We have to admit it: we’re on the hunt for the best sandbars in the Philippines. Regular beaches don’t cut it anymore; instead, we try to find those paradisiacal sandbars, huge sandy stretches surrounded by the turquoise waters that bathe the archipelago and, if there aren’t too many people, so much the better.
For that reason, although we already gave you some tips in Best beaches in the Philippines, here we want to focus on this type we like so much. As you can imagine, with more than 7,000 islands, you’ve got sandbars in the Philippines for a long while. So we’ve made an overview of the most beautiful and also the most accessible ones for those who don’t have unlimited time and don’t want to go crazy with transport.
A heads-up: we’ve been very lucky to visit these sandbars on several occasions and each time we’ve seen them differently. Remember it’s nature and, in the case of sandbars, the action of the tides and the wind has a huge influence on their condition. Sometimes they’re longer, shorter, or more or less visible. To see the current situation, we usually take a look at recent Stories or photos on Instagram. You can check the tides on websites like this one.
Without further ado, discover the best sandbars in the Philippines.
1. Cresta de Gallo
We’re starting strong by revealing the island that, in our opinion, has three of the best sandbars in the Philippines. Yes, not just one, but three.
Cresta de Gallo is a real feast for the eyes. Located off mountainous Sibuyan, this island inhabited only by a couple of caretakers is surrounded by every shade of turquoise blue. It consists of two small patches of vegetation joined by an extremely long strip of white sand that, from a drone’s view, is a beauty.
To the north of the island, depending on the season you’ll also find an elongated ribbon of sand that you’ll probably have all to yourself. However, our favorite part is the sandbar that forms at the southern tip. The landscape is that of a tropical paradise in which the crystal-clear water is the real star, and you won’t be able to resist taking dip after dip.
Since it’s still a little-known place, you have a very good chance of having Cresta de Gallo to yourself. Avoid weekends to dodge local tourism and enjoy one of the best sandbars in the Philippines.
Don’t miss our article on Cresta de Gallo, where we tell you in detail how to get there and everything you need to enjoy it.
2. Kalanggaman
If there’s a famous sandbar in the Philippines, it’s Kalanggaman’s. This island in the province of Leyte is about 750 meters long and features two wonderful sandbars. The best-known one can reach 250 meters, but don’t stop at that one. Walk to the opposite side and it’s highly likely you’ll also enjoy it a lot at low tide. In addition, in this area you’ll also find a photogenic treehouse, one of the most famous spots in Philippines on Instagram.
The most common way to get there is from Malapascua on a tour. If you want to enjoy it to the fullest, when most travelers leave, don’t hesitate to stay overnight in one of its tents or simple huts. We promise it will be worth it. You can read all about it in our article How to get to Kalanggaman.
3. White Island (Camiguin)
Another of the most accessible sandbars in the Philippines is gorgeous White Island. This island is located just 5 minutes off the shores of Camiguin and, as its name indicates, it’s a wonderful white island where you’ll find only that: white sand. Not a trace of any kind of vegetation, just coral sand surrounded by transparent waters.
The shape of White Island’s sandbar changes a lot depending on the time of year. Sometimes, as you’ll see in the photo, it even seems to split in two if the tide is high. For this reason, it’s impossible to get bored of it.
In addition to enjoying this idyllic spot in the middle of the sea, from the island you get some incredible views of Camiguin. The place on earth with the most volcanoes per square kilometer has wonderful topography, with the Hibok-Hibok volcano as the clear protagonist.
Don’t want to get sunburned? Don’t worry—on White Island you can rent one of the picturesque colorful umbrellas and take shelter from the powerful Filipino sun. Plus, we suggest bringing a snorkel mask and tube, since you’ll find interesting things just a few steps from the shore.
To learn much more about this island, don’t miss our article Island hopping in Camiguin.
4. Bonbon Beach (Romblon)
We return to the Romblón archipelago, one of our favorite places on earth, to recommend its wonderful sandbar.
Bonbon Beach (or Bon Bon Beach) is a few kilometers from Romblon Romblon, the island’s capital, and looks like it was taken straight out of a storybook. The entire beach is beautiful, but the most picturesque part is a very long sandbar that, depending on the time of year and the state of the tide, links Romblon with the Bang-og islet.
By the way, by now you’ll have realized that photos of sandbars in the Philippines look fabulous from a drone. If you have one, you’ll be interested in Flying a drone in the Philippines. If that’s not the case, what are you waiting for to discover which are the best travel drones?
5. Maltatayoc Island (Coron/Concepción)
When we first spotted Maltatayoc from our bangka we couldn’t help but think of Kalanggaman. Its very long Philippine sandbar is just as long or even longer, although a little wider.
With white sand and beautiful views of Busuanga, South Cay and North Cay, in Maltatayoc you’ll find 3 picturesque huts to take shelter from the sun, since in this stretch of the long island there isn’t much vegetation.
We reached Maltatayoc from Concepción, but, as we explain in Island hopping in Coron, you can also book a tour from Coron Town itself. However you do it, you’ll be able to combine it with other wonderful islands such as Pass Island and North Cay.
6. Snake Island (El Nido)
Did you think you’d miss out on sandbars if you went to El Nido? No way—there’s also a great sandbar in the Bacuit archipelago that’s usually visited on one of the El Nido island-hopping tours. Specifically, Snake Island is part of the so-called Tour B.
It won’t take you long to understand the origin of its name. It’s a long, thin, serpentine sandbar that links Vigan Island with Palawan itself, creating a lovely natural spectacle.
Usually, the boat drops you on the sandbar itself, but what you should do is walk toward Vigan Island, where there’s a viewpoint from which you can see it completely. If you have a drone, don’t miss the chance to take photo number 30 from our article on Instagram locations in the Philippines. It has little to envy Bora Bora.
7. Ditaytayan (Coron)
We stay in the province of Palawan where sandbars are plentiful. Ditaytayan is another of the wonderful sandbars in the Philippines that you can include on your trip if you do an island hopping from Coron, as it’s part of the so-called Escapade Tour. It lies about 90 minutes by boat from Coron Town, en route to Linapacan and El Nido.
At high or low tide, this island’s sandbar doesn’t disappear due to its spectacular size. You can walk it from end to end, go snorkeling (fabulous), or simply lounge around in one of the hammocks strung between the palms at the beginning.
Ditaytayan is also visited on multi-day trips from Coron to El Nido and vice versa. As we tell you in Expedition from Coron to El Nido, this is one of our favorite adventures in the Philippines and seems perfect if you’re looking for big beaches, because you’ll visit loads of them—and little-known ones at that.
8. Naked Island (Siargao)
Near Siargao you’ll also get your dose of white sand surrounded by turquoise sea. While it’s not comparable to other sandbars in the Philippines like Kalanggaman’s or those on Cresta de Gallo, the truth is no one turns down tiny, oval Naked Island.
As its name indicates, it’s a “naked” island. In these 100 meters of sand there’s nothing. There isn’t even a single little palm tree, but the views of Siargao and Daku from here are great, and you won’t be able to resist the temptation to take a dip, since the shallow water near the shore turns it into a perfect pool. If you visit at the end of the day, it’s a perfect place to watch the sunset.
To get to Naked Island you’ll have no choice but to take a bangka. It’s usually combined with visits to other nearby islands, particularly Guyam and Daku, making up what’s called the Tri-island island hopping. You can read much more in Island hopping in Siargao.
You also shouldn’t miss our article Best beaches in Siargao, where we talk about other superb beaches. Among them, another sandbar you’ll love is Kawhagan Island’s.
9. Buntod Sandbar (Masbate)
We end our tour of the best sandbars in the Philippines with one of the least known. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path—less touristy places—there’s nothing like “taking a stroll” around the Masbate area and dropping by Buntod Sandbar.
Located just 15 minutes by boat from Masbate City, the capital, this small island has a spectacular sandbar surrounded by a 250-hectare marine sanctuary established in 2001. So, in addition to enjoying as many swims as you like, don’t forget your mask and snorkel. If you don’t have them, you can rent them on the island itself. They say that in the part where the mangroves are (which is also incredible), you can see small blacktip reef sharks when the tide is high.
How to get to Buntod Sandbar? From Masbate City you can take a boat that costs 500 pesos for up to 4 people round trip. For 5 to 14 people it’s 800 pesos. Once there, the entrance fee is 20 pesos. There’s a small sari-sari (a convenience store) where you can buy some drinks and snacks.
If you can, avoid visiting on weekends, since it’s a typical spot for family outings. Plus, if you go first thing in the morning, you’re almost guaranteed to be alone on this epic Philippine sandbar.
Map of the best sandbars in the Philippines
Take a look at this map to plan your trip more visually according to the location of the best sandbars in the Philippines:
We hope these sandbars in the Philippines have helped inspire you to start planning your next adventure. Remember that you’ll find several sample routes in our section on Philippines travel itineraries and a nice selection of beach paradises in Best beaches in the Philippines.
We’ll be happy to receive your questions or suggestions in the comments!
