From Boracay to Palawan: A Guide to 8 Most Beautiful Islands and Best Beaches in the Philippines

Spectacular beaches, majestic waterfalls, a mild year-round temperature, and a wide variety of aquatic life all contribute to the Philippines’ well-deserved reputation as a natural wonderland. Its people, food, and way of life are all reflections of the country’s rich and varied culture, which draws many tourists. The Philippines is a country made up of more than 7,000 islands, making it one of the most archipelagic countries in the world. With so many islands to pick from, it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit. To help narrow down your options, here are 10 of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, with some tips on how to get there and how many days to spend.
​

Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte

Siargao Island is a popular surfing destination in the Philippines and it’s dubbed as the surfing capital of the Philippines. It is located off the coast of the province of Surigao del Norte in Northern Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean. The main town on this island is called General Luna. This is where you will find the famous Cloud 9, a popular surfing destination. Siargao is home to some of the country’s best surfers and most exciting waves. If you want to experience the thrill of surfing and formally learn how to do it, then this is the place for you. Numerous companies on the island provide surfing lessons and even surfboard rentals. If you’re not into surfing, there are also other tourist spots that you can visit, like Magpupungko Tidal Pool, Guyam Island, Naked Island and Sugba Lagoon, or just lounge by the beach with a bottle of beer on hand.

EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila or Cebu

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: If you are planning to learn how to surf and see other famous tourist spots in the area, I would suggest a minimum of 4 days/3 nights in Siargao.

FAMOUS SPOTS: Cloud 9, Magpupungko Tidal Pool, Guyam Island, Naked Island, Bucas Grande, Maasin River, Sugba Lagoon and Daku Island

Cebu is located in Central Visayas and is known for its beautiful beaches up north and magnificent waterfalls down south. Cebu is straightforward to get to as it’s the second most significant gateway to the country next to Manila and a central transport hub to get to the rest of the Philippines. The Cebu International Airport caters to many international and local flights. If you’re looking for white sandy beaches, you should head north to the two islands of Bantayan and Malapascua. If you want to hike and witness the best waterfalls in the country, head south to towns such as Samboan, Ginatilan or Oslob. The famous Oslob whale shark can also be found here so make sure to visit southern Cebu if you have enough time to explore.

EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila or international origins like Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Hongkong, Taipei and Tokyo

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: If you would like to see the entire island from North to South, I suggest staying for at least 5 days/4 nights.

​FAMOUS SPOTS: Bantayan Island, Malapascua Island, Oslob whale watching, Moalboal sardines run and Kawasan falls canyoneering
​

The tiny island of Camiguin, off the coast of Northern Mindanao, is famous for its beautiful scenery and abundance of waterfalls, sandbars, and white-sand beaches. Camiguin Island is easily accessible from the Visayas and Mindanao, making it a popular destination for weekend trips for locals. To get to Camiguin Island, you can take a ferry directly from Cebu or Bohol. If you’re coming from Manila, you can take a direct flight (most expensive option) or fly to Cagayan de Oro City and take a ferry (longer but cheaper route). Camiguin is one of the least visited islands on this list, so you can say it’s more of an off-the-beaten-path destination hence, it remains very budget-friendly and less crowded. 
​
EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila or Cebu

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: The island is small so 3 days/2 nights should be enough to explore

​FAMOUS SPOTS: White Island, Mantigue Island, Mount Hibok-Hibok, Bonbon Church Ruins and Sunken Cemetery
​

A visit to Siquijor Island, one of the lesser-known islands in the Visayas, would be well worth your time. Due to the island’s relatively obscure location, your vacation here need not break the bank, and you can anticipate a smaller-than-average crowd and you’ll get to experience the natural beauty of the Philippines here. Siquijor is known for its rich culture and tradition in addition to its typical tourist attractions such as white sand beaches and waterfalls. Famous agimat (amulets or charms) and gayuma (potions) from this area have made it known as a place of mystical power. The area is also well-known for its witches and mananambal or ​manggagamot (mountain-dwelling healers) who are said to concoct elixirs and potions that have been used to treat various ailments for centuries. Depending on one’s perspective, this could be both fascinating and terrifying for visitors.

EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: Plane from Manila to Dumaguete then ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: The island is small so 3 days/2 nights should be enough to explore

​FAMOUS SPOTS: 

• Cambugahay Falls
• Paliton Beach
• Salagdoong Beach and cliff jumping
• Enchanted Balete tree
• Old churches
  

Bohol Island is one of the islands located in Central Visayas and sits right beside Cebu. If you’re coming from Cebu, Bohol is just 2 hours away by ferry. Despite its size, Bohol is very diverse when it comes to tourism. You’ll find white sand beaches and sandbars here, but you’ll also find mangrove forests, abundant marine life such as school of sardines, tarsiers, man-made forests and rivers. Bohol is also home to the world-famous Chocolate Hills. These hills are made up of around 1,268 cone-shaped limestone formations that turn brown during the summer months. Aside from island hopping,

Bohol is also one of my favorite places to learn scuba diving and freediving. It’s a great place to learn freediving because of the clarity of the water and its abundant corals and reefs. There are a lot of companies that you can contact for these activities, and you can even rent your own dive gear for free if you don’t want to bring your own.

EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: The island is relatively small so at least 3 days/2 nights should be enough to do countryside tour and island hopping

FAMOUS SPOTS: 

• Chocolate Hills
• Loboc River, Panglao Island
• Alona Beach
• Bilar Man-Made Forest
• Mangroves
• Old churches
  ​

El Nido in Palawan is a group of islands with some of the most picturesque beaches and islands in the Philippines. If you are a sucker for island hopping tours, this would be the best place that you should go to. I have already lost count of how many island destinations there are in El Nido, but after every visit, another one just pops up on social media that I haven’t been to. Some travel favorites are Cadlaw Island, Shimizu Island, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. This is truly the place to see secluded stretches of white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. There are also numerous activities to do on the islands, such as swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.

Finding accommodations for your beach holiday shouldn’t be a problem as there are a lot of resorts, inns and hostels ranging from affordable to 5-stars.

Going there, on the other hand, can be a bit of a challenge. El Nido has its own airport, known as Lio Airport or simply El Nido Airport, but only a few airlines fly there. The most common route is via mainland Palawan – you can fly from Manila or Cebu to Puerto Princesa Airport and then ride a van or bus to El Nido for 5-7 hours.
​
EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila (can be very expensive) or by plane to Puerto Princesa and van ride to El Nido town proper (cheaper alternative but longer travel time)

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: There are a lot of island hopping tours I highly suggest you take so I would say 4 days/3 nights should be bare minimum to do at least 3 tours

FAMOUS SPOTS: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Cadlaw Island, Shimizu Island, Secret Beach, Snake Island, Taraw Cliffs and Nacpan Beach

​North of Palawan, just right on top of El Nido, you’ll find the smaller town of Coron which also has picture-perfect beaches where you can explore the natural beauty of the Philippines. Several ferries and private tours can bring you from El Nido to Coron, but the easiest way if you’re coming from Manila or Cebu is via plane. Unlike El Nido, Coron is easier to get to since several airlines fly directly to Busuanga, and you only need to take a short van ride to get to Coron town proper.

This island is home to various accommodation options, from budget hostels to opulent resorts.

The town is situated on Coron Bay, where the most affordable accommodations are. You should be able to find luxury resorts off the coast and on the surrounding islands like Club Paradise (which is one of my favorites).

There’s also another town nearby which is part of the same island where Coron is called Busuanga, where you can also find several tourist destinations like Black Island and Calauit Safari Park. If you have the luxury of time, I highly suggest flying to Coron, exploring the islands surrounding it, and getting on a boat en route to El Nido, where you can pass through secluded islands like Linapacan. 
​

EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila or Ceb

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: This island is smaller than El Nido so 3 days/2 nights should be the bare minimum

FAMOUS SPOTS: Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Black Island, Mount Tapyas, Calauit Safari Park, Malcapuya Island, Bulog Dos Island and Twin Lagoon

​Boracay Island, located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, is known for its powder-soft, fine white sand and shallow blue waters. The island is a major tourist destination in the Philippines, and because of this, it can become quite crowded during peak seasons. Some visitors prefer to avoid the crowds by traveling to Boracay during its off-peak season, which is from June to October. June, July and August are the wet monsoons so expect more rain than any other months. January to May is the dry season so expect to see a lot of visitors during these months, especially in April.

You can also explore several beaches around the island. White Beach is the longest and most popular beach on the island and where you can find the Boracay stations 1, 2 and 3. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can visit Puka Beach, Bulabog Beach or Diniwid Beach.

Most of the high-end and affordable beach resorts are located along White Beach and Bulabog Beach and everywhere in between, but if you would like to experience luxury and seclusion, you can try the resorts along Punta Bunga Beach or what they wittingly call Station 0. This is where resorts like Shangri-la Boracay, Mövenpick Resort & Spa and Crimson Resort and Spa are located.
​
EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE: By plane from Manila or Cebu

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS TO SPEND: At least 3 days/2 nights should be enough for a bit of beach hopping and lounging

FAMOUS SPOTS AND ACTIVITIES: White Beach, Diniwid Beach, Bulabog Beach, Station X, parasailing, helmet diving, sunset watching and just chilling all day long
​​