The Philippines

— Gen Santiago 

 Home of the many best beaches in the world, the Philippines boasts crystal clear and pristine waters, fine white sand, and a lot of virgin islands still waiting to be discovered. From the 7,107 islands to the newly discovered islands, there are now 7,641 islands up to date. From every corner of the country, it sure does not disappoint. You can reach the famous party island of Boracay for an hour flight from Manila. And if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, you can reach the islands of Palawan for about an hour and 20 minute flight from Manila. Visit the Queen City of the South, Cebu City, for some adrenaline-pumping canyoneering experience in Kawasan Falls. And if that’s not enough, you can swim with the whale-sharks in Oslob and with a school of sardines in this beautiful, quiet town of Moalboal just 3-4 hours away from Cebu City. The Philippines indeed has it all. It has been on the tourist radar lately and people from all around the world flock these destinations all-year-round.

Boracay

Facing the blue green waters of Puka Beach in Boracay (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

Dubbed as Conde Nast’ Travelers top Island in the world in 2016, you can never resist Boracay’s white powdery sand and clear waters. It caters to almost every type of traveller with a lot of hostels and 5-star hotels and resorts just a few meters by the beach. You will never run out of activities to do here; from parasailing, scuba diving, and island hopping or just lounging by the beach while you watch the sunset. The nightlife is very much alive as you stroll along the 4-km shore, you will see bands playing, fire-dancing, and people drinking all night long. Hence they call this the ‘party island’.

Tourists strolling along Boracay (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

Palawan

If Boracay is Conde Nast Traveler’s number 1 island, Palawan is second on the list. Palawan alone has a total of 1780 islands. Eighty kilometers from Puerto Princesa City is where you will find the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, the Underground River. Get ready to use your imagination as you make your way inside the longest underground river system in the world as you will see how the stalagmites and stalactites resemble certain animals, food, and even holy images.

One of the majestic lagoons in El Nido (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

Six hours away from Puerto Princesa lies one of the best islands in the world, El Nido. One can tour around the islands for 2-3 days by renting a boat that will take you to lagoons and beaches with impressive limestone formations and turquoise waters everywhere. It also has several dive sites home to rich marine life.

But the more popular island for diving in Palawan famous for the WWII shipwrecks and coral gardens is Coron. The iconic Kayangan Lake is not to be missed when island hopping. Sacred to some ethnic groups in Palawan, the 360 view of the lake is as beautiful as it is with the rock formations underwater.

The iconic view on the way to Kayangan Lake (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

Cebu

A place for adventure-seekers and a haven for divers, Cebu has a lot to offer. Nature lovers will surely enjoy hiking the peaks of Osmeña then traversing to the Gatorade-colored waterfalls of Kawasan. In Kawasan Falls, canyoneering is the famous activity where you will jump,slide,and trek the river of Badian until you reach the falls where you will jump from a 30,40,and a 50-feet point.

The Gatorade-colored Kawasan Falls (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

If that’s not enough, 1 and a half hours away from the falls is the town of Oslob where you can swim with the gentle giants, the whale-sharks. The town of Moalboal on the other hand offers one of the best diving spots in the province where you can swim with a school of sardines just right in front of the shore. If you’re lucky enough, you might be able to spot some turtles too.

Swimming with the whale-sharks (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

And if you’re not up to adventures and you just want a quiet time by the beach, at the northern tip of Cebu lies the white sand beaches of Bantayan.

The virgin island of Bantayan,Cebu (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

I have only mentioned a tiny part of the Philippines. It has a lot of beautiful beaches yes, but what makes each of them worth visiting is the warmth and hospitality of the locals. This is why people keep on coming back. Contrary to the notion that Philippines is a dangerous country to travel to, I have to disagree as I have met a lot of foreign travelers who didn’t had a problem with their safety. It’s a matter of breaking the notion and finding it out yourself. So book that plane ticket and find your way to paradise. And as they always say: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Playing with the sardines (Photo credit – Gen Santiago)

For more of Gem Santiago’s adventures, visit her Instagram account @gensantiago