With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines has a great deal of seashores to select from. Whereas there are lots of fashionable seashore locations that you may journey to on fast weekend getaways, there are a number of extra distant and secluded spots value searching for out. I’ve all the time most popular quiet seashores away from the crowds the place you may get pleasure from a high quality expertise. If you happen to’re a solo traveler or introvert who simply needs to get pleasure from a peaceable seashore and get high quality alone time, you most likely really feel the identical means too.
Admittedly, numerous these seashores are tougher to get to. If you happen to’re coming from Manila, most require flights, lengthy land journey, or a number of transfers by sea.
At any fee, I’m itemizing a few of my favourite distant seashores within the Luzon group of islands to function inspiration for future journeys. For extra detailed journey guides on every spot, take a look at the hyperlinks.
Cagayan
Attending to Calayan, a part of the distant Babuyan Islands within the province of Cagayan is not any straightforward feat. Getting right here usually requires a 5-6 hour boat experience on a small cargo boat from Aparri, which itself is 10-12 hours by land from Manila. However when you get there, you’ll be awed by the uncooked magnificence and remoteness of the place.
Sibang Cove is among the most stunning and unspoiled seashores I’ve ever been to within the nation. The geographical distance from mainland Luzon limits guests to solely essentially the most decided vacationers and locals. The large seashore means lots of people can benefit from the place to themselves.
Palaui Island, recognized for being one of many filming areas of actuality TV present Survivor, is one other distant island vacation spot in Cagayan with unspoiled and pristine seashores. You need to be keen to courageous lengthy land journey and a ship experience on curler coaster-like waves to get right here. The isolation will actually make you are feeling like a castaway.
Batanes
Batanes is basically one of the crucial stunning locations within the Philippines. It gives a singular mix of breathtaking surroundings, pure sights, and well-preserved tradition. For an uncrowded seashore expertise, head to Morong Seashore in Sabtang Island, which requires a 45-minute boat experience from the capital Basco, which is simply accessible by air journey from Manila.
For a extremely distant seashore expertise, make your method to Itbayat, the northernmost island of Batanes, which requires a 3 to 4-hour boat experience from Basco. The seashore of Kaxobcan is a pure seashore fashioned when an earthquake prompted a landslide on one aspect of the cliff, resulting in a small white sand seashore surrounded by pure swimming holes within the cliffs.
Quezon
The province of Quezon has a number of islands with stretches of white sand seashores. Attending to the unique Balesin Island, a tropical island with a personal luxurious resort, requires chartered flights and costly memberships, which instantly limits the clientele and variety of vacationers who can go to.
Different distant seashore locations in Quezon embrace Polillo, Jomalig, and Alabat Island. Nonetheless, most of those require a mixture of lengthy land and passenger boat rides to get to, which places a restrict on vacationers.
Romblon
The province of Romblon is made up of three essential islands (Tablas, Romblon, and Sibuyan), so attempting to go to the completely different spots scattered in several areas requires cautious planning due to the a number of sea crossings and restricted schedules.
The provincial airport is situated on Tablas, whereas prime seashore locations like Bonbon Seashore and Cresta de Gallo are situated on separate islands. The lengthy journey time and inaccessibility getting round typically deters numerous vacationers, leaving their seashores blissfully uncrowded.
Cresta de Gallo, a small islet accessible by way of Sibuyan Island, has essentially the most beautiful sandbar and seashore that you could get pleasure from all to your self. Attending to this secluded seashore entails an 8 to 9 hour-long ferry experience from Batangas to Romblon Island, transferring on one other ferry to cross to Sibuyan Island, land journey to San Fernando, then a ship journey to Cresta de Gallo.
Regardless of being on the mainland, Bonbon Seashore on Romblon Island felt uncrowded even throughout their fiesta season. Different stunning seashore locations within the province embrace Alad Island and Cobrador Island in Romblon Island and Aglicay Seashore on Tablas Island. There are a great deal of different seashores alongside the coast of the three essential islands that solely locals get to get pleasure from.
Palawan
Palawan, which often requires a 1-hour flight from Manila, is commonly hailed as one of many world’s greatest islands. Whereas some hubs like Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido have develop into highly regarded with worldwide backpackers, different components of Palawan nonetheless stay comparatively removed from the vacationer crowd.
As an example, San Vicente has a really large and uncrowded seashore. After we stayed right here, you could possibly stroll from finish to finish with out encountering one other vacationer, making it excellent for these journeys the place you simply need peace and solitude.
One other secluded vacation spot in Palawan is the island of Culion, which is only a quick boat experience from Coron. The island was as soon as a former leper colony and remained in isolation for over a century. The western aspect of Culion is residence to a few of the most fantastically preserved and pristine seashores I’ve ever been to within the nation.
Occidental Mindoro
Apo Reef is the biggest atoll-like reef in Asia, an underwater paradise and a diving mecca located on the western waters of Occidental Mindoro.
Attending to this secluded spot requires at the least a 3-hour ferry experience from Batangas on mainland Luzon to Abra de Ilog, one other 3-hour van experience to Sablayan after which a 3-hour native boat experience to the reef.
Since Apo Reef is a protected space, solely a restricted variety of vacationers are allowed to go to at a time, which ensures that the island stays uncrowded.
Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province situated within the Bicol Area, roughly a 10-12 hour drive from Manila. Caramoan is a bunch of islands within the north-eastern portion of the province popularly referred to as the filming location of a number of seasons of the hit actuality present Survivor.
The islands are lined with white sand seashores, deep gorges, limestone cliffs, coral reefs, various marine life, serene lagoons, subterranean river, and caves.
Matukad Island has a tropical forest and hidden lagoon, whereas different islands have secret seashores that not often get visited. With the variety of small islands, you’re positive to discover a secluded seashore you may get pleasure from to your self.
Masbate
Attending to Masbate requires air journey from Manila or a mixture of lengthy land and sea journey in addition to cautious planning due to the restricted boat schedules. The province is made up of three essential islands (Burias, Ticao, and Masbate) and it may be a bit sophisticated determining to get from one island to the opposite.
However every island has its share of lovely seashores. In Masbate Metropolis, the highest vacation spot is Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary, a small islet and mangrove space supreme for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and beach-bumming.
Catanduanes
Attending to Catanduanes requires air journey from Manila or a mixture of land and sea journey from Albay. Identified primarily as a browsing vacation spot, Catanduanes within the Bicol area gives hidden gems simply ready to be found.
Some seashores are nice for simply swimming and island-hopping journeys, together with the Palumbanes group of islands, made up of three islands, specifically Parongpong (Palumbanes) Island, Tignob Island, and Calabagio Island. As a result of these spots are nonetheless not that well-known to vacationers, chances are high, you’ll benefit from the seashores all to yourselves when you get there.
Carorian is one other vacation spot within the city of Bato, the place you may go to varied spots fringed by rock formations and superb marine life, a waterfall streaming from the aspect of the cliff and extra. One of many highlights right here is Poseidon Rock, an space with distinctive rock formations, crystal-clear lagoons and snorkeling websites close by. For individuals who favor to only marvel on the view of the ocean, Binurong Level, overlooking the coast is a superb spot to benefit from the view whereas getting away from every thing.
This isn’t an intensive listing and relies solely on my private journeys and experiences. I do know there are numerous different stunning and distant seashore locations in Luzon.
Keep tuned for the second a part of this listing which can cowl seashores in Visayas and Mindanao.
