I didn’t know the extent of beautiful places in the Philippines when I took my last—my first—trip to the country, nearly 10 years ago. Although I’ve since learned about many (hundreds actually, thanks to my enthusiastic Pinoy readers), I still haven’t managed to return to the country at all over the past decade.
I’m hoping to change that soon, and maybe this year. Below, I’ll be going over the five Philippines destinations that most make me feel this way.
Regardless of why you’re also considering a trip to the Philippines, this article is meant to inform and inspire you. The Philippines starts here!
Why I Need to Go Back to the Philippines
Of course, it’s not just because I’ve learned about more beautiful places in the Philippines that I want to return to the country. Nor is it simply at the urging of my Pinoy readers, as much as I love them. Part of my reason for wanting to go back, if I’m perfectly honest, is that the Philippines is a hot destination. Posting more content about the country would almost certainly see me gain traffic (which is necessary right now, given the downturn of the travel industry writ-large).
Indeed, I’m a lot better photographer (and a lot more, shall we say, intentional) travel writer than I was during my last Philippines adventure. I was actually there less than six months after I started Leave Your Daily Hell! At any rate, the reasons are less important than the underlying fact: I’ve got to get back to the Philippines ASAP! Even if you just need to send money from Canada to the Philippines, and an actual trip is far off, I hope you conitnue reading.
The Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines
Malapascua Island
Or Malapascua, as it were. While I’m reluctant to name any “best island” (or, more egregiously, a single best beach in the Philippines), it does seem like Malapascua is the one everyone’s talking about these days. As far as why I want to go there, it’s difficult to choose between the fluorescent, clear, blue-green water and the sand so white it literally looks like sugar, you could either walk barefoot or with your sandals on, no problems!
The Chocolate Hills
Speaking of eating, the so-called “Chocolate Hills” of Bohol are a famous places in the Philippines I’d like to visit, but didn’t go on my first trip. Although media reported that a 2013 earthquake destroyed the Hills, it seems (at least, according to Instagram and the internet as a whole) that they are still intact, at least enough that they continue marveling visitors. In either case, I bet I’m not the only one who gets hungry thinking about this place!
Mt. Pinatubo
Speaking of nature disasters, I was only a child when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, but I vividly remember seeing pictures on the screen. (I also remember how the disaster motivated me to learn more about the Philippines, although that’s a separate post to make—me, doing travel research almost a decade before the internet!). I have no doubt that Pintaubo is home to some of the trekking in the Philippines, but I also can’t wait to simply photograph the mountain.
Vigan
As far as beautiful places in the Philippines are concerned, Vigan city on the west coast of Luzon island doesn’t seem to be high up on many lists. Truth be told, I only learned about it a year or so ago, when I was doing background research on an article for a corporate client. I’m a sucker for colonial towns (looking at you, Penang!), however, and when you combine this with Vigan’s coastal location and relative proximity to Manila…well, when can I go?
Marikina Shoe Museum
I spent a lot of time in the Philippines’ capital previously, but there are still places to visit in Manila that I haven’t yet made it to. One of these is the Marikina Shoe Museum, which houses the collection of controversial historical figure Imelda Marcos. I’m as interested to visit this quirky place as much for the footwear as for the fascinating history, and to perhaps get deeper insight into why the Philippines never seems to stop flirting with dictatorship.
Is the Philippines Worth Visiting?
Because I haven’t been back to the Philippines in so long, many people assume that there must be something wrong with the Philippines in my eyes. This isn’t true—not precisely, anyway. Everyone I met in the Philippines was extremely friendly, and almost all places I went were beautiful. As you can see, I have a long list of other places I want to see—I’m not “done” in this country by any means.
On the same token, travel in the Philippines isn’t always easy. You often not only have to fly to reach your “main” destination; you have to take at least one (often more) other modes of transport to get where you’re ultimately going. Moreover, both because of infrastructural issues as well as broader economic ones, the Philippines is pretty expensive, at least relative to the quality of the products and services you get.
Other FAQ About Beautiful Places in the Philippines
What is the prettiest place in the Philippines?
As a general rule, the islands of the Philippines are regarded as the prettiest places in the Philippines. These include famous ones like Boracay, and much less well-known ones as well. However, I also find the northern Philippines (namely Banaue Rice Terraces) to be extremely gorgeous; there are even wonderful places near Metro Manila.
What is the prettiest island in the Philippines?
Boracay is regarded as being the most beautiful “mainstream” island in the Philippines, though others (such as Palawan, also pretty typical, or the more off-the-beaten-path island of Siargao) have their own devoted legions of fans. Ultimately, there are plenty of beautiful islands in the Philippines.
Where do most foreigners go in the Philippines?
After landing at Manila’s international airport, most foreigners in the Philippines head straight for one of the country’s many award-winning beaches. However, some head to famous inland destinations, including Ta’al Volcano, the Chocolate Hills and the Banaue Rice Terraces.
The Bottom Line
Whether because you want to see beautiful places in the Philippines or because you score a good flight deal, I have a feeling you’re as eager to travel to the Philippines as I am. From friendly locals to interesting cuisine, and from complicated history to a wealth of destinations that’s basically unmatched, what they say about the Philippines—it’s more fun there—is certainly true. Unfortunately for me, 2026 looks pretty packed; I’ve got a lot of other destinations on this list (including many others in Southeast Asia) before heading back to Manila. But hey, stranger things have happened!
