9 of the Top Beaches in the Philippines for Every Type of Traveler

On the country’s original paradise island, White Beach is the queen of Philippines white-sand beaches, running for about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the sunset side of Boracay.

Besides the powdery shoreline and calm waters, there’s a wealth of things to do here, with water sports spanning the gamut from helmet diving to banana boats, via parasailing and island-hopping. Happily, the party scene has eased off since the island’s 2018 closure and many restaurants now offer kids’ menus, making it great for families.

On Kalanggaman Island, you'll find pretty much every item on your Philippines island beaches bucket list: a curving white sandbar framed with clear, warm water that shades from delicate turquoise to rich violet and indigo as the seafloor falls away, plus a palm-fringed beach that’s perfect for picnics.

Situated midway between Cebu and Leyte, Kalanggaman Island also offers postcard-perfect shots, but is sufficiently remote that it’s rarely overly crowded. Most people visit on an island-hopping tour from Cebu that incorporates Malapascua and even Bantayan, too.

The tear-shaped island of Siargao offers probably the Philippines’ best surf, and the rugged reef of Cloud 9 beach on its east coast is at the heart of the action. For most of the year, the big, barreling right is not for beginners—but Jacking Horse nearby is perfect for learners.

In late October or early November, the Siargao Surfing Cup takes over the waves, the perfect opportunity for beach bunnies just to watch ... but not such a great time to visit if you want to get out there yourself.

Marooned in the Sulu Sea, roughly midway between Palawan and Boracay, the Amanpulo private island resort is the crème de la crème of Philippines beach resorts. Well-heeled travelers can kick off their shoes and indulge in white sands, pristine coral, and villas divided between the beachfront and the forest.

Besides the obligatory scuba diving—how could you not in waters this clear?—activities on Amanpulo include surfing, kitesurfing, spa treatments, cruises, and discovering the area’s pearl farms.

One of the most sustainable places to see whale sharks in the Philippines—Donsol Beach in Bicol, southern Luzon—may not be the country’s most beautiful strip of sand, but it’s one of the top snorkeling beaches in the Philippines.

Whale sharks come through here between November and June, although it’s best to visit between February and May when sightings are most frequent. The snorkeling activities are supported by the World Wildlife Fund and aim to minimize disruption to the sharks’ natural pattern of behavior.

Perched off the northern tip of Cebu, Malapascua Island is one of the Philippines’ top diving destinations, and Bounty Beach is the perfect spot to base yourself while you explore. Here, you can dive within range of long-tailed thresher sharks at dawn—when they come to be cleaned at a seamount known as Monad Shoal—and watch mandarin fish mating, often surrounded by seahorses, at sunset.

Many travelers pair a dive trip here with a visit to Moalboal further south for the sardine run, so you can make a few days of it in these pristine Philippine islands.

The Batanes islands, a cluster of wild, windy rock outcrops, perch in the ocean between Taiwan and the Philippines and offer some of the most secluded beaches in the Philippines. Morong Beach on Sabtang island is known for its striking natural arch, backed by rugged cliffs and unspoiled rural landscapes—and, at many times of year, you’ll be able to have the beach entirely to yourself.

However, be sure to bring layers, as temperatures in Batanes can drop to below 70°F (21°C) at night, with additional wind chill. (And there's nothing worse than being on astunning beach while shivering.)

The archipelago around El Nido in Palawan is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines, including the spectacular Secret Lagoon which, some say, inspired Alex Garland’s novel (and its eventual film adaptation) The Beach.

Here, you can swim through a tiny hole in sheer limestone cliffs to reveal a perfect pool of shallow water with a pristine white-sand beach. It’s just one of myriad postcard-perfect vistas that make island-hopping in El Nido a must.

Just a few hours’ drive north of Manila, San Juan in La Union is one of the Philippines’ most popular surf spots, with a nightlife scene to match. The dark, rugged sands of Urbiztondo Beach play home to surf contests and surf sessions by day, with live gigs and a vibrant party scene by night.

There’s also a dynamic art scene to be found in the streets behind the beach, including the weird and wonderful construction known as Mebuyan’s Vessel.