Latest news with #Palawan
Condé Nast Traveler
5 days ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Beaches in the Philippines for Surfing, Seclusion, and Powder-Soft Sands
For 2025, Entalula cinched the top spot for the best beach in Asia. It was also named the second best beach in the world by World's 50 Best. Mlenny/Getty Entalula Beach, El Nido, Palawan Entalula was named the best beach in Asia for 2025—and the second best beach in the world—by World's 50 Best, so you know it's gotta be good. Apart from white sand and turquoise waters, the beach is also surrounded by lush greenery and towering limestone cliffs. Snorkelers and divers can also delight in the underwater wonders on the west bay of Entalula Island, where a colorful coral garden sits, teeming with vibrant, tropical marine life. But one of the main draws to the beach is its location—secluded on a remote island accessible by a 30-minute to hour-long boat ride from the town of El Nido. While part of the beach is open to the public, most of it is exclusive to guests of El Nido Resorts, so it's a good idea too book a stay. Live out your White Lotus fantasies on Amanpulo, Pamalican Island's pristine white sand beach. Steve Turvey/Amanpulo Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Palawan For a luxurious, five-star, The White Lotus-esque beach retreat, it doesn't get much better than the exclusive resort Amanpulo on Pamalican Island. White sand, thriving reefs, and calm waters encircle the private island paradise, which is perfect for swimming, diving, and other water sports. Pamalican is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles, so hotel guests can witness the magical moonlit experience of hatchlings emerging on the beach. With its lavish modern amenities, and the fact that it's reachable only via chartered plane from Manila, a stay at the resort certainly costs a pretty penny. However, it's all worth it for that view. The nightlife and 24/7 social scene of White Beach make it the place to be for oceanside revelery. danilovi/Getty White Beach, Boracay This beach is a 2.5-mile stretch of pristine, powdery-soft, white sand. But while the seaside landscape and views are certainly a big draw at White Beach, so is the seaside social, dining, and nightlife scene. Boracay has long been deemed a party destination because of its lively bar, lounge, and club culture, with people dancing to live music and DJs while sipping on cocktails by the beachfront. There's a wealth of options, depending on your budget: The beach is divided into 'stations,' with Station 3 being the most affordable and Station 1 being the most luxurious. However, you'll find that most food and shop options are in Station 2. There's also the exclusive Station 0—the northernmost tip of the island, which is a lot more upscale. For an easy journey at end-to-end, the staff at The Lind Boracay will handle all transfers from airport to resort for maximum relaxation. Find absolute, uninterrupted serenity on Puka Shell Beach's quiet shores. Mary Grace Varela/Getty Puka Shell Beach, Boracay Puka Shell Beach is a more serene, relatively-secluded, and low-key alternative to White Beach. It's named after the small, white shells that are abundant along its white sand shore, which locals use to make jewelry. Visitors can feel free to comb through the shore to see these tiny natural wonders, but they need to be sure to put it right back to maintain the safety of the local ecosystem. Removed from crowds, Puka might offer a more romantic and intimate scene for couples. It also has a family-friendly atmosphere, as kids can enjoy a swim in the calm, clear, shallow waters without having to worry about strong currents. As for where to stay, you'll find Shangri-La Boracay nearby, with polished suites and villas, and even a private jetty for excursions on the water. The best spot to catch some waves in the 'Surfing Capital of the Philippines' is the aptly named Cloud 9 beach. ValentinAyupov/Getty Cloud 9, Siargao Siargao is considered the 'Surfing Capital of the Philippines,' and Cloud 9 beach is the spot to catch a wave. Cloud 9 is a world-renowned surfing destination where the prestigious World Surf League hosts the annual Siargao International Surfing Cup. What makes this beach perfect are its powerful, barreling, fast-breaking waves, which provide a fun challenge for experienced surfers. But there are also areas designated for beginner surfers where the waves are calmer and smaller, and they can learn with guidance of instructors. But if you'd rather leave the surfing to the pros, you can watch them from the iconic (and very photogenic) Cloud 9 boardwalk, where you can also catch a beautiful sunset. And just a 20-minute car ride away is the gorgeous Nay Palad Hideaway, the most luxurious resort on the island—and its all-inclusive concept means there's no fussing about signing bills after lunch or scanning the activities list for prices, which sets the tone for a proper toes-in-the-sand break on one of the country's prettiest islands. There's a sense of untouched, wild nature in Pacifico Beach's surroundings. Kristian Kimmel/Getty Pacifico Beach, Siargao For a quiet, laid-back, and off-the-beaten-path beach experience on Siargao, head to Pacifico Beach. This area in the northeastern part of the island feels more untouched, with less commercial activity and development, and more eco-friendly accommodations, lush palm trees, and a rugged coastline that nature-lovers will appreciate. Visitors can just chill out on the beach and read a book, swim, or explore coves and beautiful rock formations. Pacifico is also a surfer's haven for pros looking to break away from the crowds, or beginners trying to find a more relaxed environment to learn. Just up the road from Pacifico is Trogon's Perch, an eight-room hideaway with a fabulous restaurant and killer views from its infinity pool. Alona Beach is home to calm, cool waters that even non-swimmers enjoy. fazon1/Getty Alona Beach, Panglao Island Alona Beach has incredibly fine, white sand—ideal for long walks and building sandcastles—and clear, calm, shallow waters close to shore that even non-swimmers can enjoy dipping their toes into. The coastline is also a great commercial hub, with family-friendly resorts, luxury villas, bustling restaurants and shops, as well as bars and lounges that come alive at night. For those looking to explore more of Bohol's marine wonders, island hopping tours leave all the time from Alona. And with the well-known diving site Balicasag Island not too far from the beach, numerous diving shops also offer tours and diving lessons. Overlooking the Bohol Sea, Amorita Bohol's villas are the perfect perch for a stay on Panglao.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will US-built naval facilities in Philippines strengthen Manila's hand in South China Sea?
The US plan to build new naval facilities in the western Philippines could strengthen Manila's ability to 'confront' Chinese vessels in the South China Sea and even pave the way for shared use between the two allies in the event of future conflict, according to one observer. Earlier this week, the United States said its navy would construct two maintenance facilities for smaller vessels at Oyster Bay and Quezon on Palawan , which is less than 260km (160 miles) from the Second Thomas Shoal, a major flashpoint between Manila and Beijing. The US embassy in Manila said the Oyster Bay facility would 'provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft' and include 'two multipurpose interior rooms for equipment storage or conference use', according to The Philippine Star. The embassy said the facility was 'not a military base', adding that US military activities in the Philippines were conducted 'in full coordination' with its ally. Bao Yinan, an associate research fellow at the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance in Hainan, said: 'From the most superficial 'technical' perspective, it is primarily aimed at ensuring and enhancing the combat capabilities of the Philippine Navy, thereby directly strengthening the ability of Philippine naval vessels to 'confront' or even 'counter' China.' The US may also have the 'potential intention' of smoothing the way for the shared use of Philippine naval facilities.
NHK
6 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Philippines, US hold maritime drills in South China Sea
The Philippines and the United States have conducted maritime drills in South China Sea waters claimed by Manila just days before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is due to visit Washington. The Philippine military says the activity saw navy and coast guard naval and air assets deployed on Wednesday. Washington dispatched missile destroyer and maritime aircraft as part of the exercise. The Philippine military chief issued a statement saying that the maritime engagements demonstrate a "commitment to maintaining a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific." The drills come as the administration of US President Donald Trump steps up its efforts to deter China. Manila and Beijing have been locked in a longstanding dispute over the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Philippines agreed to a US proposal to construct two new boat maintenance facilities in Palawan Province, adjacent to the disputed waters. In a statement on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Manila said the move will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft. This comes after an incident in May, when Manila said a Chinese government ship sideswiped one of its research vessels and hit it with a water cannon. Beijing blamed the Philippine side for the incident.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US to build Philippines boat hub for South China Sea edge, ‘low-footprint' deterrence
A discreet but strategically significant US-funded boat maintenance hub in the western Philippines is poised to strengthen Manila's maritime presence in the contested South China Sea while avoiding raising the risk of political escalation. The new facility in Quezon, a coastal town on Palawan Island less than 260km (162 miles) from the flashpoint Second Thomas Shoal, could enable the Philippine Navy to maintain a more persistent and responsive posture amid rising tensions with China, in what analysts say is part of Washington's broader push for 'low-footprint' deterrence in the region. Designed to service and deploy small Philippine naval craft, the hub's proximity to disputed waters is seen as an advantage. 'That proximity matters operationally – it reduces transit time and enhances the credibility of Manila's maritime presence,' said Sylwia Monika Gorska, a political analyst and doctoral candidate at the University of Central Lancashire. The project, first reported by the United States Naval Institute on Monday, is part of a larger shift in US regional strategy that prioritises smaller, dual-use infrastructure over permanent military bases. It will support rigid-hulled inflatable boats and 'assault boats' built by Oregon-based Reconcraft, which specialises in vessels used by military and law-enforcement agencies. The US embassy in Manila confirmed that the initiative would enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the nearby Naval Detachment Oyster Bay – improving readiness without overtly expanding America's military footprint. Philippine navy vessels anchored at Oyster Bay naval facility in Palawan province. A new US-funded boat maintenance hub is expected to enhance repair capabilities for Philippine vessels at the facility. Photo: AFP From Washington's perspective, the investment supported 'partner-led deterrence' by enabling allies to operate more independently, without requiring forward-deployed US assets, Gorska said.
CNA
7 days ago
- Business
- CNA
US to build Philippine boat repair facilities near contested South China Sea
MANILA: The US Navy plans to build two repair facilities for smaller vessels operating in the western Philippines, the US embassy said Wednesday (Jul 16), with one about 240km east of a fiercely contested reef in the South China Sea. Located in the Spratly archipelago, the Second Thomas Shoal hosts a small detachment of Philippine forces aboard a grounded navy vessel and has been the site of clashes with Chinese ships. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway despite an international ruling its assertion has no merit. The US government's contracting website, locates one of the proposed repair facilities in Palawan province's Quezon municipality. The facilities "will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for a variety of (Philippine) vessels including 7.32m watercraft as well as other smaller conventional watercraft," the bid notice for the Quezon project reads. The Philippines owns several vessels that size, including rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that have been involved in clashes with larger Chinese ships. While there are not believed to be existing permanent military facilities in Quezon, the area has hosted parts of joint US-Philippine military exercises for the past two years. The US embassy in Manila confirmed on Wednesday the tender for both the Quezon project and a similar one to be constructed at the Philippines' existing Oyster Bay naval facility about 130km north. Officials from the Philippine Department of Defense did not immediately provide comment. Retired Philippine admiral Rommel Jude Ong, now a military analyst with the Ateneo de Manila University, told AFP such facilities could be used "for RHIBs, but more likely for smaller rubber boats used in the resupply of occupied features".
