(Last of two parts)
There
are beaches great for just bumming and sunning, some for swimming and
snorkeling, and quite a few for surfing and skimboarding.
Continued
from last week (See “Travel Bites: Summer
fun in the country’s best beaches,” March 25, 2013), here are the rest of
our choice beaches from all corners of the country.
6. Long Beach, San Vicente, Palawan
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| The long beach in San Vicente, Palawan boasts of soft white sand and shimmering crystal-clear waters. Unfortunately, there are still no hotels nor resorts by the beach. Maybe things will change when the San Vicente airport is finally completed. (Photo from http://www.beachresortphilippines.net) |
This cream-colored
beach in Brgy. New Agutaya is reputedly to be the longest in the country at 14
kilometers. (Whew! Imagine walking that stretch from end to end - Boracay’s
four-kilometer-coastline is faltering enough for me!)
It is
a must-see if you want totally deserted beaches. On a good day, which is the
usual on this beach, you won’t bump into any other soul except the locals.
There is nothing here except the beach and the calm waters so perfect for
swimming, oh! and the towering coconut trees.
Accommodations
are in the town proper – a good five-10 minutes away by local motorbikes, although
I hear beachfront properties are selling briskly these days as investors await
the completion of the San Vicente airport and scheduled flights by carriers.
There are other beaches and coves in San Vicente, some with even finer powdery sand similar to Boracay’s – here’s crossing our fingers the local government there will regulate the building of resorts in those beaches to protect the environment from overcommercialization.
There are other beaches and coves in San Vicente, some with even finer powdery sand similar to Boracay’s – here’s crossing our fingers the local government there will regulate the building of resorts in those beaches to protect the environment from overcommercialization.
Getting there: Take
any commercial flight to Puerto Princesa, and ride a public bus or shuttle van
from the bus terminal in San Jose to San Vicente. A habal-habal or a motorcycle used for passenger commute, can bring
you to Long Beach. Just go down the main drop-off point and walk to the beach
along a marked trail. Needless to say, bring your own provisions for food and
water.
This
is private beach owned by the Angara family but guests of their resorts are
allowed to visit it. Those who are checked into other resorts only need to pay
P300 per head at the Bahia de Baler to be able to stay at the beach for a day.
(There are no accommodations onsite, just the beginnings of an artist’s village
created by Sen. Edgardo Angara.)
Nestled
at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range, Dicasalarin is also favored
with rocky formations, and a river that carries fresh water out to sea. So if
you’re not feeling the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean, you can also take a
dip in the cool river delta instead.
The
views here are stunning, with the lush foothills at your back, the Pacific blue
in front, and the white sand squishing under your feet. Have a picnic at the
shaded tables on the beach, down some cold beers, and enjoy the sun and surf.
From October to February, waves at the cove reach heights that would delight
even professional surfers.
Getting there:
Unless you are bringing an SUV, most Baler locals don’t recommend a road trip
as there is still a portion of unpaved road along the highway. Take a private
coach instead via Genesis Transport’s 28-seat Joy Bus which has a restroom on
board, snacks and water, an Wi-Fi connection. It also has the regular type
airconditioned buses going to Baler (T#709-0803/421-1425).
From
Baler, hire a tricycle to take you to the river outlet adjacent to Sabang Beach
(the main surfers’ area), then charter a pump boat to Dicasalarin (about 45
minutes). You can also rent a private van or car going there (30-minute ride).
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| Dicalasarin Cove is nestled amid lush hills and the Pacific Ocean. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons) |
A
tricycle can likewise take you directly to the foot of the hill where an
abandoned Pag-asa weather station is located, and you can hike to the beach
from there. It will be a tiring uphill climb even for most experienced hikers,
before you get to the main trail going down towards the beach. But the sight is
breathtaking which makes all the effort worthwhile.
8. Malapascua Island, northern Cebu
This
is another island which has been catching the fancy of a number of foreign and
local scuba divers because its deep waters are teeming with thresher sharks.But
the island also has an immaculate white beach with crystal clear waters which
allow you to see through to the bottom. This is another gem that has seen
commercialization grow although at a slightly slower pace than other more
well-known vacation islands. There are still spots of seclusion away from the
maddening din of the disco or karaoke bar in the resort row.
Accommodations
here attract the beach bums and divers alike and offer beachfront cottages that
give you a full view of the sun gently peeking through the clouds as it rises
from the horizon (or a grand
orange-filled sunset sky, depending on your resort’s location).
Getting there: Most
major airlines have daily multiple flights to Cebu City from several major
points in the country (e.g. Manila, Clark in Pampanga, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo,
Davao, etc.). From the airport, take a cab to the Northern Bus Terminal (near
SM) and book passage on a Ceres bus going to Maya port. From the port, you can
hire a private or a public boat (which you share with other passengers) to
Malapascua.
There
are hardly any people to bump into at the beach unless it’s Holy Week which
attracts even the Cebuanos from the mainland. The waters are calm and limpid,
turning to turquoise farther away from shore. Accommodations here are varied,
fitting every budget. The sunrises here are uplifting and herald the beginning
of great lazy days at the beach.
Instead
of returning to Malapascua, you may want to stay a night or two on Bantayan
then go back to Cebu City. From the Sta. Fe port, take the ordinary or
fastcraft ferry to Hagnaya port then a bus back to Cebu City. (Some travelers
do it the other way – go to Bantayan first, then to Malapascua, and back to
Cebu City.)
9. Sugar Beach, Sipalay, Negros Occidental
Trust
the Europeans to find the remotest and most serene beaches in the Philippines.
They’ve staked their claim on Sugar Beach running resorts with basic amenities
in the area, with their Filipina wives.
The
beach sand is a coarse tan in appearance, much like raw sugar, which is
probably why it’s named so. Sugar Beach receives but a handful of visitors
which keeps it peaceful and tranquil. It’s quite a distance to travel to thus
it attracts mostly Negrenses, European backpackers, and other hard-core
beachgoers.
Most
of the time, it will only be you and the coconut trees just soaking up the sun.
Even during the peak of summer, the sea is just wide open with only a
smattering of swimmers.The
waters are pristine and teeming with fish such that it’s quite normal to see
fisherfolk in the area hauling in their nets filled with the day’s catch.
Getting there: You
can reach Sipalay by either public bus (Ceres) or private car/taxi from Bacolod
City. By bus, the trip will take about five hours. By private car, the ride
will take about three hours. If you have a reservation in any of the resorts,
most will send a boat to pick you up from Sipalay. If not, just take a boat to
Sugar Beach from Sipalay. (You can also reach Sipalay from Dumaguete, Negros
Oriental but there will two bus transfers; so traveling from Bacolod is more
convenient.)
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| Dahican Beach is the skimboarding and surfing central for the Davao region, a good three hours away from Davao City. (Photo by goofyazooo via Tripadvisor) |
Dahican
Beach has become a mecca for skimboarding and surfing in the Davao Region, as its
stunning coastline receives swells up to 10 feet high from the Pacific Ocean.
It’s
also a popular destination for swimmers because its cool powdery white sand
stretches for seven kilometers along
the crescent-shaped coastline dotted by lofty coconut trees, and into its clean and invigorating waters.
A
portion of Mayo Bay whose directly waters feed the beach has been declared a
marine sanctuary to protect the dolphins, sea cows, and sea turtles that reside
or swim through the area. It’s common to see these sea creatures frolicking in
the distance.
There
are very few resorts along the Dahican coastline – most are located a kilometer
or two away from the main beach. But there are simple cottages available for
rent from the locals to store your beach gear or for picnics. It’s best to
bring your own food and bottled water.
Getting there:
Major airlines have daily flights to Davao City from Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan
de Oro. Airconditioned and non-airconditioned buses regularly ply the route
from Davao City to Mati – the trip will take almost five hours (or three to
four hours by private vehicle.) From the city proper of Mati, Dahican Beach is
only a tricycle ride away.
(This piece was originally published in the April 1, 2013 issue of the BusinessMirror. So tell me, what's your favorite beach in the Philippines?)
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