THE PHILIPPINES: ISLANDS FOR EVERY OCCASION
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Extending from near Taiwan in its far north to Borneo in the south, the Philippines offers a veritable smorgasbord for island lovers. Comprising over 7000 tropical islands liberally scattered in the azure waters of the Pacific, the nation is one of Southeast Asia’s most individualistic and rewarding travel destinations. With so many harbors of tropical paradise to choose from, it can be hard to pick a starting point. Here are a few of our top suggestions.
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Some of Palawan’s richest rewards can be discovered at the northern tip of the main island near El Nido. The little settlement is the primary base for discovering Palawan’s star attraction, the stunning Bacuit Archipelago — one of the world’s most beautiful karst seascapes. Amid this wonder lies Pangulasian Island, home to an eco-luxury resort. With scuba courses and access to plentiful dive sites, as well as boat tours of mangroves and secret lagoons, you could spend all your time exploring, but the resort makes it equally tempting to stay put.
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The view from the pool sala
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Located in North-eastern Palawan in the Sulu Sea, Banwa Private Island's six hectares of lush, verdant landscaping and pristine white sand beaches provide a perfect environment for nature to thrive. It provides sanctuary for an incredibly rich and diverse number of flora and fauna species. The island only has six villas, and these have been designed to immerse guests in the natural beauty of the island. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in, while the pool salas, beach and garden terraces create pure luxury of space. Infinity pools, meanwhile, appear to melt into the uninterrupted ocean views.
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Coron is the most storied of the group of islands in the far north of Palawan, also known as the Calamianes. The island’s jungle-clad interior is largely inaccessible bar two of the most stunning natural lakes in The Philippines, Kayangan and Barracuda. Accessible by a steep 10-minute climb, the crystal-clear waters of Kayangan Lake are nestled into the mountain walls. Underwater is like a moonscape; there’s a wooden walkway and platform to store your things if you go for a swim. Scenic Barracuda Lake, meanwhile, is of interest to divers for its unique layers of fresh, salt, and brackish water and dramatic temperature shifts underwater.
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The view over the one-of-a-kind Chocolate Hills
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Bohol is one of the most unique islands in The Philippines for several reasons. First, there’s the friendly locals who are fiercely protective of Bohol’s distinctive cultural heritage. Then there’s distinctive topography and nature, highlighted by Bohol symbols like the famous Chocolate Hills and its trademark cute bug-eyed tarsiers. Offshore there's superb diving, and when you throw in jungle-fringed rivers perfect for kayaking and paddle-boarding and pristine white-sand beaches it's easy to understand the Bohol appeal. Standout highlights include the anthropologically important cave paintings at Lamanok island and the laid-back beach scenes at Danao and Alona, neighboring stretches of sand.
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A private villa at Nay Palad Hideaway
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Until recently, Siargao was one of the best-kept secrets in the Philippines. As destinations such as Boracay and Cebu nailed the mass market, the teardrop-shaped island off the coast of Mindanao was best known to a clued-in band of surfers lured by some of the most consistent waves in Southeast Asia, including the legendary Cloud 9. These days, Siargao is much better known, but its castaway charm remains intact. In fact, it remains one of the most beautiful islands in the archipelago (see main image). It even has its requisite luxury components in the shape of the recently reopened Nay Palad Hideaway. With an expansion of the island’s airport already ongoing, it’s just a matter of time before this secret surfing paradise goes further overground.
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