The Philippines is one of the world’s premier tropical destinations. Tourists from all over the world flock to the Southeast Asian country for its warm people, rich history, vibrant food scene, and of course the stunning beaches. In this article, we list down some of the country’s best beaches. Who knows? Your next summer holiday could be in one of them!
Entalula Beach, El Nido Palawan
Fine white sands, crystal clear waters, and mesmerizing rock formations. These are what Entalula Beach of El Nido is known for. Found in Entalula Island, one of the many beautiful islands in El Nido, Palawan. The water, as with all the beaches in El Nido, are a gorgeous mix of aquamarine and turquoise. Truly a sight to behold.
Although the beach is privately owned, it is still accessible via an island hopping tour. To get there, book the B tour—El Nido has 3 more other tours namely A, C, and D—on the mainland. Be sure to bring enough cash even before coming to El Nido. Waterproof your gadgets and always follow the rules and regulations.
White Beach, Boracay Island
Pristine and picturesque. This is what comes to mind when visitors get to see the island of Boracay for the first time. Deemed as the second most beautiful beach in the world among 25 others in the Conde Nast Travelers’ 2020 Readers Choice Award, White Beach is a must-see.
Some of the best activities on the beach include parasailing, snorkelling, and helmet diving. Stand up paddleboarding is another activity you can do if you prefer something more relaxed and laid back. This laid back sport that started in Hawaii, is a mix of kayaking and surfing. Unlike kayaking, the rider is standing upright on the board instead of in a sitting position. The boards used are similar to traditional surfboards but can be made in other materials like inflatable rubber. This is a great activity for people looking for something relaxed and less extreme than other water sport.
The best time to paddle is early more when the waters are their calmest. Catching the sunrise view while paddling peacefully is a one of a kind experience. During this time you can try out SUP yoga, where you perform yoga poses while balancing on a paddleboard out in the water. Alternatively, you could just enjoy the beauty of Boracay while paddling long distances with your stand up paddleboard. If you’re new and looking for a SUP, check here first.
Alona Beach, Panglao Island Bohol
Next on the list is the main beauty off Panglao Island in Bohol: Alona Beach. Known for its picturesque views of swaying coconut trees, white powdery sands, and the limestone cliffs jutting in the background. This tropical paradise attracts tourists from all over the whole year-round.
The beach is also a popular snorkelling and scuba diving destination. Boats can be commissioned for island hopping escapades to nearby Pamilacan and Balicasag Islands. The two islands undersea beauty as well as the crystal clear waters make the whole experience all the more rewarding. To get to Alona Beach, you can catch a boat from mainland Bohol at the Tagbilaran Port.
Cloud 9, Siargao Island
Touted as the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, Siargao is one of the world’s most popular surfing destinations. Most of the action happens in Cloud 9. The beach is known worldwide with its iconic boardwalk jutting out into the ocean leading into a hut that serves as a view deck and launchpad for surfers.
Although there are more to Cloud 9 than surfing, there are nearby attractions you can explore. The Magpupungko Rock Pools are natural occurring limestone pools located just a few minutes away. Another great thing to try is the Siargao island hopping tour. This takes you to nearby islets far away from the tourists.
Anawangin Cove, Zambales
Heading up north on the island of Luzon we come to the secluded beauty of Anawangin Cove in Zambales. This used to be a secret getaway from the nation’s capital but has recently surged in popularity. This is thanks to its proximity to manila—a mere 5-hour drive—and its unique beauty born from the ashes of Mt. Pinatubo.
To get there, you can travel by bus bound to Iba Zambales from Cubao in Manila. You alight at San Antonio and ride a tricycle to Brgy. Pundaquit. Here you can arrange for a boat transfer that will take you to Anawangin Cove. Since the beach is surrounded by mountains, getting there by boat is the fastest and most convenient option.
Puerto Galera Bay, Oriental Mindoro
Here is another amazing tropical paradise that’s a few hours from Metro Manila. Puerto Galera Bay’s Sabang Beach is the prime destination for foreign and domestic tourists on the island. Pro tip: the best time to go is during the off-season when there are fewer tourists.
Aside from Sabang Beach, the island is also known for its other tiny pocket beaches as well as other activities like snorkelling and scuba diving. The main attraction, aside from its gorgeous marine ecosystem, is the many sunken wrecks scattered across the ocean floor. Most are remnants from WWII.
Antonia Beach, Islas de Gigantes Sur Iloilo
This iconic beach in Iloilo province is one of the rising stars in Southeast Asia. Following in the footsteps of other famous Philippine beaches, Antonia Beach is truly a sight to behold. Most of the beach is a sandbar jutting from the rocky main island. At the tip is another smaller rock formation with a view deck at the top.
On the island are other tourist attractions such as the monolithic cliff faces of Isla de Gigantes Sur. The cliff faces are a series of giant rock formations comprising the main island. The rock walls form a small saltwater lagoon named Tangke. Pawikan Cave is another feature of the islands rocky nature. This cave is well-lit thanks to the many holes on the cave roof giving the cave an otherworldly vibe.
Naked Island Beach, Britania Surigao del Sur
Another up and coming to the growing list of amazing Philippine beaches is Naked Island Beach of Surigao del Sur. The beach/sandbar is part of the Britania Group of Islands off the coast of the mainland into the Pacific Ocean. So named because of its barren landscape with no visible vegetation.
Other neighbouring islands also sport the same white powdery sand with varying degrees of development. Hagonoy Island and Boslon Island are the two biggest islands of the group with most of the activities centred here. Popular activities include swimming, jet-skiing, banana boat rides, and even kayaking.
Conclusion
The Philippines is truly the Pearl of The Orient Seas with its numerous postcard-perfect beaches. This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are hundreds more just waiting to be discovered.
