The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Philippine beaches are among the best and most unique in the world. If you’re looking for the perfect beach holiday then look no further.
A visit to the Philippines with more than 7600 islands to choose from is a perfect choice for your next trip.
With so many small remote islands surrounded by crystal clear water and white sandy beaches, it would be hard to decide which are the best among them all.
In this article, I’ll share my experience and recommendations for the best Philippine beach experience. We did a 2-week itinerary visiting Manila, Palawan, and Bohol islands.
Best time to visit the Philippines
To be able to access any island of your liking, plan your holiday between November and April. The temperatures during the dry season range from 24º to 31º approx.
All the photos taken in this article were from our trips in December and January.
We had sunny weather 90% of the time. The wet season in the Philippines is between May and October. The weather is still hot and sunny, but typhoons may occur between January and August.
Island Hopping in El Nido, Palawan
The best island hopping option to discover gorgeous hidden Philippine beaches was the “B” destinations in El Nido. We hired a private tour for 2 and did the route opposite way to avoid tourist crowds.
This route includes a visit to Vigan Island, commonly known as Snake Island. The famous sand strip brings the opportunity to literally walk in the middle of the sea. Gorgeous!..
You can even enjoy a beer at the snack bar on the wooden deck surrounded by water.
The next stop is Pinagbuyutan Island, famous for its limestone. Enjoy the beautiful beach facing Malapacao island.
The long white sandy Entalula Beach with its dense vegetation is the perfect example of the perfect Philippine beach.
Snorkeling is a must if you don’t want to miss the unique underwater fauna.
Cudugnon Cave is also on the list. Discover the important archeological site where some potteries from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279)have been discovered.
Our 7-hour island hopping day trip was a great adventure. Besides the marvelous landscapes, we also enjoyed an onboard meal with BBQ grilled fresh fish and prawns!! This is truly paradise!!
My best restaurant recommendation is Jarace grill in el Nido. They have a wide variety of fresh seafood char-grilled and delicious sauces to choose from.
Nacpan Beach in El nido, Palawan
Palawan Island is one of the most visited Philippine islands with many hidden beaches and remote spots to visit. Heading north for about 21km on the El Nido National Hwy you find Nacpan beach.
A Typical white sandy beach stacked with palm trees and a relaxed island-style atmosphere.
At the time of our visit, too many tourists had the same idea and we decided to go further north to Duli beach.
The spacious Duli beach has a more virgin look with much fewer visitors and is one of Palawan’s best beaches in my opinion.
Panglao Island, Visayas region in Southcentral Philippines
Along with its famous white coral sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, Panglao is also the gateway to the reefs. Many local tour operators offer boat trips for dolphin watching, snorkeling, and scuba diving at the Balicasag Marine Sanctuary.
This protected marine paradise is a true underwater coral garden with multiple colored fish species and green sea turtles.
The last stop on these local tours is a visit to the islet of Pungtud island. This scenic swimming destination is unique with a large sand bar in the middle of the sea.
A huge area can be enjoyed on foot in the shallow waters.
Although Alona beach is a well know public beach with many commercial facilities, it’s a hot spot to have a seafood platter with breathtaking sea views or to end the day with a sundowner.
Bohol island, Central Visayas region, Philippines
Bohol offers much more than idyllic sunny beaches with palm trees and coral reefs.
The famous surreal hills known as the chocolate hills are unusual brown geological formations creating a visual contrast with the surrounding green jungle vegetation.
Animal lovers must pay a visit to the Tarsier conservation area. These tiny primates (the smallest in the world ) are rare scenes and are worth the visit.
Another charming beach in northern Bohol is Anda beach. Enjoy the lush coconut palms and coral white sandy beach. Anda beach is also a commercial hub with many restaurants, shops, and resorts.
Lamanoc island, Philippines
If you’re looking for a charming offshore mystical island with hidden caves and mysterious myths pay a visit to Lamanoc island.
This uninhabited island can be visited by organized tours including a short boat trip, a hiking trail to discover the prehistoric art, and canoe rides around the island.
The starting point is at the wooden pier about 7km north of Anda beach.
Other recommendations and places to visit in the Philippines
In this post, I’ve only scratched the surface of heavenly Philippian beaches and places to visit in the Philippines. Their rich local gastronomy has indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian influence. Fresh seafood can be found anywhere at a very good price.
On my next trip to the Philippines, the first island to visit will be Coron. This island is one of the top tourist destinations and is famous for its azure crystal clear freshwater lakes, and shallow water coral reefs.
Coron is also famous for its underwater marine life and Japanese shipwrecks from the 1940s.
One of the best places to spot whale sharks is around Pescador Island in Southern Cebu. Many other whale species ( 27 whale species in total) and dolphins can also be seen in almost all waters around the country.
For hiking, enthusiasts consider an adventure hike to the iconic volcanic peak of Hibok-Hibok island.
Another hiking adventure could be around the 1200 chocolate hills of Bohol.
The ricefields of Batad have been declared a Heritage of humanity by UNESCO and are located in the Luzón area.
We also visited one of the new 7 wonders of the world in Palawan. The Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a spectacular river with limestone cliffs that emerges directly into the sea.
The impressive cave system about 76km northwest of Puerto Princesa has an 8,2 km underwater river. The actual river ride only allows the first 1,5km for safety reasons but is more than enough to enjoy the natural beauty and intact forest.
A few accommodation recommendations in the Philippines.
Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa Managed by HII is a great option in Puerto Princesa.
2 Budget Hotels in Manila are the City Garden Hotel in Makati and RedDoorz Plus @ 1318 Residences
closer to the city center.
Our best Glamping experience ever was at Aetas Glamping in El Nido, Palawan. They truly know how to make guests feel special, not to mention their exclusive luxury safari tents.
Casa Amihan in Anda, Bohol is a first-class guest house steps away from their small private beach. They also have one of the finest on-site restaurants with a sea view.
Booking.com
Some restaurants to consider trying in the Philippines.
Manila: The Aristocrat Restaurant for good BBQ chicken and Restaurant Sala for fine dining.
Puerto Princesa, Palawan: Baywalk Kina Boyet Seafood restaurant.
El Nido, Palawan: Jarace Grill. Best fresh seafood in town.
Alona beach, Bohol: Isis Thai Restaurant. They also have other interesting dishes besides their wide variety of fresh seafood.
Anda, Bohol: Amihan restaurant at Casa Amihan Guset house. At Coco Loco Cafe in Anda we had the best coconut hamburger and fresh fruit juices ever!!
