Update Published July 21, 2022
If you’re on a hunt to find the best places to visit in the Philippines, you can’t miss any of these gorgeous locations. We’ve carefully compiled a record of 14 bucket list-worthy entries, presented to you in 30 breathtaking photos. From top tourist spots to hidden gem attractions, these are truly the most beautiful places in the Philippines. Which ones are your favorite?
Beautiful Places to Visit in the Philippines
Original Post Date July 21, 2018 | Updated on July 21, 2022
These are the 14 most beautiful places in the Philippines to visit on your next trip:
1. White Beach on Boracay Island
Boracay Island’s largest beach has for years remained one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Philippines. It’s famous for its white sand, shallow waters, and stunning sunsets, making it the perfect place to relax on holiday. It’s also the first place Adventure Dragon ever visited on our very first trip to the Philippines, so it holds a special place in our heart. Boracay Island definitely gets our vote for one of the best places to visit in the Philippines!
Check out our other articles on Boracay Island:
2. Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island
One of the most beautiful places in the Philippines is also also a rather unique attraction resembling a tasty treat. During dry season, these grassy hills wither and lose their emerald shine, turning the scrumptious shade of brown that’s said to liken the mounds to Hershey’s chocolate kisses. Over 1,260 chocolate hills dot the landscape throughout a 50-square-kilometer spread of Bohol, reaching heights as tall as 120 meters in some places. The strange geological formation is actually comprised primarily of limestone, topped with grass, and continues to baffle geologists while remaining Bohol’s most popular and beautiful tourist attraction. This is by far one of the best places to visit in the Philippines if you’ll be headed anywhere near Bohol Island!
3. Nacpan Beach in El Nido on Palawan Island
This 4 kilometer stretch of shoreline is long-believed to be the most beautiful beach in El Nido as well as one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines entirely. One of the best things about this beach is that it never gets too crowded, so it’s one of the best places to visit in the Philippines if you prefer a quiet and peaceful vacation where you can relax in comfort with gorgeous surroundings.
4. Asik-Asik Falls on Mindanao Island
You can find this 140-meter-wide curtain of gently cascading falls in Alamada on Mindanao. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines and, perhaps, also one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen in my life! The lush green vegetation that appears to be almost interwoven with the falls is what makes it so striking, and you feel like you can’t take your eyes away because it’s just so uniquely pretty. If you want to go chasing waterfalls on your next trip, this is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines to make all your dreams come true.
5. El Nido Old Town on Palawan Island
Also known as Buena Suerte, El Nido Town offers amazing views of the bay and port set against the backdrop of Cadlao Island peeking out from behind. This is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines for anyone who loves both ocean and mountains.
6. Mayon Volcano and the Cagsawa Ruins on Luzon Island
One of the most beautiful places in the Philippines can be found on its largest and most populous island–Luzon Island. The breathtaking Mount Mayon Volcano is a huge, perfect-cone volcano that dominates the landscape on Albay province. The volcano straddles eight different cities and municipalities, and their political boundaries, if viewed on a map, divide the cone like slices of a pie. With over 47 eruptions in the past 500 years, it’s the most active volcano in the entire country and also one of the best places to visit in The Philippines if you’re looking for a little adventure.
Not far away the ruins of a church stand as a reminder of the dangers of living in close proximity with the volcano. This 16th-century Franciscan church– the Cagsawa Church– is situated roughly 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away from the volcano and has become a popular spot from which to admire and photograph the beautiful force of nature. The church was destroyed in the 1814 eruption of Mount Mayon, however, and now only its bell tower remains. This hasn’t stopped the park it lies within– Cagsawa park– from becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Albay.
7. Puerto Princesa Underground River on Palawan Island
Pretty turquoise waters disappear from the sea and flow into the cave system underneath the Saint Paul Mountain Range at Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, forming the world’s second longest underground river. The river features multiple channels, including a second floor and several small underground waterfalls, but the deeper levels remain off-limits to exploration due to the dangers of oxygen deprivation. This is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines for adventure seekers and, especially, cave enthusiasts!
8. Twin Lagoon on Coron Island
Salt water meets fresh water in this magical place in the Philippines’ Coron Island. You can reach it by an island hopping tour. Boats dock on one side of the lagoon, and its twin pool can be accessed by swimming through a narrow crevice. Tours of Twin Lagoon are often combined with Kayangan Lake day trip packages. This is truly one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines that you won’t want to pass up on your next trip!
9. Coron Bay and Kayangan Lake on Coron Island
Coron Bay provides the iconic photo shot you see in all blogs and promotional media featuring the Philippines. It’s THE most famous photo spot in all of the islands, and it just might be the most beautiful place in the Philippines as well. You can reach the viewpoint by walking around 300 steps up a steep hill from Kayangan Lake on Coron Island in Northern Palawan. You’ll want to take some time to admire the lake as well– it’s known as the cleanest lake in the Philippines.
10. Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake on Luzon Island
Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake is, by far, one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines! If a lake situated in the middle of a volcanic crater isn’t enough to impress you on its own, then its electric blue waters will surely catch your eye. The lake is so blue, and the moss blanketing the jagged crater walls is so green that the Mount Pinatubo Crater Lake looks like some place straight from a fairy tale rather than a real-life location. It’s beautiful, and it’s magical. And it’s one of our absolute favorite places to visit in the Philippines. It’s also the deepest lake in the Philippines at 600 meters (2,000 feet) deep.
11. Hinatuan Enchanted River on Mindanao Island
If you haven’t experienced enough magic, you’ll also need to head over to Mindanao Island and hop into the Hinatuan Enchanted River, one of our favorite hidden gem places to visit in the Philippines. Also known as the Hinatuan Sacred River, this spring-fed river contains colors so unique and unusually blue that local legends insist that fairies themselves poured the sapphire and jade colors into the water. It’s something that you have to see for yourself to experience, and that’s why we couldn’t leave it off this list of the most beautiful places in the Philippines!
12. Waterfall Restaurant at Villa Escudero on Luzon Island
I don’t know of anywhere else in the world where you can dine under a waterfall, so this place is truly special. At the base of the falls, the water pools beneath the tables, leaving you sitting in a playful puddle of ankle-deep water while you leisurely enjoy your meal. You can find this hidden gem at Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort located in Tiaong on Luzon Island. It’s not only one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines; it’s also one of the most unique places to visit in the Philippines, and we highly recommend it to any waterfall lover!
13. Cambugahay Falls on Siquijor Island
Siquijor has developed a reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines, and it’s not hard to see why. The island flaunts a collection of pretty beaches, waterfalls, and natural springs, but Cambugahay Falls in Lazi earns top spot as our absolute favorite place to admire.
Owl Over the World Travel Blog has also written a nice post about Things to Do in Siquijor if you’re interested in learning more about the island. It definitely gets our vote as one of the best places to visit in the Philippines!
14. Taal Lake & Taal Volcano Crater Lake on Luzon Island
An Island within a Lake within a Volcano Island within a Lake within an Island within the Ocean
Picture this: you’re on the Philippines’ largest island, a 105,000 square kilometer (40,541 sq mi) area of volcanic land named Luzon. You’ve journeyed to a 25 kilometer (16 mile) long freshwater lake located on that island. This is Taal Lake, a popular boating and activity spot. But this lake is different than most lakes because this lake surrounds the world’s smallest and most deadly volcano– Taal Volcano. Yes, this volcano sits in the middle of a gosh darn lake, and people just play around it like it’s no big deal. But this volcano inception gets even weirder because Taal Volcano contains its own lake as well– An emerald green crater lake sits in the middle of the volcano, and you can hike up to the top, sit on its edge, and admire the rare view. And while you’re sitting there, you’ll probably notice that there’s yet another island– a teeny tiny island– rising out of the center of this crater lake inside the volcano. This tiny slab of land is known as Vulcan Point.
So as a recap: there’s a tiny island in the middle of a lake that sits inside the crater of a volcano that is actually an island sitting inside yet another lake. And it’s all plopped inside the biggest island in the Philippines and surrounded by the ocean. Once again, that’s an island in a lake inside a crater in a volcano in an even bigger lake on an even bigger island inside the ocean. It sounds so ridiculous that it doesn’t seem true. And that’s what makes it so spectacular. Out of all the entries we’ve included in this list, there’s no question that this is by far the most unique place to visit in the Philippines!
Do you agree with this list? Which sites do you think are the most beautiful places in the Philippines? Have you been to any of them or will be visiting anytime soon? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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For more Philippines photos & travel content, you can find a list of all our Philippines Travel Articles here.
Or view our other stories about Beautiful Places of the World here.
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