For your next trip to the most beautiful beaches of Asia , you don't know where to go in the Philippines, which island to choose?

To help you, here is a guide that tells you which islands have the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines and the most beautiful landscapes.

If, like me, you are considering a trip that combines tourism and a seaside stay, here is the information that I have gathered to prepare for my 2-week trip to the Philippines.

In fact, I looked for which island in the Philippines best met my expectations: Most beautiful beaches, activities and tourist sites to discover.

But the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7000 islands with an exuberant nature, hundreds of heavenly beaches, typical small villages, rice terraces, mountains covered with jungle and many tourist sites to visit.

So, when you only have 10, 12 or 15 days, it's complicated to choose a single island to stay in the Philippines!

Paradise islands in the Philippines

To better locate and understand how the Philippines is made up, we must distinguish 5 main parts:

• Luzon or Luzon : Located in the north of the Archipelago, it is the main island where Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is located.
• The Visayas : Located in the center of the archipelago, the Visayas has around a hundred islands, the best known of which are the islands of Negros, Bohol, Panay, Samar, Cebu, Leyte and Masbate.
• Mindanao : Located in the South, this large island of the Philippines is not recommended for tourists due to local political and social problems.
• Sulu Islands: Small archipelago located in the South West of Mindanao, therefore quite remote but where there are magnificent beaches.
• Palawan: Located in the western Philippines, Palawan is a province with approximately 1 islands. Nearly 700 km long, Palawan is full of wonders and has been voted the most beautiful island in the world for several years!

Do not go anywhere in the Philippines

If you want to go to the Philippines for a week or two, be careful not to choose just any island. Indeed, even though the Philippines is considered safe for tourists, there are islands and areas to avoid in the Philippines.

Indeed, in 2024, many governments (French, Canadian, Belgian, American) advised travelers to avoid certain islands and areas of the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, and kidnappings. See my article: Places to Avoid in the Philippines

Where to go in the Philippines for a short stay?

When you only have 10, 12 or 15 days to go to the Philippines, it may not be a good idea to go on an island hopping tour. Indeed, transport times are long and domestic flight schedules are not very flexible and restrictive. So, it's silly to waste such precious time changing hotels, airports, ferries, transfers, etc...

Indeed, if we choose (for example) to visit 3 islands, taking into account the days of transport and transfers, we only spend 2 or 3 days on each island, which is not enough to be able to enjoy it on the spot.

My priority for a short trip is to choose only one island where I can enjoy the sun, beautiful landscapes, sightseeing excursions and the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines.

On the other hand, for those who have 3 or 4 weeks on site, it is more interesting to make a circuit from islands to islands.

Which island to choose in the Philippines?

When I compared the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, I chose Palawan for my two-week trip. Indeed, there are many idyllic islands and islets in the Philippines, but Palawan is the island with the most tourist appeal and is easily accessible from Manila (see information below).

By staying in Palawan, you can enjoy sensational landscapes (jungle, waterfalls, small villages), the most beautiful beaches, especially in El Nido, and incredible spots for diving and snorkeling.

Palawan the most beautiful island in the Philippines

For several years, Palawan has been ranked among the most beautiful islands in the world by travel specialists Edreams.fr , Travelandleisure.com , Tourscanner.com or the American magazine Condé Nast Traveller.

In fact, in Palawan and all around the island are the most beautiful sites in the Philippines: In El Nido , on the islands north of Palawan, on the Bacuit archipelago and on the splendid island of Coron.

Know that there is a tour of Palawan and the most beautiful islands around Palawan which is done in 10 days from Manila:

With its tropical jungle, steep limestone cliffs, mangroves, turquoise lagoons and dream beaches, Palawan is a real little paradise!

And Palawan is ideal for a short stay of 10, 12 or 15 days in the Philippines because you won't get bored there. There are many activities to do, beautiful sites to discover, beautiful hikes or sea trips.

This is what we are going to discover in more detail by listing all the assets of this island in the Philippines.

Palawan to access the most beautiful beaches in El Nido

It is by staying in Palawan that you will have access to paradisiacal beaches, that you will swim in a turquoise sea, in crystal clear waters with a setting of wild and preserved nature.

Indeed, the dream beaches and postcard-perfect beaches of the Philippines are located in the far north of Palawan , in El Nido , on the Bacuit archipelago right next to El Nido and on the island of Coron.

The Bacuit Archipelago and Coron Island are easily explored from El Nido by island hopping (boat trips from island to island). In El Nido town, numerous agencies offer day trips and multi-day excursions.

Alternatively, you can also book them in advance and enjoy beaches such as Hidden Beach, Talisay Island, Secret Beach or Helicopter Island.

Palawan for the most beautiful landscapes in the Philippines

Indeed, in addition to the magnificent beaches Palawan offers incredible landscapes that can be explored during the day. There are places on the island of Palawan that you can discover "off the beaten track" and away from mass tourism!

Indeed, in Palawan, you can do many hikes to enjoy the beauty of its jungle, waterfalls falling from jagged peaks like the Estrella waterfall, in Southern Palawan and its 64 levels!

You can encounter many animals such as giant monitor lizards, monkeys, binturongs endemic to Palawan, or flying foxes. Ornithologists come from all over the world to admire rare species like the talkative Palawan hornbill or the Philippine cockatoo.

Finally, in Palawan, you can discover one of the Philippines' most astonishing natural wonders: an 8,2 km underground river , the longest navigable underground river in the world. The Puerto Princesa Underground River winds its way beneath a mountain range, through the St. Paul Underground River cave, and empties into the South China Sea. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature!

By visiting Coron, you can discover Lake Kayangan, considered the lake with the clearest water in the Philippines. You can also admire the famous Twin Lagoons or CYC Beach , one of the most beautiful beaches surrounded by mangroves.

Palawan for diving and snorkeling

The coasts around Palawan offer divers a magnificent underwater landscape with rich biodiversity. The best spot is Tubbataha Reefs National Park, accessible only by liveaboard boat from Palawan. It's a partially submerged atoll in the middle of the Sulu Sea, also known as the Jolo Sea.

Between the end of March and mid-June, you can see hammerhead sharks, dolphins, turtles and manta rays. Tubbataha Reefs is said to be home to the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. It is considered the best diving spot in the Philippines.

In addition, the clear waters around Palawan offer a magical spectacle that you can enjoy even while swimming with mask, flippers and snorkel.

How to get to Palawan

To get from Manila (airport where you will land with your international flight) to Palawan Island, you need to book in advance a domestic flight Manila – Puerto Princesa with Air Asia , Cebu Pacific Air or Philippine Airlines.

How to get to El Nido

If you took a domestic flight Manila – Puerto Princesa which is the main city of Palawan, you can take a bus or taxi from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (5 to 6 hours drive).

But the quickest solution is to take a direct flight from Manila to El Nido. There's a small airport called Lio Airport, located 4 km from El Nido. However, only one airline serves this airport, with three daily flights: Air Swift . The flights take 1 hour and 30 minutes but are often delayed. Furthermore, passengers are limited to a 12 kg baggage allowance.

The coolest solution is to take a boat between Manila and Coron, then another boat that will take you from Coron to Palawan. If you have time, the boat is ideal for enjoying an exceptional setting on all the islands and islets of the archipelago. However, it takes 2 days of travel.

Where to stay in Palawan?

For my trip to the Philippines, I of course chose my hotel in Palawan, in the northwest of the island.

I wanted it to be facing a dream beach but also not too far from the city center and the El Nido Jeepney ferry terminal (for sea excursions) and close to the city center (for restaurants and entertainment).

It is therefore the Cadlao Resort and Restaurant hotel that I finally chose and which I recommend to you.

Indeed, it has an ideal location for discovering the island of Palawan, enjoying the beautiful beaches of El Nido and the activities but above all its location allows you to go on sea trips without having to provide transport!

Looking for other destinations offering a change of scenery and exoticism? Discover Martinique , French Polynesia , the San Blas Islands in Panama, or the small island of Mucura in Colombia.