An archipelagic country like the Philippines never runs short of beaches that inspire a litany of praises and attract droves of tourists. The top 10 beaches in the Philippines listed below are by far the best ‘discovered’ summer magnets, and are considered as such because the beaches are naturally beautiful with minimal tourist footprint. But who knows, with a thousand other destinations, the next best summer haven is yet to be discovered by an intrepid travel blogger or off-the-beaten path beach enthusiast.
1. Palawan
El Nido, Palawan
The word ‘beach’ conjures a tropical Eden that deserves a spot in the movies and in super-glossy magazines. It takes a traveler to set their foot in Palawan to believe that Eden is for real, too. Palawan is the last frontier of the Philippines, and it is abundantly blessed not only with an almost virgin canopy of forest in its interior, but also by limestone karst outcrops that rise from sparkling emerald-turquoise waters and festoon blindingly white beaches. El Nido and Coron are known for their achingly beautiful beach scenery, but in terms of length, nothing beats Long Beach in San Vicente for its 14-kilometer stretch of white sand, outdoing Boracay’s White Beach by 10 kilometers. For those who are willing to part with their precious dollars, Amanpulo in Pamalican Island is nirvana even for the aquaphobic.
2. Island Garden City of Samal
South Sea pearls used to come from one pearl farm-turned-resort found in the island of Samal south of Davao del Norte in Mindanao. But the island’s jewel is not only found underwater; the island is fringed with it. White beaches are a staple of this destination’s growing tourist economy, but they are not as well-trodden as mature destinations, so they still retain that nature-endowed charm.
3. Pagudpud
Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte is an established coastal resort town with a touch of rawness that tourism has not yet totally tarnished. The white sand beaches and sparkling crystal blue waters of Pagudpud could melt any beach lover’s heart at first sight. Blue Lagoon, so named because of its waters, is a secluded spot that is gradually getting attention from investors.
4. Panampangan Island, Tawi-Tawi
Sitting on the edge of southwestern Mindanao off the coast of the municipality of Bongao, Panampangan Island is as unspoiled as any traveler would want their beaches to be. The white shore is largely footprint-free, even though it is only 90 minutes away from civilization. It is surrounded by political hot zones, so it would be wise to tag along a boatload of tourists with military escorts.
5. Santa Cruz Island, Zamboanga
The Great Island of Santa Cruz boasts of a cherry blossom pink sand courtesy of red organ pipe coral. From afar, the pink hue is not visible, so this beach is somewhat an open secret even to Filipinos. Getting to this island requires a tourist permit so the local tourism office can provide travelers with a military escort going to the island and back. Santa Cruz is just opposite Basilan, (in)famous for various cases of civilian kidnapping by armed groups.
6. Caramoan Island, Camarines Sur
CamSur, as the province is more widely known, is a hotspot for surfers, Filipino and foreigners alike. Far off its coast is a place of gentler waves, white sand beaches, towering limestone cliffs, islets and lagoons that make it a paradise for all sorts of water adventures. That place is Caramoan, which is thankfully, still beyond the radar of commercial tourism.
7. Malapascua Island, Cebu
A recent newcomer to the beach scene, Malapascua was only ‘discovered’ in the 1990s so it still has a lot of raw nature appeal that would delight a passionate beach lover. The island’s requisite white beach, coral gardens and teeming shoals beckon water adventurers of all colors and stripes.
8. Ticao Island, Masbate
One of the three major islands in Masbate, Ticao Island boasts of Monreal, a well-kept secret of the people of the region. The fish in Halea Nature Park are astoundingly colorful and unbelievably brimming with diversity. Giant manta rays also cavort in Monreal waters and whale sharks abound like there is no population shortage of the species. Ticao as a whole is lined with the most pristine beaches that even travel bloggers in the country are hesitant to share this piece of summer escape for fear it would be overrun with tourism.
9. Siquijor
Among Filipinos, Siquijor evokes of mysticism and supernaturalism . But on ground level, the only thing mystical and supernatural are the unbelievably rich marine life that surrounds this smallest island in the Central Visayas. Blessed with weird rock formations, Siquijor also boasts of white sand beaches that fringe most of its 102-kilometer coastline.
10. Camiguin Island
Off the coast of Misamis Oriental is another gem of an island that is getting mainstream attention among beach lovers. Camiguin Island was formed from volcanic activity, and Mt. Hibok-Hibok that towers above the seascape is still an active volcano. White Island is one of the major attractions in the area, a sandbar that changes shapes with the changing tides. Beyond White Island, there is the 10-hectare Jicduf Shoal that is the playground of intrepid underwater adventurers.
Boracay requires special mention because it is the beach capital of the Philippines. White sand beaches (4-kilometer long), sparkling turquoise waters, mesmerizing sunsets, and a party vibe that caps it all off makes Boracay an unforgettable destination of any beach pilgrim. As the number one island on the list of travelandleisure.com, Boracay has everything that a beach lover could possibly dream of, so be sure to tick it off your bucket list first
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