Traveling to the Philippines means embarking on an adventure across more than 7,000 island paradises, where you can lose yourself among gorgeous beaches and nature-filled landscapes, delve into fascinating history, and enjoy countless unforgettable experiences. Each of the Philippines’ 7,107 islands offers an incredible range of experiences and, although we still haven’t had the pleasure of exploring them all (and we’re certainly trying), we’re going to show you the ones that, in our opinion, are the best islands in the Philippines.
These are the ones we believe you absolutely shouldn’t miss on a trip to the Philippines.
1. Siquijor
Located right in the heart of the Visayas, Siquijor is one of the best islands in the Philippines to include in a Philippines itinerary if you’re looking for a wide variety of experiences in one place. Siquijor is home to waterfalls such as Cambugahay Falls, where you can take a refreshing dip, vast caves to explore, and even a centuries-old tree that is said to have healing powers. Admittedly, Siquijor isn’t an island that particularly stands out for its beaches. But explore a little further and you may discover beaches such as Kagusuan Beach, Monkey Beach, and Paliton Beach. We included the latter in our list of the best beaches in the Philippines and, of course, in our guide to the best beaches in Siquijor.
Have you heard of hilots? Well, Siquijor is one of the best places to find one of these traditional healers and experience this ancient form of traditional Filipino healing for yourself. We had the chance to try it and we can assure you that we left feeling as though we were floating.
2. Bohol
Bohol is absolutely fantastic, which is why it features in most Philippines itineraries. If you’ve already done a little research on the country or have taken a look at our Bohol Guide, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Countless waterfalls of all sizes, cruises along the lush Loboc River, and the increasingly popular Anda area are all great reasons to visit. But if you want to know the three main reasons we love it so much and consider it one of the best islands in the Philippines, here they are:
- Diving at Balicasag is truly exceptional. Its spectacular biodiversity, excellent visibility, and easy access make it a must if you’re interested in diving in the Philippines. In addition, it’s an ideal place to take your Open Water course in the Philippines.
- The Chocolate Hills are truly unlike anything else in the world. These beautiful hills create a landscape you won’t want to miss. There’s a viewpoint offering lovely views, but we encourage you to rent a motorbike and explore the roads and trails winding between the hills.
- The third reason is a very personal one. We met in Bohol, so you could say that Travel Around the Philippines was born there ❤
3. Malapascua
Our beloved Malapascua. We’re not exaggerating when we say that, if we could, we’d spend at least a week there every year. Life moves at a different pace in Malapascua. Once the bangka drops you off on the island, you can put your watch away and simply slow down and embrace the Malapascua vibe. If you like diving, you’ll have the chance to encounter one of the most beautiful animals we’ve ever seen, as Malapascua is considered one of the world’s top destinations for diving with thresher sharks. At dawn, boats head to Monad Shoal hoping to see these wonderful sharks visit the cleaning stations. You’ll also experience unforgettable dives at sites around Malapascua, such as Gato Island and Deep Slope. We were so smitten that we kept coming back; in fact, we even decided to complete our Divemaster certification there.
But make no mistake—there’s much more to do in Malapascua than just diving! The beaches in northern Malapascua live up to Claudia’s high standards (which are pretty demanding), and you’ll find cliffs you can jump from and spectacular spots to watch the sunset. Plus, from here you can visit one of the most spectacular sandbars in the Philippines on a trip to Kalanggaman Island.
4. Palawan
It would be a crime not to include Palawan on a list of the best islands in the Philippines—especially when it was named the best island in the world three years in a row by Travel + Leisure. It’s rare to visit Palawan and not fall in love with it. Puerto Princesa is one of the most common gateways to the island. Although the city isn’t exactly known for its beauty or spectacular beaches, nearby Nagtabon isn’t bad at all… You can also enjoy a truly thrilling experience here: swimming with whale sharks. Along with Padre Burgos and Donsol, Puerto Princesa is one of the three best places to do so—far removed from the circus-like conditions and the deeply irresponsible treatment of whale sharks in Oslob.
As you head north, Palawan will continue to reveal new surprises. In the small town of Port Barton, you’ll find a laid-back atmosphere, spectacular beaches like White Beach, a variety of island-hopping tours that will take you through crystal-clear waters to spots where you can see turtles, or you can cool off at Pamuayan Falls. There’s much more to do in Port Barton than you might expect!
Continue north through Palawan and you’ll reach the two crown jewels: Coron and El Nido. The debate over which destination is better is a long-standing one, but both are true tropical paradises and well worth visiting. Various island-hopping tours depart from both destinations and allow you to explore the Bacuit Archipelago and Coron Bay with their islands, beaches, and spectacular limestone karst formations. Without a doubt, these are some of the country’s most iconic landscapes and make Palawan an essential inclusion on any list of the best islands in the Philippines.
5. Apo Island
There are no roads on Apo Island, a tiny island in the Philippines that is usually reached from Dumaguete if you plan to spend a few days there. If you don’t have enough time to fit it into your Philippines itinerary, don’t worry—you can book a day trip from Siquijor. But why is Apo Island among the best islands in the Philippines? Two words: diving and turtles. If you’re not interested in either of these, cross Apo Island off your list and move on to the next island.
If you like diving, the island is surrounded by a variety of dive sites where you can see a huge variety of coral, reef fish and the occasional manta ray. It’s no coincidence that we include it among the best diving spots in the Philippines.
Don’t dive? No problem—if there’s one place in the Philippines where it’s easy to swim with turtles, it’s here. Put on your snorkel mask and you may see dozens of them swimming past. You can even spot them easily from the shore as they come up to breathe!
Read all about it in our Apo Island Guide.
6. Siargao
When Claudia discovered Siargao in 2015, she immediately fell head over heels for it. Years later—following the release of a film called “Siargao,” which made the island one of the hottest destinations among Filipino travelers—this small island in the south of the country has managed to retain its essence. Siargao is the best island in the Philippines for surfing, thanks to its reef breaks and the famous Cloud 9 wave that attracts surfers from all over the world. In short, if you’re wondering where to surf in the Philippines, Siargao is an obvious choice.
But there’s much more to do in Siargao besides surfing. At the Magpupungko natural pools you can take a dip when the tide goes out and enjoy unique rock formations. On the other side of the island, you can join a tour that takes you through vast mangrove forests and white-sand beaches to reach one of Siargao’s top spots, the vast, crystal-clear Sugba Lagoon.
Still not enough? You can also take an island-hopping tour to Naked Island, Guyam Island, and Daku Island, visit Tak Tak Falls, and enjoy Siargao’s wide variety of places to eat. You’ll never get bored here!
7. Camiguin
What if we told you that Camiguin has one of the highest concentrations of volcanoes in the world? No fewer than 12 volcanoes rise across Camiguin Island. If you love hiking, this is one of the best islands in the Philippines for rewarding hikes, as the views are simply spectacular. If you’re up for the climb to the 1,330-metre summit of Mount Hibok-Hibok (one of the best volcanoes in the Philippines), you’ll enjoy panoramic views that, on clear days, extend as far as Mindanao, Bohol, and Siquijor. And, of course, on a volcanic island, a visit to the hot springs is a must. At Ardent Hot Spring you can treat yourself to a well-deserved rest and recharge your batteries after a day of hiking. Take a look at our Camiguin Guide and be amazed at the variety of experiences waiting for you.
What’s more, if you’re looking for somewhere away from the crowds, Camiguin is the place for you. Despite having a good range of hotels and restaurants, it’s one of the few islands in the Philippines that has good tourism infrastructure yet remains relatively unknown among international travelers.
And this being the Philippines, you’ll also find plenty of beautiful beaches and tours to nearby islands. That’s guaranteed!
8. Romblon
On our last trip to the Philippines, we had the pleasure of discovering Romblon, and we quickly added it to our list of the best islands in the Philippines. Romblon is still far less touristy than the other islands in this article, which means you can explore it without running into many other travelers. But why go to Romblon? We can think of countless reasons, but…
- It’s home to a beach that we already consider one of the best in the Philippines: Bon Bon Beach, with a spectacular sandbar that stretches out to a small islet.
- Exploring Romblon by motorbike is a fantastic way to discover beaches in the north and east of the island that are little known even among local residents.
- For 1,500 pesos you can take a private island-hopping tour for two that takes you to the nearby islands of Cobrador, Alad and Lugbung.
- It has dive sites to suit all interests: from excellent macro-diving sites to incredible snorkeling spots like the San Pedro Marine Sanctuary.
- Romblon Town, the island’s capital, has plenty to offer. San Jose Cathedral, Fort San Andres, and Belen Fountain await you along with more than 40 colonial buildings where you can learn more about the history of the Philippines.
- It also gives you the chance to visit another nearby island that we love: Cresta de Gallo…
These are our eight picks, but there are still 7,099 other islands to explore in the Philippines. Which is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
