POPULAR SUMMER BEACH DESTINATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Have you ever thought about living on a remote tropical island with some like-minded wanderers?

Dreaming of a white-sand beach surrounded with coconuts, a live coral reef right outside your door beside a serene and calm sea. An island to rejuvenate and detox or eat organic healthy foods like freshly picked coconuts, tropical fruits and veggies from your own organic tropical garden.

A private island where “if you so wish” you can skinny-dip in the deep blue sea; sun kissed on the seashore; practice or pilates on the beach uninhibited, in your special suit. An enchanting island to release stress, turn your life around and learn to live closer to nature.

Woahh. It’s getting hotter everyday!

Well, I could not blame you if that’s the first word you will think of me. But seriously no, this is not about me. It’s all about summer. Scorching heat, bright sunshine, girls in bikinis, hot hunks and all the sweat glands activated.

Now I am talking about hot sizzling summer, the heat of summer sunshine!

It’s officially summer.

Summer means many different things to different people. No classes for students. We all like that aren’t we? For busy working people, you guys need a break . Come on, enough with overtime. Take a break and have a life this summer. For me I have a lot of plans actually.

In a tropical country like the Philippines, we can always beat the stress by visiting some of these popular destinations which can be found from the three main islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Life can be stressful. And even sometimes you’ll have to deal with ongoing stress positively. Stress can have a variety of causes such as problems in the family, job related problems etc.

Today, everything can be searched online from cheap flights to the Philippines to cheap travel packages and summer holidays. To help plan your summer destination, here is our guide to the popular destinations for a summer holidays in the Philippines in no particular order.

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ANGUIB BEACH, CAGAYAN

The beach is awesome. Pristine white sand beach. Turquoise clear water. And above all not too crowded.

If you’re planning to stay overnight, one should have tents with them as the only areas at the beach to rest are cottages which is perfect for those who want to stay and down for a picnic day tour. The sandbar is wide and long enough for everyone to walk in the sand and the trees also add up to the charm of the beach. Its sand may not be as fine as the ones in Boracay and in Bantayan or in Malapascua Beach in Cebu, but the clear waters surely will complete your visit.

HOW TO GET TO ANGUIB BEACH:

For your convenience one can hop on a bus from Manila to Sta Ana (florida) one way per passenger Php 750 or search for a cheap flights to Tuguegarao and ride a public van to Sta. Ana. Head to the tourism office and hire an outrigger boat. Tell the boatmen to bring you to the Mangroves – It’s a very nice mangrove forest but only accessible during high tide if you’re lucky enough you’d take a glimpse of those wild birds flying around the mangroves.

SMART TIPS:

No ATM in Sta. Ana- bring enough cash.
Bring underwater camera for snorkeling.
Take a picture of the coral reefs.
Best transportation is Florida bus to Sta. Ana.
Ride a bus with comfort room.
Buy Carabao’s Milk candy and carabao’s chicharon.
For other tips get in touch with the tourism office.

BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU

Bantayan Island is an island located in the Visayan Sea, Philippines. It is situated to the west of the northern end of Cebu Island, across the Tañon Strait. Bantayan is also known for its white sand and crystal clear water beach in the country. It is composed of three municipalities – Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madrilejos.

Bantayan island has been dubbed as the peaceful and calm beach in the Philippines, which is then considered by many folks as one of the best beach destinations in the world.

If you’re up for a beach bumming and not into the party scene of Boracay and those who want to search for a real solitude then this beach is an ideal destination for you. Tourists whether foreign or local visit Bantayan during the Holy Week, and the island has since been called the “Lenten Capital of the Visayas.”

Dive and learn how to swim. Explore and rediscover the island. Learn to speak a local dialect.

HOW TO GET TO BANTAYAN:

There are cheap promo airfares from Manila to Cebu’s Mactan International Airport and is an hour flight south from Manila. There are many hotels to choose from in Cebu City, which is a 30 to 45 minute taxi ride depending on traffic – from Mactan Int’l Airport in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu. Hop on a bus at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu City near SM Mall. New and modern Ceres Buses run all day at P70 to P80 to the port town of Hagnaya in northern Cebu, and from there you’ll hop a 75min. Ferry to Bantayan Island.

SMART TIPS:

AIRCON buses to Hagnaya is at Php125 – Non Aircon Economy Fares at Php80

Bear in mind, the last Ferry Boat from Hagnaya to Santa Fe leaves at 5:30pm. If you get stuck in Hagnaya, there’s a small Pension House there by the Pier with very small rooms. Php 300 a night, but don’t expect luxury amenities at that price.

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CALAGUAS ISLAND

A long stretch ofbeach with powdery soft white sand surrounded by rolling hills without any commercial establishments. Aquamarine waters joined with marine life with bright blue waves dancing at the shore. My kind of beach that is dubbed as the happy beach in the Philippines, truly unspoiled, unassuming and pristine. I hope it stays that way.

Calaguas is composed of islands in the Philippine province of Camarines Norte. Tinaga Island and Guintinua Island, the minor Maculabo Island, and other minor islands.

Most of the islands are under the administrative jurisdiction of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, while the minor island of Maculabo is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Paracale, Camarines Norte. Recently, the island of Tinaga where the famous long beach called Mahabang Buhangin is located is experiencing high volume of tourists in the area despite the absence of accommodation.

HOW TO GET TO CALAGUAS:

From Manila, one must book a bus ride either Pasay or Cubao to Paracale, Camarines Norte
(Philtranco or Superlines about P485 – P500+ for approximately 8 to 10 hours).

Get off at Barangay Talobatib and ride another bus for less than an hour to get to Paracale. From Daet Camarines Norte, Paracale can be reached in less than two hours by public vans (P50 – P60). Boat rental: P3,000 – P6,000

Mahabang Buhangin Entrance: P50 – P150

SMART TIPS:

Get enough carbohydrates (travel time takes up to 10 hours)
Bring enough food and drinks
There’s no accommodation so bring your camping gears and tents

CORON, PALAWAN

Coron is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. Coron Island Palawan is a wedge-shaped limestone island with few of its coastal areas being covered by mangrove forests. It has seven lakes, one of which is the nationally-acclaimed cleanest lake in the country today, the Kayangan Lake. It also has a number of islands with white beaches and clear blue waters perfect for diving, snorkeling, fishing and island hopping.

HOW TO GET TO CORON

The easiest and fastest way to get to Coron is via plane. Be on the look out for cheap flights via Airphil Express, Cebu Pacific and Zest air as they have daily flights to Busuanga from Manila.

SMART TIPS:

Beaches, food, mountains, corals, wild life, local culture and all the adventure you can ask for.

Explore Coron town

If you go on island hopping, ask your tour guides for a food trip on the islands. Plus, bring lots of bread for snorkelling purposes. The fish will come over and pay attention to the colors and patterns.

ELNIDO, PALAWAN

El Nido is located about 238 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital. El Nido is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the municipality of Taytay in the south, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west.

El Nido is known for its fascinating features, the majestic karst limestone cliffs which stand guard over clear waters. The narrow opening in these limestone cliffs are home to swiftlets (Collocalia fuciphaga) after whose edible nests (“nido” in Spanish and the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup) the town takes its name.

HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO:

The fastest way to El Nido is from Manila. The flight takes one hour and fifteen minutes, and lands directly at Lio airport, which is located about 4 kilometers from the Población. South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Island Transvoyager Inc (ITI) are the airline companies operating direct flights to El Nido. ITI is a charter airline that operates as a sister company to the two main resorts on El Nido. SEAIR is a commercial airline with flights from Manila to El Nido, with a stopover in Busuanga.

Alternatively you can fly from Manila to Puerto Prinsesa via Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air or Airphil Express. Once you get to Puerto Prinsesa, you can either take a bus which will cost you around Php350 or take the shuttle van which will cost you around Php 600. They are only available at 5AM, 7AM and 9AM.

SMART TIPS:

If you’ve had enough of island hopping adventures you might want to see a different side of El Nido. Stop by the Municipal Tourist Office (located across from the Catholic Church along Calle Real). They have flyers, good city maps and regional maps that offer locations of caves, waterfalls, hikes, hot springs and other interesting landmarks. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the tourism staff as they can help you with other activities while you’re in El Nido.

NAGSASA COVE, ZAMBALES

Nagsasa boasts a pristine beauty with a peaceful silence of nature away from busy streets of the Metropolis. Still considered as relatively virgin tourist destination in Zambales. Those who have been in this charming location claim that this little piece of paradise is worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. It’s rugged wilderness and lack of mobile signals make it a great place when you need to escape from the stress of daily life. Nagsasa cove is truly a breath of fresh air. We chose Nagsasa over Anawangin for very simple reasons. Tourists in Nagsasa are considerably lesser than Anawangin cove. There is no doubt Nagsasa has long been famous for its exclusive seclusion and simple beauty in the province of Zambales.

HOW TO GET TO NAGSASA:

Zambales is approximately 3 hours away from Manila to Brgy. Pundaquit in Zambales. Get yourself a ticket to Iba, Zambales or Sta. Cruz, Zambales (PHP250+). Advice the driver/conductor to drop you off the town’s public market in San Antonio. Ride a tricycle to Mount Pundaquit (roughly PHP30+) which takes approximately 30 minutes. Once you reach Mount Pundaquit, hire an outrigger boat that will take you to Nagsasa Cove.

SMART TIPS:

Buy your food in town as there may be a huge difference of with their price.

Bring your own tents could help cut down your expenses. Tent rentals in Pundaquit costs at PHP200+.

Bring your camping equipment and cooking utensils.

PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera in Mindoro boasts a 15 km stretch of coastline and because of the increasing numbers of tourists, resorts have sprung up throughout the White beach area creating an opportunity for everyone a great way to relieve stress. Puerto Galera can be accessed from Batangas, the travel time takes approximately four hour bus and boat ride away from Manila.

For party animals, this a great place to have fun and mingle. Party happens every night and it is nice to know that even when you bar hop away from the city, you can still enjoy bar hopping in Puerto Galera.

HOW TO GET TO PUERTO GALERA:

Bus terminals in Metro Manila:

Bus Terminals near the corner of Taft Avenue and Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia), Pasay City – nearest Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Domestic Airport.

Bus Terminal near Ali Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

Bus Terminal in EDSA corner Kamias Street, Quezon City

Bus Terminal in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

There are frequent services direct to Batangas Port from bus stations located at Taft Ave., Buendia and Cubao. Travel time to Batangas Port by bus is approximately 2 hours.

Riding a boat (Minolo Shipping Lines or Galerian shipping Lines: White beach Ticket) going Puerto Galera generally takes about 1 hour and 15 mins.
In additition to the many boats available there is also the RoRo (Montenegro Shipping Lines) which is a slower vessel which takes 1 hour and 30 mins to 2 hours to complete the crossing.

The outrigger ferry can take up to a maximum of 60 up to 120 passengers. The ticket costs normally 250 to 280 pesos, one-way.

The first ferry trip to Puerto Galera is 7:30 am during the normal season and every hour thereafter, one or 2 ferries depart until 4:30 pm which is usually the last trip to Puerto Galera.

SMART TIPS:

Try the smoked kebab beach style
Puerto Galera also has restaurants and bars where in you can party all night ( heavy night life)

Meet new friends

Try different activities like swimming, boating, island hopping, henna tattoos Try the body massage right at the beach

PANGLAO BEACH, BOHOL

Like other beaches in the Philippines, Bohol is also blessed with a number of marvelous white beaches. Panglao is an island in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas, with an area of 80.5 sq. kilometers. It is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines and includes several small islands like Gak-ang, Pontod, and Balicasag.

HOW TO GET TO PANGLAO BOHOL:

It’s just an hour and a half travel by fast craft from Cebu City. Take a ferry via Oceanjet or Supercat. Then Panglao Island is a fifteen-minute trip by land from downtown Tagbilaran. You can hire a van or a rent-a-car service.

SMART TIPS:

Experience the white beach of Panglao

Balicasag Island is famous for snorkeling. From Panglao, it is just less than an hour going to Balicasag.

Chocolate hills tour
Rent a car or a motorcycle.

BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN

Find out why it’s more fun at Boracay Island.

Admittedly, the entire world wakes up to a Boracay summer sunshine. I can tell that the island never seems to sleep. If you were looking for an escape into paradise then I strongly suggest you go to Boracay. Boracay is a small island in the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received recognitions from numerous travel publications and agencies.

HOW TO GET TO BORACAY:

Major airlines in the country flies from Manila to Kalibo or Manila to Caticlan. All these airlines provide online reservation for your convenience. The two most popular flight destinations to Boracay are:

Caticlan – A five-minute tricycle ride to Caticlan Jetty port where one needs to board outrigger boat or fast craft to the island of Boracay. There will be a tourist information sheet that needs to be filled up per group.

Kalibo – A one and a half hour of van ride/ bus ride to Caticlan Jetty port.

There are two common options for the boat ride: The more popular pump boat (Php25) usually departs every five minutes and the airconditioned Montenegro fast craft (Php30). Fees included are environmental fee of Php75 and terminal fee of P50.

Tricycles are up for grabs and expecting for you at the Cagban Port. The fare per head depends on where you’ll head to. It usually costs Php20 per head. For your convinience, I suggest you hire a tricycle at Php100-Php150per trip.

SMART TIPS:

Walk along the beach and you will definitely enjoy the bars and night clubs. Boracay Island is an island that does not sleep. Bars and party places are up for grabs. Walk along the beach and you will definitely enjoy the bars and night clubs. Now if you have the guts to experience the popular Boracay nightlife, go right ahead and make the sand your dance floor. Party like it’s the end of the world.

Try popular activities like helmet diving, parasailing,
Watch the locals build sand castles
Night walk at the beach
Island hopping
Eco tour
Massage

Nature communing, island hopping, sun and sand basking. These are among my fondest memories visiting all of these beaches in the Philippines. “Simple pleasures are certainly the best!”. Get to know the people you meet on the road and feel the real life of your destination. This is now a perfect time to plan your special summer getaway. Your summer holiday is precious which should be cherished and only the best will do.

These popular beach summer destinations are my personal picks just so you have an idea about the best summer holiday spots in the Philippines. And I know there’s a lot more on this list. Explore these destinations and activities you can do with your family and friends. Today, internet has almost everything. You can just search and find cheap flights and other travel related services on the web. With just a single click, you can find the cheapest deals through the internet, and even compare details side-by-side. I hope this Philippine beach summer guide can help you plan your next summer adventure!