2. El Nido, Palawan
According to CNNGo, the travel news website of CNN, El Nido in Palawan is one of the Philippines’ best beaches and island destinations because of its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem." It is frequently called the Philippines' last frontier and is ranked No. 14 among the CNN's Top 100 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World. For 2 years in a row (2016 and 2017), Palawan bagged the #1 spot for the "best island in the world" according to the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure. Conde Nast Traveller also listed El Nido as the 4th best beach in the world for 2017.
There are about 50 white sand beaches on the island, five types of forest, three major marine habitats, and many different species of birds. The water is also rich in sea life, which includes marine mammals like dolphins and dugongs of which six are endemic, over one hundred species of coral, and almost one thousand different kinds of fish.
El Nido is also the largest marine reserve and sanctuary in the Philippines with a total area of 903.21 sq. km. It is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country and its flora and fauna is protected, along with its geologic formations such as its limestone cliffs, home of the swiftlets (apodidae birds whose nests are entirely built from threads of their own saliva, an ingredient also used for the famous bird's nest soup).
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When to Visit: The best time to visit is December through March because the weather is nice and dry and there are fewer visitors. If you're traveling during Holy Week or high season (April and May), be prepared for more tourists and higher prices.
How to Get There:
- By air: Islands Transvoyager Inc. flies from Manila to El Nido, and you can also fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa then drive to the tip of mainland Palawan. You’ll ride on an outrigger boat to reach parts of El Nido. SEAIR also flies from Manila to Taytay daily. You can also fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa, and then take a four-hour bus ride to Taytay.
- By sea: From San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa, there are buses bound for El Nido. Travel time is five to six hours.
What to Do: Scuba dive, snorkel, relax on the beach, visit a secret lagoon, eat bird’s nest soup, and take an island hopping tour.
What It’s Known For: Bird’s nest soup, beautiful lagoons, limestone cliffs
3. Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
Beautiful Puerto Galera...
A UNESCO-protected site since 1973, Puerto Galera is located in Oriental Mindoro Province about 130 km south of Manila. The name Puerto Galera is used among travelers to refer to the area surrounding the town as well, including Sabang and White Beach.
Puerto Galera boasts beautiful white sand beaches that are good for swimming, relaxation, snorkeling, and sailing. It also offers one of the most diverse diving sites in Asia and has the densest population of marine species in the world according to research conducted by the University of the Philippines.
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When to Visit: Visit in the high season (April through June) if you don't mind the heat and the crowds, or during the low season if you don't mind slightly colder weather.
How to Get There: Puerto Galera is pretty easy to get to from Manila by car and only takes about three hours. Simply drive through South Luzon Expressway, turn right to STAR Tollgate and then head to Batangas Pier. When you get there, you can either park your car and ride a ferry going to Puerto Galera or have your car ride a RoRo (roll on, roll off) ship so you can take your car with you to Puerto Galera.
What to Do: The marine sanctuary makes for great diving, which is what Puerto Galera is known for. You can also do your standard beach and resort activities: water sports, spa days, lounging, etc. This is not your best destination for incredible food, however.
What It’s Known For: It’s often considered a good alternative to Boracay if you haven’t got the money or the time to get there.
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