Beaches

7000 islands with turquoise water

A small nation, the Philippines is nonetheless ranked top globally among the countries with the longest coastlines. The Philippine coastline of 36,289 km (22,548 miles) — the fourth longest coastline in the world — is longer than even the huge, huge United States mainland. These numbers easily translate into this one fun fact: Beaches!

If you don’t know it yet, international luxury travel magazines have for years declared that the best beach in the planet is in the Philippines. After all, our beaches are Instagram-perfect destinations, with sensuous sugary sand sending you off lolloping in the waves. And our beaches are veritable party places, throbbing with global, multicultural beats, cuisine, and happenings.

We take our beaches seriously, too. Recently, the Philippine government closed Boracay, the world’s top beach destination, for several months to clean up its waters and ensure that hotels, restaurants, bars, and other tourism establishments would be linked to a state-of-the-art sewage disposal and treatment system in the island. Now, Boracay is open for business once again — with smart environment-friendly protocols. And Boracay is just one among many beaches all over the 7,641 islands!

Read more about Philippine Islands and Beaches.

Top Beach

Destinations

Boracay

When Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler named Boracay the best island in the world, they were only reiterating what the world’s wild party people — that’s including the island’s fire-eating dancers — have known all these years: Bora is where it’s at! The main action is at the White Beach, a four-kilometer stretch of white sand so fine you can inhale it when you lie down for some good old skin tanning or for a relaxing Filipino-style massage. On this stretch are bars and restaurants and hotels and shopping centers that ensure endless, exciting people traffic. And if you want to check out the underwater traffic, you can try the new exciting thrill of helmet diving, too!

Learn more about Boracay

Palawan

For several years now, Palawan in the Philippines continues to take pride of place in the annual “best” lists of such upscale travel magazines as Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic Traveler. And for the best of reasons: this archipelago of 1,780 islands and islets offers one-of-a-kind tropical adventures and astonishing vistas, including limestone bluffs rising from the sea, secluded white-sand beaches, awesome scuba diving sites, and swathes of coral reefs and virgin forests, among other superlative treats.

Learn more about Palawan

Cebu

A very happening island destination in Asia and the Pacific, Cebu offers idyllic beach getaways and popular diving spots, thrilling eco-adventures and extreme sports, heart-stopping Instagram-worthy festivals, and state-of-the-art shopping and nightlife. The beach resorts range from the homey to five-star accommodations.

Learn more about Cebu

Puerto Galera shoreline in the Philippines — Discovering the Beauty of Puerto Galera, Philippines

Looking for your next big getaway in Luzon? Want to bask in the beautiful beaches in the north? Visit Puerto Galera, Philippines! It is among the

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Discovering the Beauty of Puerto Galera, Philippines

Looking for your next big getaway in Luzon? Want to bask in the beautiful beaches in the north? Visit Puerto Galera, Philippines! It is among the most popular beach holiday and nightlife destinations in the country.

What’s more? A wholesome variety of adventure and tourist spots await. The beaches — White Beach, Sabang Beach, Medio, and Paniquian Islands — are perfect for family fun and for getting to know both locals and foreigners. In the main hub, there is a nine-hole golf course. A picturesque view of the waterfalls awaits nearby. If you’re looking for accommodation, there are dozens of Puerto Galera hotels that offer affordable and convenient rooms just for you. What’s more, there are more than 40 Puerto Galera dive sites renowned for unparalleled biodiversity — and amazing night diving.

Puerto Galera, Philippines: Your Diving Haven

It’s no secret that Puerto Galera offers some of the best diving spots in the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the three places in the country that was recognized by UNESCO as a Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1973.

Whenever you’d go diving in Puerto Galera, you’d find yourself as a wanderer, awestruck by the diverse species, sloping reefs, and the marine biodiversity that welcomes you beneath the waters.

All these elements make it a dream dive destination for diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers. Imagine being surrounded by schools of big fish, monstrous sea fans, and stunning reefs. Indeed, there’s always something exciting to do here in Puerto Galera.

But, where? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are some top dive sites in town:

The Wall

At the heart of Verde Island, you’ll be entranced by the beauty of The Wall. It features huge sponges, fans, and a mix of colorful soft and hard coral. And if you’re lucky, you can even spot manta rays, eagle rays, barracudas, schools of bigeye jack, and tuna.

Manila Channel

Manila Channel is one of the favorite muck diving sites of locals and tourists alike. It highlights a nice sandy bottom and some hard coral spots. You’ll also see rich marine species, from mantis shrimps, nudibranch, eels, and crabs. What makes it different than any other diving spot is its mild current and good visibility. This is perfect for all levels of divers, especially for beginners.

Coral Cove

From the name itself, Coral Cove is a wonderful dive site for macro lovers. You’ll find a sloping reef with an abundance of marine life, including countless nudibranchs, whip coral, sea fans, pufferfishes, and cuttlefishes. And if you go deeper, you might spot some pygmy seahorses and ornate ghost pipefish, or even thresher sharks.

Monkey Beach

Are you new to the diving world? If you’re just a beginner who wants to dip into the waters, this shallow dive site is perfect for you. When diving in Monkey Beach, you’ll witness the rich dynamic marine life that’s hidden above the waters. As you wander around this dive spot, you’ll see eels, turtles, feather stars, and Christmas tree worms.

The Canyons

This site is perfect for adrenaline junkies! It boasts a thrilling adventure, luring you in the beauty of the underwaters. In The Canyons, you’ll experience both wonder and amazement while watching schools of trevally, tuna, and even barracuda swimming effortlessly in the current.

Alma Jane Wreck

The once 30m long cargo ship that ferried goods across the country is now the favorite dive site among wreck enthusiasts. Today, the Alma Jane rests upright on the sand and has become a home for diverse marine species, such as giant frogfish, big schools of batfish, and small tropicals.

Shark Cave

Yes, it is exactly what the name says. Here at the Shark Cave, you can encounter different species of sharks inside a cave. You can see the white tip sharks and blue spotted stingrays up close and personal.

Basking in the Beaches

One thing is certain: it’s extremely impossible to get bored on this beautiful island. If you’re not into diving or snorkeling, there are still a thousand and one things you can do. You can lounge around and enjoy the beautiful Puerto Galera beaches around town.

Simply hire a private tour and enjoy your beach-hopping adventure. Here are some of the top beaches you should visit:

White Beach

Puerto Galera White Beach is definitely the top beach destination in town. Don’t get surprised that you’ll find most Puerto Galera resorts located in this spot. Other than relaxing by the beach, you can also get a knack for some water activities.

Aninuan Beach

Just right next to the White, Aninuan Beach is a secluded spot where you can relax and unwind as you listen to the sound of the waves. The perfect time to visit this beach is during the sunset, where the soft glowing light of the sky paints the horizon tranquil and gorgeous twilight – a perfect sight to end your day.

Talipanan Beach

This is yet another uncrowded Puerto Galera beach destination. So, if you’ve enjoyed the White Beach, you’ll fall in love with the relaxing ambiance of Talipanan Beach. Feel unbothered and relaxed as you dip into the crystal-clear waters while enjoying a scenic view.

More Things to Do in Puerto Galera, Philippines

Want to do something more adventurous that doesn’t involve diving? Discover other islands and book a quick island-hopping tour. Visit the Boquete Island, San Antonio Islands, and the Coral Garden and enjoy a day in the tranquil waters.

Better yet, try several extreme watersports and beach activities, like parasailing, flyboarding, and jet-skiing. Don’t miss the fun and try something you haven’t done before, even just once!

It’s Time for a New Adventure; Visit Puerto Galera, Philippines!

Are you excited to travel and explore the Philippines? Even though it is dubbed as the “poor man’s Boracay”, Puerto Galera offers a whole new kind of experience that even Boracay doesn’t offer.

To check Puerto Galera’s travel requirements in 2021, you can check out their official website by clicking this link.

Camiguin Island

Seven volcanoes, five towns, one island. That quite sums up Camiguin, an island-province in the Southern Philippines. But not quite. We have to mention the hot springs, the waterfalls, the lakes, the dive sites, the lagoons where you can have your fill of freshly caught fish, crabs, clams, and shellfish. But first, the beaches! White Island, just off the main town of Mambajao, is an arc of sand bar that delightfully changes its shape each time it reappears during the low tide. Here you can bask in the eye-popping crystal-clear water. Off the port district of Benoni is Mantigue Island, where a mysterious radar station sits on the white sand lapped by the shadows of full-grown mangroves. In the town of Guinsiliban is a giant clam farm with facilities for overnight stays and live-in seminars at the gorgeous talisay tree-lined beach.

Samal island in the Philippines — The Garden Island City of Samal

Don’t let its official name fool you. Many consider the Garden Island City of Samal as the largest resort city in the Philippines. Composed of two

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The Garden Island City of Samal

Don’t let its official name fool you. Many consider the Garden Island City of Samal as the largest resort city in the Philippines. Composed of two islands off Davao City in the southern Philippines, it has fine beaches and many beach resorts with over a thousand rooms all together. There are exquisite private island resorts owned by the families of name-droppable businessmen, and then there is the Pearl Farm Beach Resort owned by Miss Universe 1973 winner Margie Moran.

Pink Beaches

Aside from white beaches all over, the Philippines also offers delightful pink beaches! That’s because the swirl of currents in the Philippine waters crush red corals and shells into the white sand. Here’s our pick of pink beaches: Sila Island in Northern Samar; Subic Beach in Matnog, Sorsogon; Tikling Island, off Matnog; Pundaguitan Beach at the Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental province.