The Philippines: Swimming, Snorkeling, Diving

“And the winner is … Miss Philippines!” Beautiful as the winner of the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s most picturesque beaches in the world. To mention a few, Panglao and Anda in Bohol, Boracay, Moalboal in Cebu, and El Nido in Palawan are some of the country’s most popular destinations for both tourists and locals alike. Coron is host to some of the world’s best lagoons.

Panglao and Anda

Panglao is an island located in Bohol, Philippines. As with many beautiful beaches in the Philippines, Panglao island’s beaches are known for its fine white sugary sand. Panglao Beach, Momo Beach, Alona Beach, and Dumaluan Beach are only a few beaches most frequented by visitors of the island. Panglao Beach is home to Hinagdanan Cave, a cave with a lagoon and stalactites and stalagmites formations.

Anda is also located in Bohol, Philippines. Its location is further north from Panglao. Dubbed “best-kept secret in Bohol,” Anda is growing in popularity. This secret grows larger and it’s hard to not talk about it. Quinale Beach is the most popular of the beaches in Anda. It, too, boasts fine white sand. Aside from this beautiful beach, Anda is also home to caves and swimming holes. One particular swimming hole in Anda is Cabagnow Cave Pool. Since Anda is still establishing itself to be a destination, you may have to send money to the Philippines to make reservations for lodging.

Boracay

Another popular destination in the Philippines is Boracay. Boracay is an island located in Aklan, Philippines. Tourists and locals flock to Boracay time and time again. Beaches like White Beach (Station 1), Bulabog Beach, and Puka Beach are the top beaches visited on the island. White Beach is reminiscent of Miami Beach in Florida. It’s busy and vibrant. You’ll find a plethora of eateries to your heart’s content on this beach. Visitors also have access to convenient stores and banking institutions in this area. The beach itself is great for swimming and socializing.

Bulabog Beach is another beach frequented by visitors of Boracay. Its waters are perfect for kitesurfing or windsurfing. Located on the east side of the island, windy season (November through April) is the optimal time to go surfing on Bulabog Beach. Between White Beach and Bulabog Beach, Bulabog Beach is more geared towards sportier activities. Because of this, visitors aren’t encouraged to frolic in the waters due to surfing activities in the area.

Puka Beach is about a 15 to 20-minute moped ride from White Beach. It is located in the northern tip of the island, making it a great place to get away from crowds. Generally, locals gather here but it is also growing in popularity. You will find Puka Beach to be more preserved by nature than of the two other popular beaches in Boracay. Because of small bits of coral mixed in with the sand on this beach, visitors will find that the sand feels coarser on the feet. None the less, Puka Beach is a great place to relax and take in nature without being overwhelmed by crowds or loud music.

Moalboal

Moalboal is located in Cebu, Philippines. Depending on traffic and road conditions, Moalboal is about a 3-hour drive from Cebu City. Moalboal is known for its white beaches and deep waters. Because of this, many visitors associate Moalboal with swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Moalboal also has its own White Beach along with Pescador Island. These spots are popular among snorkelers and divers. Close by, in the town of Badian, is the famous Kawasan Falls. If you have ever wanted to see (and swim) that real-life waterfall you see on television, Kawasan Falls will have you living that dream.

El Nido and Coron

El Nido is located in Palawan, Philippines. It is known throughout the world for its limestone cliffs, beaches, caves, and lagoons. Both alluring and mysterious, it’s hard to say where to begin your adventure when it comes to El Nido. Visitors can swim in secret beaches or take a pump-boat tour ride to swim in El Nido’s lagoons. Nacpan Beach, Big Lagoon, and Miniloc Island are particularly popular amongst tourists and locals.

Another extremely popular destination in Palawan is also Coron Island. Coron is known for shipwrecks from World War II; specifically, Japanese shipwrecks. Diving is the top activity in Coron Island along with lagoon swimming and caving. Like its sibling, Coron has the world’s best lagoons that will have visitors feeling like a character out of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Barracuda Lake, Siete Pecados, and Twin Lagoon are only to name a few points of interests to explore in the island.

These are only a few of the Philippines best destinations. Whether visitors are looking for a good time relaxing and frolicking on one of the beaches or looking for an adventure, the Philippines is host to one of the world’s top destinations in the world.