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10 Best Island Destinations in the Philippines
Picking out the best island destinations in the Philippines isn’t an easy task.
The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands, give or take a few islands during high tide or low tide.
Yes, that’s enough islands for any foreign tourist or local Filipino to visit in his or her lifetime.
Still, there are many islands that effortlessly stand out from the crowd.
These island destinations have matchless, striking scenery found nowhere else in the Philippines and perhaps the rest of the whole world.
Their beauty is enough to leave one in awe, wondering what natural treasures the other Philippine islands might hold.
Tough as it seems, I’ve picked out the ten best island destinations in the Philippines that are a must-visit for any foreigner or local.
A note though, there are so many more beautiful Philippines islands that are beyond the scope of this short list.
1. Apo Island
About 20 kilometers from the province of Negros Oriental in the Philippines is the 72-hectareApo Island, a pristine, protected, and pastoral island that is famous for its snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep sea diving sites.
Apo Island is surrounded by calm waters and striking coral formations, making it a breeding ground for marine life and therefore a first-rate destination for marine activities.
Around the island, divers and snorkelers can encounter as many as 650 fish species and marvel at as many as 400 types of corals.
The scenery in the island itself is simply bucolic.
White sand beaches line the edges of Apo Island and people, mostly fishermen and their families, lead unhurried lives.
2. Batanes Islands
The smallest province in the Philippines – Batanes Islands – also has one of the most enchanting landscapes in the country.
Windswept and separated from the whole of the Philippines by wide, rough waters, Batanes Islands features gently sloping hills, sudden cliffs, seemingly bottomless canyons, and rugged shores dotted with boulders.
Its houses are bare yet robust, with thick walls and thatched roofs that are ready to withstand to the strong, destructive typhoons that frequently pass through the province.
In this timeless place, visitors can hop from one island to another, swim in the cool waters, admire the scenic villages, go fishing, and simply be one with nature.
3. Bohol Island
Bohol Island is most famous for its Chocolate Hills – over 1,500 limestone hills from coral reefs that formed during the ice age – but is way more than this amazing gem of nature.
Bohol Island is home to endangered flora and fauna and is most known as the home of the Philippine tarsier.
It has over one hundred caves that people can explore one after the other for spelunking activities.
Also the major draws to the island are the endless white-sand beaches, clear waters, and hidden waterfalls.
4. Boracay Island
Reaping prestigious awards left and right as one of the best beaches in the world is theBoracay Island, a seven-kilometer long, dog bone-shaped island with white, powdery sand beaches as well as very clear waters.
Lying about 315 kilometers from the Philippine capital Manila, Boracay Island is a haven for marine and land-based activities during day time.
Visitors can go scuba diving, cliff diving, snorkeling, kiteboarding, golfing, swimming, and windsurfing.
At nighttime, the island energizes and becomes one big party place with hundreds of revelers.
Boracay Island is popular among people from all walks of life, from the backpackers, to family-oriented visitors, and to the high-class people who value privacy and relaxation.
5. Camiguin
A picturesque volcanic island shaped like a pear is the tiny, quaint island of Camiguin in northern part of Mindanao.
As a volcanic island, Camiguin has seven volcanoes, plenty of hot springs, white-sand beaches, cascading waterfalls, mountains that appear blue-green in colors, and lush forests.
Travelers in the island can bask in the historical past of Camiguin by visiting Catarman Church Ruins, Sunken Cemetery, Sto. Rosario Church that was built in 1882, and several ancestral houses of the old rich.
6. Coron Island
Part of the famed Palawan province in the Philippines is the Coron Island, an island famous for its wreck diving destinations, bizarre marine animals, steep cliffs, and emerald waters.
In Coron Island, people can snorkel or dive to see the 12 huge intact ships that sank in the area during the height of World War II.
These were Japanese ships that docked in the Philippines to channel supplies to the occupying Japanese troops.
They were, however, sunk in a blitzkrieg staged by the US forces.
Coron Island is also famous for its reefs, with hundreds kinds of fish finding sanctuaries in this place.
7. Hundred Islands
Found in Alaminos City in the province of Pangasinan is the Hundred Islands, a group of two million-year old islands scattered across the Lingayen Gulf.
There are about 124 islands in Hundred Islands during low tide.
At high tide, one island submerges and so the count becomes 123.
These islands were once corals in an ancient sea bed that has become exposed over time.
Each island offers an opportunity for exploration, with its exotic flora and fauna.
8. Pamalican Island
Also part of the Palawan province is the ultra-secluded Pamalican Island, a 2.5-kilometer island surrounded by seven-kilometer coral reefs.
Pamalican Island is the location of the high-end Amanpulo Resort, which is owned by the global resort group Aman Resort that caters to people with high net-worth values.
This island is serviced by one airport and one ferry and is therefore very much private.
Visitors can do snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba diving, or simply chill out at the white-sand beach.
9. Siargao Island
About 800 kilometers southeast of Manila is a surfing haven called Siargao Island, a 400-square kilometer island with white-sand beaches, reefs, and rough winds from the Pacific Ocean that whips up waves ideal for international surfing competitions.
Siargao Island is where local and foreign surfers meet, daring each other to take on the next huge wave.
It, however, has more to offer beyond surfing.
Siargao Island has large mangrove forests and stretches of wetlands.
The place also has well-preserved coral reefs.
10. Tubbataha Reefs
Tubbataha Reefs is a remote island over 90 nautical miles from Palawan province in the Philippines.
It is world-famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tubbataha Reefs has one of the most amazing underwater scenery in the world with its reef platforms, sandy lagoons, steep walls, and staggering amount of marine life.
It has 350 species of corals and 500 species of fishes.
Measuring 130,000 hectares, Tubbataha Reefs is a protected area, making it ideal for visitors who want to see nature at its best.
Copyright © 2011 Kerlyn Bautista
All Rights Reserved
More About Travels in the Philippines
- 5 Most Stunning Scuba Diving Sites in the Philippines
- 4 Most Exquisite Baroque Churches in the Philippines
- UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites of the Philippines
- Priceless Cultural World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
- Top 20 Places to Visit and Things to Do in the Philippines
- Top 10 Philippine Festivals that Filipinos Love
Islands in the Philippines
Comments
As for me the best holiday with familly in Mauritius.With Elite Voyage it is not only beaches and the sea, which can quickly become bored children, but there are parks, crocodile park, boating, and many others, from which your kids will love it!
Philippines is one of the places I want to visit. So many islands and blue water of the Pacific. I am also intrigued by Philippine culture and tribes.
Hi, Kerlynb, your Chocolate Hills photo is really something, made me wish I was there, anyway, very informative hub, very interesting and I certainly would love to visit some or all of these islands... Voted up and interesting and sharing! Have a wonderful day!
My wife and I want to go to Bohol. But we just can't find the time. Batanes is another place I want to visit. I hope we get the chance to go to these places.
Great list! Thank you for sharing these awesome places of our country. It is indeed more fun in the Philippines.
Hi kerlyub.
I would love to go to these places and go swimming with whales,dolphins and sharks.
Thank you for your comment on my Hong Kong article.
Here are some tips you might enjoy
I love going hiking. If you go out to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden take the 64k bus. Just before the stop for the farm you get off. Cross the road and walk up the road. You will see a beautiful Buddhist monestary built out of the side of a mountain. Go further still and there is magnificent waterfalls. Ask the driver and people on the bus for the waterfall stop.
I like Shek O beach. Take the number nine bus. It's small but never crowded.
If you are in Hong Kong on Wedesday all the museums are free.
I stay at the hostels on Nathan Road. They are grungy but cheap, I never pay more than 150 a night.
I eat one big lunch at the Salvation army to last me the day. Usually it's pretty good.
These are some helpful tips.
If you would like more or would like to share some, I would be very happy to share with you.
God bless you.
I had read before that there is some island that are rich in treasures artifacts,like the LIMAHONG TREASURES that base on the islands of PALAWAN ,and others islands nearest the seashore ,usually they hide from the typhoons and the ships dockswfrom highest cliffs and irregular coastline not visible to everyone...and also this panay strait to mexico it is a spanish route for commerce and trade and their must be a sunken spanish ship which is rich of treasures and artifacts,. lastly you must see the beautiful waterfalls of luzon ,visayas, and mindanao....AWESOMES
Great hub and nice review of each attraction.The only places I visited are Camiguin Island and Boracay. Hope to see more of my homeland.
Wow....I can't say anything. This was so beautiful. You have done a great research about best island destination in Philippines. I hope I can see one of these island one day. Vote up and useful.
Love and peace, prasetio
I have always wanted to come to phillipins for my holiday but wondered how will I know which are the best places to go and here it is the great hub answering my questions...I will check out this places when I will go there! Very useful hub:)
Thank you for that tour of the Islands. I have lived here in the Philippines for only a little over a year. I have only been in Bicol region and Luzon. From our property in Barretto OC we have the most beautiful view of Subic Bay one can imagine. The Philippine Islands are indeed a beautiful place to experience. Voted up and interesting
I have a home-based job and my boss from the U.S. visited here its been an eye opener really. I been living here in Cebu for almost 2/3 of my life and he been to more places that I have in 2 weeks.
Now I have made a pact to go to the different places and enjoy what our country have to offer and Bohol seem like the perfect choice :)
I would be reading your article to :D I like the way you write and hope your writing style rub itself to mine hahahahha
Thank you Kerlynb. :)
what an amazing photos for these Islands, didn't know that its this much beautiful, I think it worth visiting in honeymoon if I ever get married. thanks for sharing this and voted up
@kerlynb I hope that you do visit Cebu again :)
I am just starting out in hubpages as you can see I still don't write that good and my articles don't have much picture on them. As soon as I revisited the place I will take a lot of photos and upload them.
BTW I am planning to take a day tour in Bohol next month. (First timer)
Apo island attracted me the most, bucolic scenery...yes, I love it...thanks kerlynb for the sharing...cheers!
WOW....these are wonderful islands. I would like to visit them.
I think I would save up for Pamilican, I wonder how much hotels are there?
Amazing viewlands and beautiful hub. I wish I would be there some day.
Breathtaking, What a great hub Kerlynb, my friend just moved there 6 months ago to start a business, and now I can understand why thanks to you. I look forward to reading everything you write...Amazing, great job!
Up and following!
Too bad Cebu didn't make the cut on your list :(
I think I want to come to the Philippines for my HoneyMoon. It is so pretty. The reefs, the islands, just wow! Plus I want to try some of the dishes that you have recipes that you have publishes with authentic ingredients.
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