There’s no doubt that the Philippines has the best beaches in Southeast Asia. After getting to know all the countries in the area and traveling to the Philippines so many times, we can’t help but make this statement.
Most beaches in the Philippines have all the ingredients to be labeled as paradisiacal:
- The sand is usually coralline, so its color tends to be that bright white that even reflects the sunlight.
- The water that bathes them is suuuuuuuuuuper transparent—so much so that the Caribbean pales in comparison. Plus, it’s usually super calm, so it won’t be strange if you end up soaking for hours and hours.
- Elegantly tall palm trees give you shade. We’re not impartial, but to us, the palm trees in the Philippines are the most beautiful in the world.
- If you look carefully, you can have them all to yourself! Seriously, there are very few crowded beaches in the Philippines. With more than 7,000 islands, you can always find a beach with no one on it—you just need to know where to look.
Many travelers ask us where the best beaches in the Philippines are, and it’s hard for us to answer. Although the most famous and photographed beaches are in Palawan, we don’t think you can point to any single region. In this huge selection of Filipino beaches, you’ll see that all over the country there are paradisiacal places to visit.
Obviously, we haven’t been to every single one in the country, but we consider ourselves seasoned tasters in these matters—enough to make a solid selection of the best beaches in the Philippines.
Disclaimer: in a country with such changeable weather—and in a world where “to each their own”—your perception of a beach can change a lot depending on when you go.
Where are the best beaches in the Philippines?
Here’s a map so you can get an idea of where the best beaches in the Philippines are located. This way you can see which regions they’re in and how to put together the puzzle for your Philippines travel itinerary. If you click on each one, we’ll take you to the corresponding article on our website where you’ll find all the information to enjoy it.
Best beaches in the Philippines:
1. White Beach (Port Barton)
While the main beach in the town of Port Barton is pretty, the one that steals all the applause is White Beach. Although it’s getting more popular, it’s a peaceful spot with crystal-clear waters and coconut trees that give some lovely shade. If you get thirsty, there’s a small resort where you can buy drinks.
You’ll have to walk about 30 minutes to reach it or you can hire a boat, as we tell you in Things to do in Port Barton. If you feel like walking, don’t hesitate—the path is fabulous, and you can take the chance to enjoy another of the best beaches in the Philippines, Coconut Beach.
You can read more about this beach and similar ones in The best beaches in Port Barton.
2. Cresta de Gallo (Romblon)
Our favorite island/beach!
We promise that everything it took you to get here (it’s not easy, believe us) will have been worth it the moment you spot it from the bangka. This uninhabited island is a paradise of white sand, waters in every possible shade of blue, coconut trees and, above all, lots of peace. Plus, from here you can see the silhouette of Mt. Guiting-Guiting, the king of Sibuyan. Cresta de Gallo belongs to the Romblon island group and you have all the information on how to get there in our article about Cresta de Gallo.
Not only that—Cresta de Gallo has no fewer than 3 sandbars. That’s why we’ve also included it in Best sandbars in the Philippines.
Don’t believe us? Check out this epic place in the video! Doesn’t it look like one of the best beaches in the Philippines?
3. Alegría Beach (Siargao)
Although among the things to see and do in Siargao you won’t find many beaches, our beloved island can boast one of the best beaches in the Philippines: Alegría Beach.
It’s located on the northeastern tip of the island, in a small village where there isn’t a single hotel. The few visitors this wonder usually receives are locals who go for a weekend picnic.
Also, unlike the rest of the island’s beaches, this one has a coral reef, but it’s not affected by low tide, so it’s always ideal for a dip in its calm waters. We love it!
️ You can learn all about it and more in our article Best beaches in Siargao.
4. Hidden Beach (El Nido)
On the El Nido island hopping tours you’ll see, besides the gorgeous lagoons, some jaw-dropping beaches. It’s hard to choose among them all, but Hidden Beach might be the one that deserves to be on this list of the best beaches.
“Hidden Beach” gets its name because you can’t see it from the sea; you have to go through a narrow passage in the rock to be amazed by the view. Imagine a strip of white sand bathed by ultra-mega-transparent waters and enclosed by limestone walls.
You can visit this wonderful Filipino beach if you do Tour C.
️ If you’re visiting El Nido, don’t miss our article with the Best beaches in El Nido (without island hopping).
5. Kalanggaman Island
The epic sandbar of Kalanggaman truly earns it the title of one of the best beaches in the Philippines. Plus, on this island near Malapascua, which you can access from there, you’ll also find beautiful beaches on its northern tip, where there’s a small (very basic) cabin hotel where you can spend a night and forget about the rest of the world.
️ Discover more about this paradise in the article: Kalanggaman Island: day trip to the epic sandbar.
6. Paradise Beach (Bantayan)
Bantayan is one of those islands that gathers some of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines without needing to do any tour. Although Kota Beach is truly marvelous, if we have to pick one, we’ll stick with Paradise Beach. We love not only its idyllic setting and calm waters, but also its peace, as it usually isn’t crowded at all.
7. Langob Beach (Malapascua)
“We only recommend going to Malapascua if you dive”… Come on! In Malapascua there are picture‑perfect beaches like Langob Beach, in the north of the island.
For years there’s been a hotel project that never seems to materialize, but a hotel on the Cebu coast owns the land and has set up a couple of umbrellas to bring its clients to this stunning beach in the Visayas.
The sea is usually flat‑calm, the beach is well cared for and clean, and the Malapascua kids often liven up the atmosphere. Plus, there are a couple of stands to buy a buko or an ice-cold beer.
By the way, we’re not turning our noses up at Bounty Beach either. In our articles on Things to do in Malapascua and the best beaches in Malapascua we give you some tips on the best areas of this huge beach.
8. Las Cabañas (El Nido)
Although more and more small hotels and beach bars are stealing its tranquility, Las Cabañas is still one of the best beaches in the Philippines. Located just 15 minutes from El Nido Town, the best thing about this beach is its views of the Bacuit archipelago.
Las Cabañas is an ideal place to watch the sunset, but also for a shot of adrenaline, because there’s a very cool zipline.
9. Banul Beach (Coron)
If you’re going to visit Coron —which we highly recommend—you have to do the island hopping around Coron Island. Although the lagoons and lakes are its highlights, the island also has spectacular beaches. One of our favorites is Banul Beach.
What will make you fall in love with it is the contrast between the white of the coralline sand and the black of the limestone rock—just awesome! Plus, it has some little huts to eat in, perched on the wall, which makes it super photogenic.
Traveler to traveler: try to visit outside lunch hours to enjoy it without other boats. To do this, it’s best to hire a private boat, as we tell you in Island hopping in Coron.
10. White Beach (Boracay)
It would be odd if the famous—and repeatedly ranked among the best in the world—White Beach of Boracay didn’t appear on a list of the best beaches in the Philippines.
It’s true, this beach is a 10 out of 10. It probably has the best quality sand (powdery, white, soft…) and the calmest water of all (when it’s Amihan season, that is, from December to May), but let’s be realistic: the vibe doesn’t convince everyone.
The Punta Cana of the Philippines now has loads of resorts and bars, especially at Stations 1 and 2, so it’s not the right place if you’re looking for absolute tranquility. In Things to do in Boracay we tell you much more.
11. Guyam Island (Siargao)
Want to be on the typical movie island? A small, round patch of sand with palm trees and white sand—you’ll find it near Siargao!
This is one of the islands on the classic Siargao island hopping, and although it receives more and more tourists, it’s a paradisiacal place to visit at least once in your life.
⭐ By the way, if you’re going to travel to the Philippines in July or August, you should know that Siargao is an ideal place to include in your itinerary, since it’s dry season there.
12. Bonbon Beach (Romblon)
Romblon is our latest big discovery and we just can’t stop mentioning it everywhere. Besides the vibe of an island with hardly any tourism, we can tell you that it’s home to some of the best beaches in the Philippines.
For a SPECTACULAR beach, Bonbon Beach is one of the most beautiful sandbars in the Philippines and one of the least visited. Imagine a sandbar that connects you to an uninhabited islet at low tide—there’s nothing more idyllic than that!
Also, don’t underestimate other beaches to discover in Romblon like the neighboring Tiamban Beach or the far‑flung Lintian Beach.
13. Paliton Beach (Siquijor)
Many say the beaches of Siquijor aren’t worth it. While it’s true they’re not the most incredible in the Philippines, we do think these (along with other activities) more than justify a hop over to the island.
Paliton is the best‑known one. Its powder‑white sand is enchanting, as are the beautiful palm trees that give you shade. Do try to visit at high tide, as when it’s low the swim is a bit tricky. Another great time to see it is at sunset. Seriously, from Paliton we’ve seen some of the best sunsets of our lives.
️ Plus, did you know there are a few secret beaches in Siquijor? You’ll discover them in our article on the best beaches in Siquijor.
14. Quinale Beach (Anda, Bohol)
Fame goes to Alona Beach and many only make it to the beautiful Dumaluan, but one of the best beaches in the Philippines is in the Anda area of Bohol.
With mainly local tourism that visits only on weekends, Monday through Friday you can enjoy this huge strip of white sand in total peace. In the center of Quinale Beach there’s a small government‑run beach bar with some very photogenic huts you can use. Besides being super affordable, at night you can dine with your toes almost in the water.
⛱️ If you’re going to include Bohol in your route through the Philippines, don’t hesitate to check out our article on The best beaches in Bohol and Panglao.
15. Cabugao Gamay Island (Islas de Gigantes)
Islas de Gigantes is a destination increasingly popular among Filipino travelers, but few foreigners venture to this group of islands north of Panay. Although the beaches of Gigantes Norte or Sur—where people usually base themselves—aren’t the best, this island hopping that’s not crowded at all will take you to the beautiful Cabugao Gamay Island, where you can enjoy this wonderful Filipino beach.
⭐ Read more about this fascinating corner in our Islas de Gigantes Guide.
16. Nacpan Beach (El Nido)
Many travelers will include Nacpan Beach on their list of the best beaches in the Philippines. No surprise—we’re talking about one of the most untouched stretches of sand in famous Palawan.
Located about 40 minutes from the center of El Nido Town, what will win you over about Nacpan is its huge size, its palm trees, and its relaxed vibe. Although there are more and more bars and a few hotels have been built, if you walk toward the northern end it’s very likely you won’t see a soul.
⭐ By the way, remember to go up to the viewpoint to enjoy the amazing views of this huge Palawan beach.
Want even more solitude? In our article on Things do in El Nido you’ll find more paradisiacal beaches in El Nido. Also, if you have extra days in Palawan, it can be a great idea to stay overnight at some of the hotels in Nacpan; the best are: Nacpan Beach Glamping and Seaside Hue Resort.
17. White Island (Camiguin)
Although the beaches on the island of Camiguin itself—being the place on earth with the most volcanoes per square kilometer—are mostly black volcanic sand, just off its coast are two spectacular islands you can’t miss if you love beaches. White Island is, without a moment’s doubt, one of the best beaches in the Philippines.
It’s a bare sandbar just 5 minutes by boat from the town of Yumbing. It’s gorgeous in its own right, with fine white sand and the most transparent water you can imagine, but on top of that you get spectacular views of Camiguin and its volcanoes. The Hibok‑Hibok looks even better from this little piece of paradise.
⭐ You’ll find all the info to plan your visit to White Island in Island hopping in Camiguin.
18. Pandan Island (Mindoro)
When we went diving in Apo Reef (one of our favorite places to go diving in the Philippines), we stayed in the little‑visited town of Sablayan. Little did we imagine that just 10 minutes away by bangka we’d find one of the best beaches in the Philippines: Pandan Island.
There you’ll find Pandan Island Resort, a small hotel with beach huts that’s almost always full, but they allow day visitors (for a small fee) to enjoy the peace of an idyllic beach and go snorkeling with turtles. Yes, you read that right!
19. Kawhagan Island (Siargao)
Although in Siargao we like many beaches (we love Alegría and Malinao), we have to confess that most aren’t worthy of being considered the country’s very best. Even so, there’s a real GEM on the neighboring island of Kawhagan.
This island is usually visited along with the Sugba Lagoon, taking one of the boats from Del Carmen, and many travelers end up smitten with it. It’s an island with a huge white sandbar and transparent waters on both sides. Absolutely stunning!
By the way, right in front of Kawhagan there’s also a spectacular beach called Pamomoan Beach. Don’t hesitate to include it in your Siargao island hopping!
20. Cobrador Island (Romblon)
Within the Romblon group of islands, two places really won us over (Cresta de Gallo), and the one we’re going to talk about now: Cobrador.
We went to this small paradise island from Romblon Island, combining it with others like Alad and Lugbung. We knew it might be nice, but we didn’t imagine we’d find one of the beaches we’ve liked most in all our trips to the Philippines.
Seriously, there isn’t a single restaurant or hotel—NOTHING—but these white‑sand, crystal‑clear beaches with views of the mountains of Tablas have forced us to include it again, no matter what, on our next visits.
21. Saud Beach (Pagudpud)
When we visited this beach a few years ago, people said it would be the next Boracay—Boracay of the north in the Philippines. However, although you can already see some small hotels and bars, it’s very likely that if you decide to step off the usual itineraries you’ll find yourself alone on this wonderful beach. Located at the far north of Luzon, few make it to this great Filipino beach.
By the way, Blue Lagoon Beach is very close—don’t miss it!
22. Mantigue Island (Camiguin)
A few lines above we told you about the charms of the beautiful White Island in Camiguin, and we couldn’t resist including her sister, Mantigue Island, on this list of the best beaches in the Philippines. The uninterrupted beach that surrounds this tiny island off the coast of the “Island Born of Fire” is one of the prettiest we’ve seen in our lives.
Besides being very easy to reach, its marine sanctuary is home to lots of sea turtles, which is why it’s one of the best spots both for snorkeling in the Philippines and for scuba diving.
️ Find out how to get there and what to do in our ultimate guide to Island hopping in Camiguin.
23. Pinagbuyutan Island (El Nido)
When you see the quirky hut on Pinagbuyutan Island, you’ll think you could live there forever. It’s normal—this small beach visited during Tour B in El Nido is a true slice of paradise. Although it’s not very big, the feeling of being in a one‑of‑a‑kind place on the planet, beneath those enormous limestone walls with karst formations, is simply mind‑blowing.
Did you know this is also one of the most famous spots in the Philippines on Instagram?
24. Nagtabon Beach (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, isn’t the prettiest city in the country, but it does have a surprise or two in store. If you’re staying a day there, don’t miss the lovely Filipino beach of Nagtabon, located a few kilometers from the city. Take a look at Things to do in Puerto Princesa and find out how to get there.
25. Puka Beach (Boracay)
There’s much more to do in Boracay than lie down on one of White Beach’s stations. A great example is the superb Puka Beach, which had to be included on this list of the best beaches in the Philippines. Much more wild, here you can also enjoy turquoise waters, white sand, and coconut trees.
Although the urban planning already even includes a nearby casino (we could cry), the last time we visited it only had a couple of Rastafari‑style beach bars with some umbrellas. We hope it stays that way for a long time.
In Things to do in Boracay you’ll find even more beaches to visit on the most famous island in the Philippines.
26. Malcapuya Island (Coron)
Malcapuya is one of the islands visited during Coron’s Escapade Tour, which we talk about in the list of things to do in Coron. This route will also take you to other amazing beaches like Bulog Dos or Banana Island, but Malcapuya’s beach stole our hearts.
Plus, there are a couple of huts where you can spend the night. Who can imagine living pure Robinson Crusoe style for a few hours?
27. Cuatro Islas (Leyte)
Although you hardly hear anything about Leyte, this Filipino island also has some brutal beaches. We decided to step off the usual route and visit the so‑called Cuatro Islas, a group of islands located southwest of the coast of Leyte. What awaits you here? An island hopping with gorgeous beaches where you’re hardly going to find anyone!
Our two favorites are Mahaba Island and Digyo, but you can find all the information about them in our article on the Cuatro Islas Tour: island hopping in Leyte.
28. Talipanan Beach (Puerto Galera, Mindoro)
We close the list of the best beaches in the Philippines with Puerto Galera, “Manila’s beach”. Although it’s about 4 hours from downtown Manila, it’s the place Manileños usually go for the weekend. In this area of Mindoro, you’ll find several pretty beaches, but the one we recommend is Talipanan Beach.
If you’re up for visiting this part of the Philippines that foreigners don’t often frequent, you’ll find a huge strip of clean, golden sand where absolute tranquility reigns—especially Monday through Friday. There are small resorts, like Ara Beach Resort, right on the beach where the days will fly by. By the way, you’ll find interesting dives in Puerto Galera, which is why we’ve included it as one of the best diving destinations in the Philippines.
In our Puerto Galera Guide you’ll find all the information about this destination.
We can think of 28 more, but we had to choose—and leave room for a second installment…
Would you recommend any other beach in the Philippines for our next adventure? We’re waiting for you in the comments!
