6 Other Philippine Islands to Explore Aside from Boracay

With a somber mood, I offer you the news that Boracay will be closed from tourism activities for 6 months. The closure order will start this April 26. This was already confirmed by the Palace spokesperson Harry Roque. 6 months is a long time especially for an island as active as Boracay. But this step has to be done to ensure that the island's natural resources can be preserved and protected from further damage. While I love Boracay and I agree that claims of it being one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines are warranted, I would like to bear the good news that it isn't the only beautiful island or beach in the Philippines. With over 7,000 islands, there are many other good (and some would argue, better than Boracay) beaches to choose from. 

1. El Nido

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You cannot talk about the best tropical destinations in the world (yes, not just in the Philippines) without talking about El Nido. This gorgeous group of islands is best known for its steep karst cliffs, secret lagoons, and pristine white sand beaches. The Small and Big Lagoons in Miniloc Island has been snapped in many Instagram photos and featured in numerous travel magazines (both in print and online). There is no word fitting to encapsulate the beauty of El Nido. We also found this interesting guide on what you need to know before going to El Nido to ensure a hassle-free trip planning.

Read related >> Thai Basil Boracay

2. Coron

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Coron is another popular destination also located in Palawan, Philippines. Even though it is not as popular as El Nido, it is slowly gaining its fair share of fans who are delighted to explore the stunning islands, lagoons, and cliffs of the island minus the flock of tourism. Mind you, more people are now finding themselves heading to this island because of the irresistible desire to set foot on one of the most beautiful tropical paradise islands you will lay your eyes on. 

3. Bantayan Island

I've only been to Cebu once and I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful Bantayan Island. As I've said in this post, I highly recommend a visit to Bantayan Island if you want to experience the same gorgeous white sand beaches that Boracay has to offer minus the crowd of tourists. 

4. Panglao Island

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I've never been to Panglao or Bohol, but it's on my bucket list. The beauty of the island struck me the first time I saw photos of it online. Specifically, I will want to visit Alona Beach because that is one that keeps popping up in many travel reviews that I've read. 

5. Palaui Island

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I am embarrassed to admit it but it wasn't until the Survivor show filmed at Cagayan province that I discovered this secret gem of a tropical paradise. It is located at the northeastern extremity of Luzon. Hence, the remoteness of the island can be one of the reasons why it is not as crowded by tourists yet. But for those who brave the travel to get to these remote island see their efforts pay off because it is truly a tropical haven unlike no other.

Read related >> 10 Photos of Puka Beach That Will Inspire You to Visit

6. Caramoan

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The Caramoan islands are on my bucket list and it should be on yours too. If you are constantly seeking out beautiful beaches that are isolated, this one right here ticks off that item in your bucket list. From secret lagoons, to turquoise waters, and untouched beaches, you will fall in love with Caramoan! The islands of Caramoan is quite remote, so don't forget to read this handy guide I found to get here. 

Which of these Philippine islands or beaches do you have on your bucket list? If I missed anything, do let me know as I would like to explore more of our beautiful country!

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10 Photos of Puka Beach That Will Inspire You to Visit

Puka Beach is one of the must-see beaches when you visit Boracay Island. Although not as powdery fine as the white beach of Boracay is, I still highly recommend it for those who want to explore and spend time in an undeveloped yet pristine beach. It is surrounded by forested cliffs and majority of this beach is kept untouched. This is the perfect place to go for a quiet swim - if you want to take a break from the crowd of the White Beach, or if you want to enjoy other water activities.

On our recent trip to Boracay, we made sure to visit this quiet beach again and we had fun taking photos of this gorgeous beach. We tried our best but felt like we still did not do it's beauty justice. Hopefully, these photos will convince you to add this to your itinerary on your next visit to Boracay.

Have you been to Puka Beach? What other white beaches have you been to in Boracay?

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Thai Basil Boracay

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Prior to traveling to Thailand, I would not even entertain the thought of eating at a Thai cuisine restaurant. But when I tried my first pad thai, I was converted. Now, I would consider Thai cuisine as one of my top three favorite cuisines. Hence, it was no surprise that we decided to dine at Thai Basil on our recent trip to Boracay. Read on to find out about our dining experience...

As with any Southeast Asian cuisine restaurant, the interior decor and ambiance in Thai Basil is simple and unassuming. There is no need for all the bells and whistles. This restaurant clearly knows that the food is the main attraction here. With that, we proceed with confidence and probably hyped up by our excitement that we get to treat our taste buds to that same taste that got me to love Thai cuisine in the first place.

Of course, I couldn't pass up the chance to eat Thai Basil's Pad Thai so that was one of our orders. Thai Basil's did not disappoint. It has all the essence of an authentic Pad Thai that I tasted back in Thailand - savory, sweet, salty, with lots of texture from the peanuts, and a hint of spiciness. We also paired it with their Shrimp Satay, another Asian classic. Both dishes really hit the spot. Delicious in their respective ways.

The price range for each dish at Thai Basil is at PhP 200 (US $4) to PhP 500 (US $10). Each serving is ideal for 2-3 people (depending on your appetite), so I can say that is not a bad deal at all! 

Thai Basil is located at D'Mall in Station 2 of Boracay. 

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Boracay: Paradise on Earth

The mere mention of Boracay inspires ideas of white beach and pristine, turquoise waters. It is no surprise why Boracay Island is touted as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. This tropical paradise is located on an island in the province of Aklan. The powdery fine, white sand beaches of Boracay is known internationally, not just in the Philippines. In fact, international magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler has cited the island as one of the best beaches/resort islands in the world.

We were fortunate to have traveled to this beautiful tropical paradise twice now. And we were impressed by its natural beauty both times. Hence, we couldn't recommend it anymore for anyone wishing to experience the tropical beauty that the Philippines has to offer. The White Beach is the most popular of the white sand beaches in Boracay. This is a 4-kilometer stretch of pristine white shore, which also makes it one of the longest white beaches in Asia.

For our first blog post, we wanted to showcase to you, our readers, the beauty of this tropical paradise, and why we think this won't be our last visit there:

What We Loved About Boracay

During my first visit to Boracay, I won't deny that I was a bit turned off by the crowd. But when you get over that, you come to realize that it is actually part of what makes Boracay what it is. You have to learn to embrace it and just enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere that comes with this tourist destination.

It is also worth noting that aside from the White Beach, there are more beaches you can explore in Boracay (especially if you want to get away from the crowd). Beach hopping is definitely one of the things that I would recommend anyone try if you ever go to Boracay. 

Another thing that we did enjoy in Boracay is the food. There is a hefty amount of selection to choose from - basically any cuisine that you could imagine, you will find in the island. As a food lover (and one who likes to sample food when we travel), food trip in Boracay was something that we enjoyed dearly. We will have a separate post for each of the places we've tried to eat from so you can learn more about our dining experience. However, some of our favorites would be Aria Cucina Italiana, Cafe del Sol Boracay, Lemoni Cafe Boracay, and Cyma. 

There are also plenty of activities to enjoy in Boracay. Island hopping is a perennial favorite and is a must for first-timers. Adventure water sports and activities are also available for you to choose from such as helmet diving, parasailing, sunset sailing, and more. 

Finally, shopping is another fun activity in Boracay. We did lots of souvenir shopping on our second visit. D'Mall is the perfect place to go to if you want to find different shopping spots in one destination. 

How to Travel to Boracay

If you want to visit Boracay Island, you can travel to any of the main international airports in the country. You can travel via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or via the Mactan Island International Airport in Cebu. There are flights available from any of these airports going to Caticlan or Kalibo so you can get to Boracay. Do note that from Caticlan Airport, you will only travel a few minutes to a jetty port wherein you can take a jetty or private boat transfer to your hotel on the main Boracay Island.

On the other hand, if you choose to fly via Kalibo Airport, it will take 1.5-2 hours of travel via bus or van to get to Caticlan. Hence, you can choose which airport you book your flight to depending on your preferred method of travel.

For our own trip, we booked via Caticlan Airport to save on travel time and to avoid the hassle of further transfers to get to Boracay.

Have you been to Boracay Island? What was your favorite activity/attraction there?

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