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’ll be able to journey to on fast weekend getaways, there are a number of extra distant and secluded spots value in search of out. I’ve all the time most popular quiet seashores away from the crowds the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a top quality expertise. Should you’re a solo traveler or introvert who simply desires to get pleasure from a peaceable seashore and get high quality alone time, you in all probability really feel the identical means too.
Admittedly, a whole lot of these seashores are more difficult to get to. Should you’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 isn’t 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 likely one of the most stunning and unspoiled seashores I’ve ever been to within the nation. The geographical distance from mainland Luzon limits guests to solely probably the most decided vacationers and locals. The extensive seashore means lots of people can benefit from the place to themselves.
Palaui Island, identified 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 prepared 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 admittedly one of the vital stunning locations within the Philippines. It affords a novel 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 barely accessible by air journey from Manila.
For a extremely distant seashore expertise, make your option 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 shaped when an earthquake induced 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 non-public 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 major islands (Tablas, Romblon, and Sibuyan), so making an attempt to go to the totally different spots scattered in numerous areas requires cautious planning due to the a number of sea crossings and restricted schedules.
The provincial airport is positioned on Tablas, whereas high seashore locations like Bonbon Seashore and Cresta de Gallo are positioned on separate islands. The lengthy journey time and inaccessibility getting round typically deters a whole lot of vacationers, leaving their seashores blissfully uncrowded.
Cresta de Gallo, a small islet accessible by way of Sibuyan Island, has probably the most gorgeous sandbar and seashore which you could get pleasure from all to your self. Attending to this secluded seashore includes 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 major islands that solely locals get to get pleasure from.
Palawan
Palawan, which often requires a 1-hour flight from Manila, is recurrently hailed as one of many world’s greatest islands. Whereas some hubs like Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido have turn into extremely popular with worldwide backpackers, different components of Palawan nonetheless stay comparatively removed from the vacationer crowd.
For example, San Vicente has a really extensive and uncrowded seashore. After we stayed right here, you possibly can 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 house to a number 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 a minimum of 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 positioned 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 generally known 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 hardly ever get visited. With the variety of small islands, you’re certain to discover a secluded seashore you’ll be able to 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 major 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 gorgeous seashores. In Masbate Metropolis, the highest vacation spot is Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary, a small islet and mangrove space ultimate 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 affords 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, particularly Parongpong (Palumbanes) Island, Tignob Island, and Calabagio Island. As a result of these spots are nonetheless not that well-known to vacationers, likelihood is, 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’ll be able to go to numerous 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 many who favor to simply 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 all the things.
This isn’t an intensive record and relies solely on my private journeys and experiences. I do know there are a whole lot of different stunning and distant seashore locations in Luzon.
Keep tuned for the second a part of this record which can cowl seashores in Visayas and Mindanao.
