Surf’s Up
1 Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
The Surfing Capital of the Philippines, although it has been flocked to by surfers from all over the globe, the island of Siargao and smaller islands near it have also enticed beach bums, yogis, island hoppers, and even filmmakers.
2 Sabang, Baler, Aurora
This small town east of Luzon is home to the first Commonwealth President of the Philippines Manuel Quezon (the province of Aurora is named after his wife), and used to be a quiet coastal town about a decade ago. But since the discovery of its great waves, it’s now a go-to getaway by several surfers and beach buffs.
3 San Juan, La Union
The most accessible and nearest surf stop from Metro Manila, and dubbed as the Surf Capital of the North, San Juan has been home to pro and noob surfers, and to those who just want a dose of “vitamin sea” over the weekend.
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Sand Life
1 Great Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City
If you’re tired of white sand beaches, why not try the pink sand beach in Zamboanga? The Great Sta. Cruz Island is famous for its pink-hued shore caused by the red organ pipe coral pulverized by surf erosion. While the sand of the island is white, the pulverized corals give a tinge of pink to it.
2 Santo Domingo, Albay
Not a fan of pink? (Don’t let the Mean Girls hear you!) Albay offers an exotic and volcanic alternative to that. Literally, the sand of Sto. Domingo in Albay and other neighboring towns are jet-black. The sand, they say, are refined debris of Mayon Volcano’s rocks and hardened lava from millions of years of weathering.
3 Nagsasa and Anawangin Cove, San Antonio, Zambales
Camping, swimming, snorkelling, island-hopping, and even hill climbing, whichever you want to do, you can do in either coves in San Antonio, Zambales. Aside from these activities and the view with the pine trees, you shouldn’t miss the unusual mixture of sand and Mt. Pinatubo’s volcanic ash.
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Bar Hopping
1 Bulubadiangan Island, Concepcion, Iloilo
Wanna walk on the surface of the sea (or at least feel like walking on water)? Sand bars are for you! Concepcion Iloilo, is home to one of the long and winding sand bars in the country, Bulubadiangan. They say the sand bar sometimes goes so long it almost reaches the next island, depending on the tides.
2 Higatangan Island, Naval, Biliran
This sandbar is known for shifting directions depending on the monsoon. They say it snakes to the left when the Habagat monsoon season starts, and to the right when it’s Amihan. It extends 200 meters out into the sea so you have plenty of sand to tread or have your sunbathing on.
3 Manjuyod White Sand Bar, Bais City, Negros Oriental
They say this is the “Maldives of the Philippines,” so if you want a taste of Maldives but have no time or budget to do so, you might want to visit this place. The sand in this sand bar can only be enjoyed in the mornings, though, because the tide gets high when the noon comes. Nonetheless, you can still tread on the sand beneath the shallow waters and enjoy azure ocean.
Rock Stars
1 Morong Beach, Sabtang, Batanes
Tired of sandy beaches? There are always the rocky ones that you can explore, like the Nakabuang Arch in Morong Beach, Sabtang, Batanes. The rock formation reminds us of the Arches National Park in Utah, only that this one in Morong Beach isn’t in terracotta hues. Nonetheless, it’s what made the beach famous on the web!
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2 Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
Head a little down south from Batanes to Ilocos Norte. The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation will definitely fill your eyes. The rock formation’s name came from the Ilocano word “puraw” which means “white.” True to its name, the rock formed by strong winds and sedimentation, is a stark contrast to the green hills, at the same time complementing the huge windmills at Burgos Bay.
3 Palawan
Not rocky enough? Here’s the true rock star: Palawan. Whether it’s El Nido, Coron, or Puerto Princesa, the island has one of the world’s majestic rock formations. Feast your eyes on the jagged rocks towering the clear azure waters of the islands of Palawan.
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