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The scorching summer heat has already set in, and that means more people are heading to the beach. Unfortunately, many Philippine beaches will most likely be filled with people by this time.
Luckily, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has come up with a list of places with less-crowded beaches that people can visit now until late May or early June:
Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio town, Zambales province. This place is slowly becoming a preferred weekend getaway for those living in Mega Manila because of its close proximity to urban areas.
“For a three-and-a-half-hour land trip from Manila, visitors get to experience a pristine white beach, fresh air and crystal-clear waters—perfect [as] a hideout [for those wishing to escape] the hustle and bustle of the city,” the DOT said.
Visitors can take a bus bound for Iba town, Zambales, and ask to be dropped off at the San Antonio Municipal Hall. From there, they can hop on a tricycle heading for Pundaquit beach, which serves as the jump-off point for Nagsasa. From Pundaquit, boats are available for rent that can take them to Nagsasa.
Britania Islands, Surigao del Sur province. The DOT described the beaches here as among “the Philippines’ best-kept island secrets.”
“Britania is a cluster of 24 mesmerizing islands and islets scattered all over Lianga Bay, which faces the Pacific Ocean. Each island is blessed with powdery white sand, which visitors found to be comparable with that of Boracay,” the DOT noted.
To get to Britania, visitors can fly to Butuan City and hire a van or take a commercial bus going to San Agustin municipality. Travel time is four to five hours. From San Agustin, they can ask to be dropped off at the Salvacion Tourism Office. After that, they can take the trike or habal-habal to Britania.
Gigantes Group of Islands, Iloilo province. The beaches in this island group are found in the northernmost part of the province.
“The main islands, Gigantes Sur and Gigantes Norte, [have] steep rock formations and cliffs. Visitors may either go rock-climbing in Gigantes Sur or explore the mysterious caves hidden behind the rock formations in Gigantes Norte,” the DOT said.
To get to Gigantes, visitors can fly either to Kalibo town, Aklan province; Iloilo City; or Roxas City, Capiz province, and take a bus going to Iloilo’s Estancia town. From there, they can ask to be dropped off at the Estancia Port, where pumpboats going to Gigantes can be hired. Travel time is two hours.
Subic Beach, Matnog town, Sorsogon province. Matnog is the southernmost municipality in Luzon and a jump-off point for travelers crossing the sea toward Eastern Visayas. But more than that, Matnog is also home to a fine, almost secluded beach.
“Off Matnog is Calintaan Island, which is a 30-minute boat ride from the mainland. At its southern end, visitors will find sea caves and rock formations, but the main selling point of Calintaan is the pinkish white sand beach called Subic,” the DOT said.
Visitors who plan to go to Subic Beach can either fly to Legazpi City, Albay province, and take the bus to Matnog, or take the more exciting route—traveling from Manila to Matnog by land—by taking a bus either from the Araneta-Cubao Station or Alabang bus terminal.
Kalanggaman Island, Palompon town, Leyte province. Dubbed by some as “the smaller version of Boracay.”
“The water surrounding Kalanggaman is perfect for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking! What separates it from Boracay, though, is its magnificent sandbars,” the DOT said.
To get to Kalanggaman, visitors may fly to Tacloban City, Leyte, and take a van going to Palompon. Travel time is four-and-a-half hours. Visitors will end up at the Palompon Liberty Park, from where they can take the boat that will lead them to the island within an hour.
Basdaku Beach, Moalboal town, Cebu province. This one-kilometer white-sand beach is found 60 kilometers south of Cebu City. Its name means “big sand” in Cebuano.
This beach offers facilities for water-based activities, including island-hopping, scubadiving, snorkeling, surf-fishing and kite-surfing.
To get to the beach, the DOT said visitors must go to the Cebu City South Bus Terminal and take either a Ceres Bus bound for southern Cebu or the Librando Bus going to Badian municipality, and ask to be dropped off at Moalboal. Travel time is between two-and-a-half and three hours. In Moalboal, tricycles are available for rent that will bring you to the beach.
Caramoan Islands, Camarines Sur province. This increasingly popular tourist destination is an unspoiled paradise with numerous islands and islets, white-sand beaches, limestone cliffs, rocks, lagoons, caves, and rich marine life. It gained global attention after it was used as the location for one season of the hit American reality-TV show Survivor.
Visitors can visit Caramoan by land or by plane. Those traveling by land can take any of the Naga City-bound buses at the Araneta Center Cubao station. Travel time is eight hours. At the Naga Central Terminal, jeepneys, vans and buses that can go to Caramoan are available for rent.
Those traveling by plane can fly either to Naga or Virac town, Catanduanes province. In Virac, visitors can rent boats that go to Caramoan. Travel time is two hours. Some say this route is easier than Naga’s.
Dicasalarin Cove, Baler town, Aurora province. Travelers seeking peace and tranquility have an alternative to Baler—a popular weekend surfing destination—that’s found a few kilometers away: Dicasalarin Cove.
The DOT said that, during the rainy season, the waves in this cove could be strong, as it faces the Pacific Ocean. There’s an alternative to swimming in that place, though: a river that flows out to the sea.
The area also features a triangular modern lighthouse that could be reached in 15 minutes and an artists’ village that displays various artworks.
Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte province. The DOT calls the beach here an “unspoiled beauty” found just 900 meters east of Davao City. People in the area describe it as “a little paradise on earth.”
Samal has more than 118 kilometers of uninterrupted coastline, with an extensive mountain range east of the coast. These make the island blessed with additional tourist spots: Hagimit Falls, which are multitiered waterfalls that cascade into a natural swimming hole; the Monfort Bat Cave, which holds a Guinness World Record for having the world’s largest colony of fruit bats (almost 2 million); the Mansud Wall and Talikud Island, two of the country’s best sites for muck diving and macro photography; and the Vanishing Island, which only appears at low tide.
Visitors can take their pick from nearly 70 resorts around the island, ranging from modest to extravagant. All of them offer easy access to white-sand beaches and aquamarine waters. PNA