for the trip.

In Maya Port, transfer to a public boat to Malapascua. The boat ride is approximately 30 minutes and fare is P100.00. First trip is at 6AM and last is at 3PM. If you reach Malapascua at low tide, you may need to transfer to a small paddle boat called tunda to reach the shore.

9. Coron, Palawan

Coron is one of the most beautiful and most favorite destinations of tourists from all over the world. It is a gem of natural beauty with steep limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and seven mountain lakes. It's actually been listed among the top 10 best scuba diving sites in the world by Forbes Travel magazine. Coron is in Northern Palawan and is for the more laid-back type of tourist who isn’t fond of partying all night long as compared to El Nido, Palawan.

On this part of the region, you'll also be able to see a secret lagoon with crystal blue-green waters encircled with limestone formations and white sand shores. Getting there might be a bit complicated since climbing over cliffs and swimming through tunnels are involved but there are guides and tours offered everywhere! And with a secret beach paradise awaiting you at the end of the journey, it's totally worth the adventure!

Photo courtesy of journeyera.com

To get here from anywhere in the country, fly to Busuanga and then take a van to Coron (takes about 45 minutes). You should also know that no one can stay on the island overnight, though lodging can be found in the city of Coron, Busuanga.

10. Puerto Galera, Mindoro

This is another island home to beautiful white sand beaches that are good for swimming, relaxation, snorkeling, and sailing. You can also do your standard beach and resort activities: water sports, spa days, lounging. It also offers one of the most diverse diving sites in Asia and has the densest population of marine species in the world

Getting there is easy from Manila by car and it only takes about three hours. Lots of food choices are offered along the way for your convenience.

Photo courtesy of www.puertogalera.org

That's it for our list of the day. We hope you get to explore if not all, a few of them and don't hesitate to share your experiences with us as we may also feature you on our blog and be able to help our fellow travelers and tourists! There are much more beautiful islands that the Philippines can offer so if you think we might miss some beaches on our list, comment down below and we'd be happy to hear from you!