When asked about the most beautiful place in the Philippines, many Filipinos would probably tell you the usual tourist hubs like Boracay, Siargao, or even El Nido. These places have earned their spots and attracted massive attention for a reason.
But I mean, the Philippines has 7,641 islands and counting! The list should be more than these popular spots. I spent some time asking my friends from all walks of life about the most beautiful place they’ve visited in the Philippines, and I also included my personal favorites having backpacked around this beautiful country since 2018, to curate this list.
A picnic with friends in Catanduanes, Philippines
Table Of Contents
1. Catanduanes
When the world was just opening up from pandemic restrictions in 2022, I found myself in the beautiful island of Catanduanes. I wanted to learn how to surf, as everyone else who was in their surfer girl era at that time, and that’s how I discovered this hidden paradise.
A week-long stay turned into three months, and honestly, I consider that as the best quarter of my life! This is a very unpretentious small island centered on the easy-going and positive nature of the shaka lifestyle.
My best friend’s home in Puraran, Catanduanes, Philippines
What makes it special?
Catanduanes is an island located in the pacific coast of the Bicol region. At its heart is a small surf town called Puraran which is the most popular attraction in the area. Puraran is the perfect definition of a surf utopia: simple nipa houses, quiet, budget-friendly, great swells, and most importantly, a deserted line-up. Imagine having a sunset surf with just four people around. That’s the dream, right?
More than being a surf spot, Puraran’s true gems are the people. They live by the shaka lifestyle and the spirit of community is so strong here. I haven’t seen experienced anything like this before. They just treat everyone like family, and one of the few places where you are not seen as a mere tourism wallet but a friend or a family member.
Maybe this is the charm of visiting less-popular places…they are truly happy to welcome someone new.
How to get there?
The remote location of Catanduanes is the top reason why it remains an underrated destination despite being at the top ranks of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. However, there are actually a lot of ways to get there, the ease of getting there depends largely on your budget.
1. Fly from Manila to Virac Airport directly
Cebu Pacific has a direct flight from Manila (Terminal 3) to Virac Airport (Catanduanes’ capital) that operates daily. The flight duration is 1 hour and 10 minutes, making this the best choice if you like to cut the travel time.
2. Take a bus from Manila (Cubao, PITX, Alabang) to Virac
Bus operators like Bicol Isarog, RSL Bus, and Legaspi St. Jude Transport Lines operate multiple daily trips to Virac from Cubao, PITX, or Alabang. The price ranges between 900 pesos (regular) to 1500 pesos (premium) with the total travel time of 14 to 16 hours. I tried this many times and while I can confirm that the narrow bus seats can feel inconvenient, everything is still manageable.
One thing you have to note is that the bus comes with a ferry ride in between. You can book the ferry ticket at the gate. Your bus will stop at the Tabaco Port, the gateway that connects the rest of Bicol region to Catanduanes, and then you have to take 4-hour ferry ride to the island. More likely that the ferry will end at the San Andres Port, unlike before where it ends at Virac Port directly. This means you have to meet the bus again after getting off the ferry to take you to Virac main town. Alternatively, you can take a jeepney or a tricycle at the port to your final destination.
A private tricycle ride from either ports to Puraran is 800 pesos ($14) to 1000 pesos ($20). The jeepney fare is cheaper at 150 pesos ($3) to 200 pesos ($4), but often times you have to wait for a long time for other passengers to come along.
3. Fly from Manila to Bicol International Airport
If you need an alternative route to skip the 14 hour bus ride while saving on cost, you can fly from Manila to Bicol International Airport. Since it’s a huge hub, there are many flights operating this route daily, and you can score really cheap ones if you’re lucky.
After reaching Bicol International Airport, you can take a van or jeepney to Tabaco Port where you’ll get your ferry to Catanduanes. You need to plan your flight schedule strategically since there are only a couple of ferries that go to Catanduanes everyday.
Best things to do in Catanduanes
Catanduanes 360 Tour
1. Binurong Point
Aside from surfing, Catanduanes tourist attractions are worth the visit. Among the most popular destinations is Binurong Point, featuring high cliffs and a beautiful view of the pacific ocean amidst a windy scene. To get there, you need to do a guided short hike for 30 to 45 minutes which is beginner-friendly. The trail is doable by flip-flops.
Binurong Point is the island’s most popular spot for watching sunrise and sunset with a peaceful and panoramic vibe. Many compare this to Batanes which is another beautiful spot in the Philippines I’ll introduce below.
2. Catanduanes Guided Tour
If you’re a solo traveler, booking a tour with local guides is a great way to explore the island. This way, you can tick off a good number of Catanduanes tourist attractions conveniently. Some tours offer accommodation alongside the packages so that’s quite nice to get sorted too. Here are some of the trusted tour guides in the island whom I know personally and can recommend.
📍Tour Guide PJ Mendez
📞 Speaks English and Tagalog
📸 Offers drone shots
📍Tour Guide Laurenz
📞 Speaks English and Tagalog
📸 Offers drone shots
📍Tour Guide Edmond
📞 Speaks English and Tagalog
🏄Offers surf lessons
📍Tour Guide Allan
📞 Speaks English and Tagalog
🏍️Offers motorbike rentals
If accommodation is not part of the package, I can recommend Titaay’s Surfers Inn for a budget-friendly and home-vibe type of stay. This is where I stayed for three months and they treat everyone like family. They have the usual hostel-style bunk beds to air-conditioned rooms. They also have a small restaurant with great and affordable food! Request Bicol Express to Ate Dhendhen and don’t tell her I told you she makes the best one in town *wink*.
Please take note that they sometimes host activities like poker and scrabble games (and drinking nights too) which are a lot of fun but could create noises at bed time.
3. Do a Catanduanes 360
If you’re into independent traveling then doing a full loop of the island should a priority. You can rent a motorbike for 500 pesos ($10) a day to visit a couple of untouched waterfalls along the way while witnessing the simplicity of life in the island. I am sure you’ll find out why Catanduanes is the most beautiful place in the Philippines if you do the 360.
If you’re unsure on how to do it yourself, you can always ask your host or the local surfer boys about the best Catanduanes tourist attractions to tick while doing the loop. Titaay and Reinhard know this by heart — ask for them around. They are always happy to help!
Budget tip 💡
- Food cost: you can eat as low as 50 pesos ($1) to 100 pesos ($2) for one meal in a small local eatery. While meals on proper restaurants range between 150 pesos (3) to 300 pesos ($6).
- Accommodation cost: a hostel bed at Titaay’s Surfers’ Inn can go as low as 250 pesos ($5). If you prefer a private accommodation, the average price is 1500 pesos ($30) for an airconditioned room.
2. Batanes
Back in 2019, was working for an airline that operates two daily flights to Batanes’ only airport, Basco International Airport. I had the liberty to see this beautiful province even just as a birds-eye view, and even just looking from above, I can say it looks dreamy!
Photo credits: RJ Paldan via Unsplash
What makes it special?
With the location of Batanes in Philippine map, it’s not easily accessible to the crowd. It sits at the far north of the country, often called the “dead-end” of the Philippines, making transportation logistics quite challenging than usual. However, I do believe that difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations. Batanes’ remote location only adds to the charm, making this island a strong contender for the title of the most beautiful place in the Philippines.
In addition, it is only in Batanes where you’ll find an honesty-based cafe where you can pick an item, check its price, and leave the exact amount in a money box. There’s no store keeper keeping track of your move. This shows that honesty is still king in Batanes which you cannot find easily now with the high demands of modern society.
How to get there?
Due to its remote location, transportation to Batanes is limited. Before the pandemic, there are many local airlines operating Batanes flights. However, Philippine Airlines is currently the only airline operating a Batanes flight.
There’s a direct flight from Clark International Airport with a flight duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. There’s another one that departs from Cebu with a 30-minute layover in Clark. Both use propeller-type planes due the short runway of Basco International Airport.
Currently, flights to Basco, Batanes, are pretty expensive. They range between 18,000 pesos ($315) to 30,000 pesos ($525) for a round trip flight. However, I can tell you it’s worth to spend that much in such a beautiful and peaceful place!
Best things to do
Many people who have visited Batanes for the first time often mention that they felt being in a completely different country while in Batanes. That being said, going to the island is not only a tour experience but also a cultural immersion!
1. Visit the 3 inhabited islands of Batanes
Out of the 10 islands that make up Batanes, only three are inhabited: Batan, Sabtang, and Itbayat. Basco, the capital of Batanes, is located in Batan, making it the most strategic place to stay at the start of your journey. The island is a perfect combination of history and natural beauty, with North Batan being home to a handful of historical landmarks and the southern part capturing natural landscapes.
2. Check out stone houses(+wear the traditional headdress)
After spending time at the capital, you can take a board boat from the Ivana Port to get to Sabtang. The trip leaves early morning and travel time is 1 hour. There are return trips in early afternoon if you’re only planning to do a day tour in Sabtang.
This island is the place you’ll go for a full cultural experience. Sabtang is home to well-preserved stone houses with cogon roof. Don’t forget to take a photo wearing a vakul, a traditional Ivatan (people of Batanes) headdress made from date palm leaves worn by women. It is designed to protect the wearer from rain and sun.
3. Enjoy a day with cliffs and coastlines
After that, you can visit Itbayat, Batanes’ largest inhabited island, for the cliffs and coastlines. Itbayat is quite a journey from Basco, with an estimated two to four hours travel time by boat from the capital Basco. However, the panoramic views are worth the strong seas!
Before visiting, make sure to research important information like the best time to visit because weather conditions in Batanes are no joke and flight cancellations happen a lot.
Budget tip 💡
- Rent a bike or motorbike: you can rent a bike or motorbike and do a DIY tours while in Batan. This saves you a couple of bucks while giving you freedom to visit and stay in a place whenever you want.
- Stay in a budget accommodation – great news for you because despite its remote location, Batanes is home to a lot of homestays and guesthouses. Prices range between 800 pesos ($16) to 3000 pesos ($60).
IMPORTANT REMINDER 🛜
Batanes is popular for having slow and limited cellular and WiFi reception. Some accommodations now utilize Starlink WiFi but reports still say reception is weak. If you need to be connected, best to plan that in advance.
3. Mindoro
As promised, my recommendations will not include the usual touristy destinations like Siargao and El Nido. Still, you might be wondering why I would consider Mindoro as the most beautiful place in the Philippines.
When I visited Mindoro earlier this year, I kept asking myself — how come this place isn’t more well-known? It’s so close to Manila, super easy to reach by public transportation, and it’s where you’ll find Mt. Halcon and Puerto Galera!
Photo credits: Olgaozik via Pixabay
What makes it special?
Mindoro is a perfect depiction of “sea to summit” adventures. Because it’s not mainstream, nature is untouched, and you can do a lot of short hikes and nature trips without worrying about the crowd. It is also home to the richest marine biodiversity I’ve seen in the Philippines, better than popular diving spots I have been to in Siargao, Palawan, and Siquijor. Imagine, you can find the most beautiful and colorful corals, schools of fishes, and giant clams, just a few meters from the shore, all while having the entire place to yourself.
How to get there?
Getting to Mindoro from Manila is pretty straightforward. You can do both land and air travel, depending on your budget and style.
- By bus + ferry – take a bus from Buendia (Pasay), Cubao, or Alabang to Batangas Port. The travel time is 3 hours (traffic permitting) and costs 200 pesos ($4). At Batangas Port, you can take a ferry or fast craft that goes to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro for 500 pesos ($10) or take one that goes directly to Puerto Galera for almost same price.
- By air – Cebu Pacific’s domestic arm, CebGO, flies from Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Estimated flying time is only 1 hour.
Best things to do
Mindoro is a very unique place, it is actually home to Tamaraw (Mindoro dwarf buffalo) that’s endemic to the island. Check out this popular blog I found from The Crazy Tourist for a full list of activities to do in Mindoro.
1. Go to Puerto Galera
Any Mindoro trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting Puerto Galera. While this is more popularly known as a retirement destination, it should earn its name as one of the best diving/snorkeling spots in the Philippines. We went snorkeling at a spot called “Giant Clam Shell” and saw giant purple clams just a few minutes away from the shore. Aside from water activities, we also managed to do short hikes in the neighborhood and discovered an untouched waterfall during the trip.
Puerto Galera is also a digital nomad haven with its many cafes with great vibes and reasonable prices. WiFi is quite unstable in many locations but cellular data is quite reliable, making it a great alternative if you need to be connected all the time.
I want to share with you my curated Puerto Galera Map for places to visit, dine, and stay.
2. Hike Mt. Halcon
If you’re an avid hiker and would like to go on a hardcore adventure while in Mindoro, you should definitely hike Mt. Halcon. This mountain is known as one of the most difficult mountains to hike in the Philippines with a difficulty level of 9/9. Trails are steep and involve a lot of river crossings, making it a technical climb.
In fact, Mt. Halcon has been previously closed and has just been slowly reopening this year (no official confirmation, I have only seen organized climbs to Mt. Halcon are now back in the market at the mountaineering facebook group I am a member of). Make sure to check schedules before going.
Budget tip 💡
- Food – food in Puerto Galera ranges from 300 pesos ($6) to 400 pesos ($8) per meal. You can try eating out in local eateries to save on food costs.
IMPORTANT REMINDER 🏦
There are not a lot of ATM machines outside of big cities. It’s to bring extra cash than what you’ll need to avoid hassle.
Most Beautiful Place in the Philippines
I could go on and give you more recommendations on the most beautiful place in the Philippines. With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines offers countless stunning destinations!
So if you’re searching for the most beautiful place that’s less talked about but equally unforgettable, these places definitely deserve a spot on your 2025 travel list.
