10 Best Beach Destinations in the Philippines For a Relaxing Walk-on-a-Beach Moment
Eager to go on a beach trip again?
Yeah, we love to. We all need it. We need a vacation somewhere. We deserve it to de-stress after going through a rough year. But the world is still in the middle of the pandemic and government restrictions on leisure travel are still very much in place.
Philippines has yet to start distributing the vaccine jab, which makes traveling a bit risky and unsafe. Though more destinations are slowly reopening, I still don't have the appetite to start fixing my travel plans. Just not yet.
I don't want to undergo such inconveniences of having a swab test, having tons of travel requirements to accomplish, and, darn! I hate wearing a face mask.
I would never enjoy the trip, So I will just wait until everything is okay. Meanwhile, I am preparing my list of beach destinations in the Philippines to visit when travel for leisure becomes convenient and comfortable again.
Prefer a beach with a long coastline
I don't like party destination beaches (except White beach, Puerto Galera) because I hate noises and a flow of a huge crowd. I prefer beaches that are quiet and calm where I could have a relaxing retreat and a moment of solitude.
I love beach destinations with a wide beachfront, sprawling ground, and a great view of the open sea. And those with a long coastline so that I could have endless long walks any time of the day. A walk on a beach is just so therapeutic and relaxing and that's what I am looking for in a beach adventure.
My attachment to the open sea
I was born and raised in a coastal town of Surigao del Sur, nestled between mountains and beaches and directly facing the Pacific Ocean. A quiet rural area dotted by rivers, valleys, rice and coco fields. Very far from the world I lived today.
I spent my childhood running through the rice fields, marveling at the mountains, picking seashells during low tide and chasing waves during high time.
I would go to sleep at night with the noise of crashing waves and would wake up to the sounds of chirping birds. During weekends and in summertime, I would take long afternoon walks at the seaside, gazing at the vast ocean, wondering what was beyond the mystical blue sea.
My happy place
Thus, a long coastline is my "happy place", my sanctuary when everything is unbearable. It is where I could be in my calmest myself, where I could have the privacy of my thoughts.
Should everything is safe to embark on a leisure trip again without so many travel requirements to accomplish, my first destination is really a beach.
Either I would go home to Surigao, or go somewhere for a beach lounging. I miss the scent of a salty ocean, the therapeutic sounds of the crashing waves, the relaxing sight of the open sea, the powdery beach sand, and the crisp breeze rolling from the ocean.
Most memorable beach walk
I have not gone much to luxurious beaches in the country, apart from Boracay and Pearl Farm, but I have some of the best beaches travels where walking along the seaside became memorable.
Here's my beach walks to remember:
White Beach, Puerto Galera
Popularly recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, White Beach in Puerto Galera has not lost its charm despite shifting Philippine tourism's focus to other beach destinations in the country.
It's still one of the most charming islands in the Philippines to visit where a walk on a beach is the most liberating and care-free experience.
White Beach in Puerto Galera is my top favorite to revisit the moment normal traveling is back in the country. I love the experience walking in the morning along the seaside. It has a wide beach front with a great view of the open sea.
The sprawling beach front, the long coastline, the brisk air coming from the open sea, the roaring of the waves, the turquoise blue water, everything is so terrific at White Beach, Puerto Galera. No wonder it's one of my favorite beach destinations in the Philippines.
Check my trip and travel guide for Puerto Galera HERE. Or watch my Puerto Galera vlog HERE
White Beach, Boracay Island
Oh yes, Boracay! Who would not want to visit this breathtaking island in the Philippines? The powdery ivory sand, the irresistible emerald waters. The long coastline. It's surreal to always think of going to Boracay and get lost in thoughts.
Apart from the watersports and high-spirited night life, Boracay offers the best walk on the beach experience due to its long coastline and fascinating view of the open sea. And you can even walk barefoot without any feeling of discomfort.
I love going back there someday and just experience life at the seaside, lay in the sand or walk barefoot and watch the world go by while waiting for the sunset.
Read my actual travel experience in BORACAY HERE!
Jomalig Island
One thing I love about Jomalig island is its secluded location and endless view of the open sea! I have never been to an island in the Philippines where everything looks like a surreal - pristine surroundings, super clear and heavenly turquoise and emerald waters, long stretches of shorelines, where crashing of waves sounded like songs of the mystical sea.
Uncanny and timeless! Like, you do not want to end the day and just want to spend time walking at the seaside, gazing at the vast ocean. Jomalig island is a must-visit in the Philippines.
Going there is a bit difficult unless you have the heart for an off-the-beaten-track adventure.
Sea travel seems risky. The boat travel takes more than five hours over the rough sea where waves smashed on the vessel like you've been shaken by an earth tremor.
But the moment you reach the island, an awe of magic awaits. The white powdery sand, the stunning sea, the clear waters, the long coastline.
Everything is so incredible at this remote Philippine island in the Quezon province. It offers the best walk-on-a-beach adventure to beach lovers.
It is a stunning island wonder that offers a sense of calmness and serenity. Its location in the middle of the rough seas provides abundance of a terrific ocean view and endless sea delights, making a beach walk here a rewarding experience.
Travel resources for Jomalig island:
- Our off-the-beaten track adventure in Jomalig island
- Jomalig Island DIY Travel Guide
- Watch our Jomalig travel vlog
Magalawa Island
Magalawa island is a remote island off the coast of Palauig, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines, spanning across 56 hectares of tropical land and white beach.
It has two operating resorts and the one I visited with colleagues is the Armada beach. It has clean amenities, quiet atmosphere and wide sandbar for a fascinating beach walk experience.
I love the sandbar. It's ideal for any activities like team building and ball sports or just beach lounging, letting things go by in a day. It's also a great area to view the sunset.
For my Magalawa island adventure, check this LINK, or watch my Magalawa island vlog HERE
White Island, Camiguin
My travel to Camiguin island in 2010 is the reason why I became a travel blogger 😄. It was such a great experience that I began writing my travel moments exploring Camiguin, especially the White Island, thus, created a travel blog. Back then, I only had one blog - The Royals of Europe site.
Camiguin was also the first island in the Philippines outside Southern Mindanao I've visited for a beach trip. So this beach adventure was very memorable.
White island is Camiguin's natural treasure. It is uninhabited with nothing but sandbar in it. Unlike other sandbars in the country that are attached to the mainland, the sandbar in White Island is totally isolated and literally floating in the open sea, so you feel like walking above the sea water when you do some beach walking here.
The most ideal time to visit White island is in the early morning. Before sunrise, you should be in the island and leave before noon because it has only sandbar and no shade to protect you from the grueling sun.
Check my actual trip in Camiguin, including top spots to visit:
Beach Travel Plans
I have not traveled in over a year due to the pandemic. My last beach adventure was in November 2019 in Puerto Galera. Wish to travel again soon. And beach trip is my top choice.
Philippines is home to more than 7,000 islands and islets, so there's no short of beach destinations to choose, however, there's always an exemption. And because I love beaches with the longest coastline and with a surrounding that's quieter and calmer, I have gathered a list where I would be going next.
These 5 destinations are my top choices:
1. Long beach, San Vicente, Palawan
San Vicente, Palawan has been on my travel bucket list long before the pandemic began. I've gathered quite a number of articles and travel guides about this remote town in Palawan. When everything is okay to travel again, I'd love to go there.
San Vicente is smack between El Nido and Puerto Princesa, and unlike Palawan's popular destinations, Coron and El Nido, San Vicente offers a very laid-back atmosphere and a terrific view of the open sea.
And the perk?
It is home to the longest coastline in the Philippines, about three times the size of White beach in Boracay. And second in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia, thus, got the moniker of the "Long beach".
And that's enough to make me swoon in thrill! I love long coastlines because I can do an endless beach walk day by day.
Afternoon is always cool and ultra relax when I am in a long coastline, beach-walking. Such a peaceful feeling. I prefer a quieter environment where I could enjoy the day walking without the noise of a big crowd. I can no longer tolerate noises and crowded places. It drained my energy.
Long beach is a signature attraction in San Vicente, Palawan. It has a coconut-fringe coastline, pristine, ivory sand, stunning blue waters, and offers a pink-hued sunsets. Wow! Yeah, someday.
2. Santa Fe, Bantayan island
Bantayan island in the province of Cebu in the Visayas region is another dream beach destination. Heard a lot about it and wish to go there someday.
It's home to gorgeous beaches where atmosphere is so incredibly beautiful. Sugary white sand lapped by sparkling emerald water is the closest thing to paradise.
Its most popular municipality is Santa Fe where beach side is so pristine and romantic, ideal for a whole day beach walking. The tropical wide beach front is dotted by coconut trees, good for a relaxing adventure.
3. Hagonoy, Brittania island, Surigao del Sur
Mindanao is not so popular among travelers. Apart from Siargao island in Surigao del Norte, you would rarely hear tourists mentioning about a Mindanao travel destination.
It's due to the insurgencies in the island. The terrorist attacks, the kidnap for ransom incidents, the bandits. Inconvenience news that terrifies tourists.
But I want to debunk this notion.
Although there are parts of Mindanao considered as hotspot or in red alert due to terrorism incidents, it only happened in some regions but never the entire Mindanao.
I came from Mindanao, I grew up in the province of Surigao del Sur, studied and worked in Davao City. My home province belongs to the CARAGA region (Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte) and it's relatively safer for travel even for first time tourists,
The CARAGA region is peaceful and most of its municipalities are still very rural. So you would never get lost. People are accommodating and hospitable.
The region offers the most exhilarating experience of adventure due to the natural landscape of mountains and beaches. Relatively unknown to tourists (with the exemption of Siargao island in Surigao del Norte), this unpopularity, however, works pretty well in favor of the municipalities.
It keeps the provinces in the region quieter and peaceful and less crowded. It allows plenty of space and privacy.
It protects the environment to remain clean and sustainable. And most of all, it keeps the rates of beach resorts here relatively cheaper and affordable due to low demands from tourists, making CARAGA region an exciting travel destination.
One of these islands in my home province, Surigao del Sur, that offers the best of beach adventure is Hagonoy island in San Agustin, Surigao del sur. Just a 20-minute ride from my home town of Marihatag.
Formerly known as Oteiza, San Agustin (where both of my paternal grandparents hailed) is gifted with stunning islands (24 all) and islets called Brittania group of islands.
As most of these islands are uninhabited and almost without plants, the islands are spruced up in white and pristine coastlines with just few coconut trees, making it ideal for beach travelers who love to lounge under the warm sun.
With its terrific view of the Pacific Ocean and white sand, this island offers a fascinating adventure of beach walking and sunset viewing.
Though we're 20 minutes away from San Agustin and my birthplace is part of this municipality, I have not yet visited Brittania group of islands, making me the only member of our family to have not set a foot in Hagonoy island.
4. Paliton beach, Siquior
So many foreign tourists are raving about the beauty of Paliton beach, in the exotic island of Siquijor, yet I only heard about this beach recently. So I got intrigued. And wanted to visit it someday.
It is located in the northeastern portion of San Juan, lies a stunning white sandy beach of Paliton. According to the Lonely Planet article, Paliton beach has a crystal-clear water and palm-tree fringed shoreline.
And because it faces west, Paliton beach is a great place to watch the beautiful sunset. Oh, wow! Someday, hope to go there!
5. Saud Beach
Another stunning beach in the Philippines I only heard recently. Saud beach is located in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte in the Northern tip of Luzon.
What I would love about this place is how travel resources online describe the place - calm, quiet with dazzling long arc of white sand glistening on the warm sunshine. Coconut palms fringe the shoreline
For inquiry, you can visit their official website
My Beach Appetite
I am sort of an introvert who savors the quiet scenery and tranquil atmosphere of the beach than the crowded destinations.
Popular beaches like El Nido and Coron in Palawan never fascinate me because of the flock of the huge tourists. Crowd and noise drain my energy and ruin my appetite of a beach holiday.
I prefer moments of solitude and calmness, enjoying the view of the ocean, the rushing of the waves, and the long beach walks.
I just want to spend a relaxing day on the beach, walking along the seashore, get lost in my thoughts and watch the world go by. Then spend the afternoon laying in the sand, sipping tea or reading books or listening to the soft whispers of the rolling sea as sun prefers to set.
Long coastline fascinates me, it's one of my definitions of a happy place on earth. Taking a quiet morning or afternoon walk along the shoreline resets my mood for a wonderful life. It's one of my indulgences in life.
It's pretty cool and liberating to be in a quiet beach. Someday, when everything is okay to get back on the road again, I would love to go to the beach in any of the above destinations.
Until then. 😊
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