Boracay, a small island in central Philippines, is without contest the country’s trophy beach. An island of clear blue waters and pristine white sand that is always soft and never hot, Boracay is easily the top beach destination in the country and one of the best in the world. The island is a well-developed tourist destination with good hotels, bars, restaurants, and water sports facilities. The quickest way to Boracay is by plane from Manila to Panay Island, where there is a terminal of bancas (boats) to Boracay.

Next to Boracay in the hierarchy of Philippine beaches is Palawan, an island province also located in central Philippines. Palawan is a treasure chest of unspoiled natural beauty and underdeveloped tourist destinations. Ironically, it is this lack of commercialism that draws tourists to the island. Palawan is an ideal destination if you want to enjoy white sand beaches and pristine waters without too much noise and distractions. Located near the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, the island is also a great spot if you want to go scuba diving.

Malapascua Island in the province of Cebu is another of the Philippines’ most beautiful beaches. Often dubbed as the new Boracay, Malapascua is a major diving center that is famous for its crowd of threshers sharks. It is very much like Boracay Island in terms of beauty but more like Palawan in terms of atmosphere and ambiance.

The list of Philippine beaches goes well beyond these three. Actually, the list goes on even if you include the beaches of  Panglao Island in Bohol, La Union, Ilocos, Bantayan Island in Cebu, and Puerto Galera on Mindoro Island. Philippines, as the pearl of the orient, has much more shores and beaches to offer.

Bancas and beachlife

Cruise the islands of the world’s second largest archipelago, from Luzon in the North to frontiers of Palawan. There’s thousands of islands and many more gorgeous beaches waiting to be discovered, and the island hopping starts here.

This Philippines travel blog is the beta version of a 100 page, picture laden site, rich in travel tips and essential info, coming soon. We’ve been all over Southeast Asia seeking out the best spots and they’re all here on this site to help make your travels easier and more rewarding.

Whether you are coming to dive, sail, treat yourself to fresh seafood, mingle with the locals, soak up the sun, trek volcanic peaks or simply lie on the tropical beaches, the Philippines promises an excellent holiday. Start planning it here.

One fantastic way to experience the Philippines is to hire your own private villa on one of the islands, and you can find plenty of choices on sites like self catering breaks.