30 Best Beaches in the Philippines According to Travel Bloggers

[Zurca]

There are many questions that travel bloggers can answer easily. How to get there. Where to stay. What to do in a certain destination. But if you want them to stop dead in their tracks and give them a hard time, ask them what their favorite place is.



And that’s exactly what we did. We asked them what they thought was the best beach in the Philippines. While some were able to blurt out their choice in an instant, many had reactions that were quite amusing. That’s a tough one. Do I really have to pick? Just one? Does it really have to be just one? And who could blame them? With 7,107 islands, the Philippines has more than its share of spectacular beaches! And choosing just one is not an easy task at all. There are a lot of things to consider: the sand, the landscape, their personal experiences. Still, after a long time of bugging, pushing, and — sometimes — blackmailing begging, they were able to give an answer.

Here’s a list of 30 best beaches in the Philippines as chosen by some of your favorite Pinoy travel bloggers. (Note that this is just Part 1. And this is in no particular order.)

1. Tinaga Island, Calaguas, Camarines Norte

Freckling the waters off the coast of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, the Calaguas group of islands hide pretty little secrets. In recent years, however, they are discovered by more and more beach chasers, who easily fall in love with the place. Angel Juarez (aka Lakwatsero) is one of them. His absolute favorite? Mahabang Buhangin in Tinaga Island, the biggest in the group.

“Mahabang Buhangin is a picture perfect paradise with its long stretch of fine white sand dotted with volcanic rocks on its both ends,” Juarez describes his pick. “The place is the most frequented camping and swimming site by tourists.”



2. Nacpan-Calitang Twin Beach, El Nido, Palawan

Byron Datinguinoo of Peculiar Hours has an equally pristine choice — Nacpan-Calitang Beach. Just when you think El Nido is done blowing your mind with its hidden lagoons and secret beaches, you get beach-slapped with two long strips of white sand. Nacpan and Calitang Beaches are two separate beauties that find each other and meet by a hill.



3. Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan

Although not as famous as neighbors El Nido and Puerto Princesa, San Vicente is nothing short of stellar. This relatively low profile is what makes this peaceful town appealing to some travelers. Its forests are undisturbed and shores almost untouched. It is perhaps the reason Port Barton, one of its 10 barangays, is the top choice by Edgar Allan Zeta Yap, the EAZY Traveler.

“Supple sands hugged by jungle-clad mountains, turquoise waters and lovely coral gardens where turtles and reef fish cruise, framed by sapphire skies and honey-colored sunsets,” recalls EAZY. “An idyllic beach retreat could not get any better than this!”



4. Bantayan Island, Cebu

The blade-shaped province of Cebu is rich in historical sites and grand churches but it is also teeming with natural resources. Its coasts and outlying islands cradle pockets of white sand. Bantayan Island, off its northern tip, is dumped with some of the finest! Brenna Bustamante of the Philippine Travelogue puts this tropical paradise on the top of her list.

Less crowded and less busy than the other famous island destinations in the country, Bantayan Island is perfect for those who chase beaches for a time of relaxation and reflection.



5. Anguib Beach, Sta. Ana, Cagayan

“Forget Boracay, dear beach bummers,” Robbie Bautista of The Travelling Dork opens his piece about Anguib Beach. “If you are after pristine turquoise waters and powdery white sand with the total seclusion that the former doesn’t have, then you can find the same paradise in the northernmost tip of mainland Luzon.”

It looks like rough roads lead to the best beaches. Anguib Beach may be in Luzon but it is on the far end of it, around 12 hours away if you’re taking the bus from Manila. But Anguib’s remoteness is what makes it extra special. The usual delights are there: fine sand and clear water but its real charm is its very quiet atmosphere and the feeling that you own every bit of it.



6. Bolobadiangan Island, Concepcion, Iloilo

Like with Anguib, it looks like seclusion is what also made Ron Cruz of FlipTravels.com fall in love with Bolobadiangan Island. This off-the-beaten-track destination in Concepcion, Iloilo makes an ideal setting for Survivor make-believe. “The sand is not as fine as boracay, sunset is not as majestic as Manila Bay,” Ron explains, “but the rustic feel, the isolation and the solemnity of the setting made the trip so intimate.”

Hmmm… Intimate! Now you’re paying attention. “We rented the whole sandbar, prepared meals by ourselves, and slept on a hammock,” he adds. Not what you’re thinking, apparently.



7. Naked Island, Britania Group of Islands, Surigao del Sur

Speaking of intimacy. Time to get naked. “In the vastness of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur is an island incomparable to its neighbors in Britania Group,” Harry Balais writes about this nude stunner. ”Naked Island is made up of a long white sand bar that completely gets lost in the horizon during neap high tide.”



8.  Buluan Island, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay

“Buluan Island, a gem of a piece of land off Barangay Buluan in Zamboanga Sibugay’s municipal capital of Ipil is beautiful. And that is even an understatement.” That’s what Estan Cabigas of Langyaw.com has to say about this well-kept secret. “The island is tear drop shaped as seen from above with a tadpole like profile. The apex fringed with a white sandy beach and gradually rising up to the top of the hill. On a beautiful morning, its ghost like when seen from Ipil’s port, about 20 minutes by speedboat.”



9.  Subic Beach, Matnog, Sorsogon

Owen Ballesteros is one-half of the blog Two2Travel, and of the kilometers of shorelines he has seen, he is quite convinced that Subic Beach is his top pick. Fringing an edge of Calintaan Island in Matnog, Sorsogon, Subic Beach looks like your ordinary PH beach at first glance. “White coral sand, swaying palms, and clear waters. It’s so beautiful I could feel the cliches against my bare feet as I walked the length of the beach half-looking for algae or any of that shiz that usually turns off beach-goers. None.”



10. Diniwid Beach, Boracay Island, Aklan

And you thought this list would end without a mention of Boracay. Not gonna happen.

Boracay is often dubbed the best beach in the Philippines, and in Asia according to the latest TripAdvisor survey. While many are complaining about the island being too commercialized, Boracay still has a few less chaotic nooks. Diniwid Beach is one of them.

Nikka Corsino, the other half of Two2Travel, has been living here for a month now. “It is the the longest we’ve had to stay in any single beach destination,” she shares. “I love its turquoise waters, jagged rock formations, and overall quiet. It is, for me, the best place to see the sunset in Boracay.”



This is just the first batch. Which of the beaches above have you graced with your presence? What other coves and shores will make it to the next wave of our list of the 30 most beautiful beaches in the Philippines?

from: http://www.philippinebeaches.org/30-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-philippines/#

[Zurca]

30 Best Beaches in the Philippines According to Travel Bloggers (Part 2)

We asked some of your favorite travel bloggers: What is the best beach in the Philippines?

It’s a difficult question, to say the least. After all, the Philippines is made up of over 7000 islands, fringed by miles of shoreline. Picking just one out of countless coves and beaches is no easy business. Besides, how do you judge a beach? The fineness of the sand? The clarity of the water? The richness of its wildlife? The grandeur of the landscape? In the end, we told them: pick the one that allowed the best, most unforgettable experience. And here are their answers.



11. Biri Island, Northern Samar

We all have a picture of the perfect beach paradise — azure water, gentle waves, white sand. The northern coast of Biri Island is not one of them.

The waves here don’t roll; they ravage. “Every punching wave is a stroke of art and every gusty storm is a painful dash of necessary sacrifice — the torture in art, the beauty in chaos,” I described it on The Poor Traveler blog. The result, six staggering rock formations that intimidate not just with their immensity but, more importantly, their splendor.





12. Matukad Island, Caramoan, Camarines Sur

While Biri Island is my personal choice, PhilippineBeaches.org’s co-founder Vins Carlos sticks to the classic ivory-laced, sapphire-soaked shores!  His pick — Matukad Island in Caramoan. But like Biri, it is specked with breathtaking rock formations. “In between these giant rocks are patches of powdery white sand that is sure to delight beach lovers. The island also harbors a small hidden lake.”



13. Secret Beach, El Nido, Palawan

El Nido has many secrets. One of them — the Secret Beach, a small half-dipped pocket of white sand that is enveloped by the giant karst cliffs of Matinloc Island. Accessible only through a narrow crevice, it requires visitors to swim one at a time. Challenge, huh? But that’s part of its charm if you ask Enrico Dee of Byahilo.com.

“I put on my mask and snorkel and voila! The view under my feet is indescribable. I got overwhelmed in everything that I saw. I then started to swim slowly towards the opening,” he recalls. “I was surrounded by towering limestone rocks, while I was just lying on a fine white sandy beach.”



14. Quiminatin Island, Cuyo, Palawan

“For me, this is the best beach in the Philippines,” Benj Espina makes it clear in his post about this almost unheard of paradise tucked in the middle of the Cuyo Islands. Its remoteness has kept the island’s low profile, but divers en route to Tubbataha Reef who make a stopover here are treated to a rare opportunity to get to know this exquisite beauty.

“It was strikingly beautiful,” Benj adds. “It was great to find a seemingly untouched island out in the Sulu Sea free from human settlements and the development.

“The Cuyo Islands are in the middle of the Sulu Sea. It is relatively far from a major city – Manila is around 24 hours away by boat and the nearest airport that has commercial flights are in Panay Island.”



15. Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte

If you love sandbars, you will fall head over heels for Kalanggaman Island. This barely touched paradise has enjoyed a lot of attention in recent years as more and more beach-chasers discover its postcard-perfect allure. Sinjin Pineda of Libotero.com can’t help but agree. “With talcum white sand bars extending to both sides, Kalanggaman Island is a paradise. Its pristine waters and almost lake-like placidness make it perfect for swimming, kayaking and snorkeling.” The other side of the island has stronger waves and more sea-like attitude.

And the sandbars! Both ends of this long island are fringed with a sandbar reaching out to the blues. Warning, though: some parts slope so steeply.





16. White Beach, Malamawi Island, Basilan

How many beaches in the Philippines are called “White Beach”? We don’t know. But what this woman is sure of is, Malamawi Island’s White Beach is the best of them all. Gay Mitra-Emami of Pinay Travel Junkie has nothing but praises for this humble destination. “ When we docked Malamawi’s makeshift port, we hired motorcycles to get to the beach. I was surprised how beautiful their white beach is,” she shares. “I guess I was captivated by its charm of isolation.”



17. Puraran Beach, Baras, Catanduanes

Facing the mighty and unforgiving Pacific, Puraran Beach is a topnotch surfing site. Located in the town of Baras, Catanduanes, the options to get here by air is quite limited. But those who go out of their mainstream way to get here are greeted with a delightful and highly exhilarating mini-slaps from the ocean.

“It is home to the so-called majestic waves,” Mervz of Pinoy Adventurista notes.  ”Stunning landscape of golden sand beach, clean and clear waters, marvelous rock formations, and views of mountains and the bay welcomed us. It’s quite hot during that time as the sun rose higher but the strong wind blowing from the ocean kept us cool.”



18. Dahican Beach, Mati, Davao Oriental

From surfing in Catanduanes to skimboarding in Davao Oriental! This seven-kilometer cove is the sparkling gem of Mati, Davao Oriental. Popular among the wave-riding crowd, it is being groomed as the skimboarding capital. “Time was like a blur as if moments are passing by gracefully, with an after-stroke from a master painter,” Marky Ramone Go of Nomadic Experiences describes how it feels to stand at Dahican Beach. “From the blue skies to the crystal clear waters, even to the movements of the skimboarders who are otherwise known as the Amihan Boys, you could sense a feeling of calm.”

Dahican means “to come in from the sea.” The name was given to this beach for the pawikan, Hawksbills and Olive Ridleys, that emerge from the sea and climb up to the shore to lay eggs. If you’re Dahican-bound, make sure to not disturb these gentle creatures when you’re there.



19. Bounty Beach, Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malapascua Island is most famous for the thresher sharks that roam its waters. Divers from around the world are drawn to these sharks and other marine creatures that make up the rich biodiversity of the island. But Malapascua has something for beach bums, too! As Edcel Suyo of Solo Flight Ed witnessed it firsthand, this small piece of heaven north of Cebu stuns visitors with pearly grains and multi-colored sunsets. Edcel was so mesmerized, he wrote the island a letter.

“I swam in your waters and jumped from your cliff. I dove into the deep and cruised along your shores. You shared so many faces in different times of the day. However, only during the later part did you show your real colors.

“I stepped out and the light revealed another shade. Orange and plum; my eyes were at ease despite the lack of rest. I lay on the sand and witnessed how you painted the sky and filled it with enough hue to keep my mind at peace. The sea breeze and the calm waves served as a sweet lullaby. It was almost perfect.”



20. Salagdoong Beach, Maria, Siquijor

For some people, Siquijor is almost synonymous to witchcraft and mysticism. But anyone who has been to the Island of Fire will tell you, if there’s something this place should be known for — its sheer, natural beauty. Beaches, for example, are spectacular in Siquijor. Just ask Renz Bulseco of The Traveling Nomad. His favorite: Salagdoong Beach.

Cradled in the town of Maria, it is managed by the Provincial Tourism Office. “Despite being a public beach,” Renz shares, “it is still clean and well-maintained. Kudos to the local government of Siquijor!

“Sun rays torridly kissed our skin as we explored the public beach. Although in my opinion, the beach would look more quaint if it remained as it is. But still, the beauty of Salagdoong Beach is still there – well maintained and the locals are disciplined as well.”



from: http://www.philippinebeaches.org/top-30-best-beaches-in-the-philippines-part-2/

[Zurca]

reserved for 30 Best Beaches in the Philippines According to Travel Bloggers part 3