Smart Backpacker: Top Beaches in Luzon (A Review)

It's Summer! And a trip to the beach is simply inevitable! Well, these are the best beaches in Luzon only. This is a simple review of the beaches that I have visited. I hope this will help you.. =)

My personal rating
1 - highest/best
5 - worst

BALER, AURORA

Travel Time from Manila - 7-8 hours (by land)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to the town, tricycle to the resort
Proximity from Manila - #2 (best reason)
Accommodation - 2,500 - 3-4 pax
Expenses - #1 (best choice)
Food - affordable
White Sand - NO (except in some isolated parts of the area)
Nightlife - none
Drinking spree - resort only
Multitude of People - #3 (average)
Adventure - Falls, trekking, surfing, kite surfing
Serenity/Paradise - #3

Primary Reason - Surfing capital in Luzon

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/12/enjoying-baler.html

CAGBALETE ISLAND, QUEZON

Travel Time from Manila - 6 hours (by land)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Lucena, bus to Mauban, tricycle to the port, boat to the island
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - P2,000 - P3000 - 3-4 pax
Expenses - #3
Food - affordable
White Sand - YES
Nightlife - none
Drinking spree - resort only
Multitude of People - #2 (best reason)
Adventure - trekking, beach bumming, camping
Serenity/Paradise - #2

Primary Reason - Sand ripples!

Related link: http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/05/cagbalete-island-mauban-quezon.html

CALAGUAS ISLAND, BICOL

Mahabang Buhangin

Travel Time from Manila by land - 9-10 hours (by land)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Daet, bus or tricycle to Paracale, pumpboat to the island
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - 1,500 -2,500 -3-4 pax
Expenses - #3
Food - #5 (you have to bring your own food)
White Sand - #1 (best reason)
Nightlife - none
Multitude of People - #3
Adventure - island hopping, snorkeling, trekking
Serenity/Paradise - #1
Drinking Spree - none
Sunset or Sunrise - sunset
Primary reason - pristine waters and best white sand

CARAMOAN, BICOL

Travel Time - 14-15 hours (by land) (you can use air travel and land in Naga City)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Naga, tricycle to the van station in SM Naga, van to Sabang, boat to Caramoan, tricycle to the beach
Proximity from Manila - #5
Accommodation - 1,500 -2,500 -3-4 pax
Expenses - #4
Food - #3
White Sand - only at the islands (best reason)
Nightlife - resort only
Multitude of People - #5
Adventure - island hopping, snorkeling
Serenity/Paradise - #1 islands only
Drinking spree - resort only
Sunset or Sunrise - sunrise
Primary reason - Island Hopping

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/caramoan.html

CORON, PALAWAN
best choice!

Twin Lagoons

Travel Time - by air only 1 hour and 15 mins in Coron (by air)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - plane to Coron, van to the beach
Proximity from Manila - #5
Accommodation - #1
Expenses - #4
Food - #1 (best reason)
White Sand - NO (at the islands only)
Nightlife - YES
Multitude of People - #4
Adventure - Island hopping, trekking, snorkeling, wreck diving
Serenity/Paradise - #2
Drinking spree - YES
Sunset or Sunrise - SUNSET
Primary reason - Island hopping and wreck diving

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/enchanting-coron.html

EL NIDO, PALAWAN
best choice!

Big Lagoon

Travel Time - by air (varies) either direct to El Nido or to Puerto Princesa
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - Plane to Puerto Princesa, van to El Nido (5 hours) / If you have a direct flight to El Nido - plane to El Nido, tricycle to the resort
Proximity from Manila - #5
Accommodation - #1 (best reason)
Expenses - #5 (expensive)
Food - #2 (at the beachfront)
White Sand - YES (best reason)
Nightlife - YES
Multitude of People - #5
Adventure - #1 (beats Boracay!)
Serenity/Paradise - #1
Drinking spree - yes
Sunset or Sunrise - neither (covered by the mountains)
Primary reason - BEST island hopping experience in the Philippines

RAV Transportation Services

Van for Hire

Derick Villegas

0998-545-0016

0917-504-0770

(043) 778-4657

(043) 703-0435

Email: rav_services@yahoo.com

Facebook: RAV Electronic Services

Address: 938 Brgy. Darasa, Tanauan City, Batangas 4232

Transportation / Tour services to any point of Luzon

Brand New Foton Traveller vehicles available

Equipped with GPS, wifi, videoke, RFID, Sky TV

Satisfaction Guaranteed! =)

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/el-nido-adventure-of-lifetime.html

JOMALIG ISLAND, QUEZON
- camper's choice

Travel Time - by land only; so many options; best way is van or bus in Legarda, Manila to Infanta (3 hours), then boat to Jomalig

Proximity from Manila - #2
Accommodation - #5 (tent only)
Expenses - #1 (best reason)
Food - #5 (worst)
White Sand - YES (best reason)
Nightlife - NONE
Multitude of People - #1
Adventure - #2
Serenity/Paradise - #1
Drinking spree - NONE
Sunset or Sunrise - Sunset only!
Primary reason - Island itself is a paradise

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-jomalig-island-experience.html

PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE

from www.wilstop.info

Travel Time - by land 12-13 hours
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Laoag City, van to the resort (you can opt air travel and land in Vigan)
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - #3
Expenses - #2
Food - #2
White Sand - YES
Nightlife - none
Multitude of People - #3
Adventure - limited
Serenity/Paradise - #2
Drinking spree - no
Sunset or Sunrise - no idea
Primary reason - Boracay of the North

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/01/ilocos-sur-experience.html

PALAUI ISLAND

from www.colors.ph

Travel Time - 12-13 hours by land (if by air, you will land at Tuguegarao airport)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - Bus to Tuguegarao, van to the resort
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - NO IDEA
Expenses - NO IDEA
Food - NO IDEA
White Sand - YES
Nightlife - its an island
Multitude of People - #3
Adventure - island hopping, trekking
Serenity/Paradise - #2
Primary reason - farthest beach in Luzon, the thrill of the adventure

PUERTO GALERA, ORIENTAL MINDORO

from wwwlakwatseradeprimera.com

Travel Time - 2 hours and 45 minutes by land and sea
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Batangas pier, pumpboat to Puerto Galera
Proximity from Manila - #1 (nearest to Manila) (best reason)
Accommodation - #1
Expenses - #1
Food - #2
White Sand - YES
Nightlife - YES
Multitude of People - #5
Adventure - varies
Serenity/Paradise - #3
Drinking spree - yes
Sunset or Sunrise - sunset
Primary reason - proximity and affordability

Related link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/puerto-galera-with-friends.html

PUTING BUHANGIN, PADRE BURGOS, QUEZON

Travel Time - by land only; bus to Lucena, then bus to Padre Garcia, then boat to Puting Buhangin
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - #3 (there are resorts)
Expenses - #3
Food - #5 (bring your own)
White Sand - YES (best reason)
Nightlife - NONE
Multitude of People - #2
Adventure - #3
Serenity/Paradise - #2
Drinking spree - NONE
Sunset or Sunrise - BOTH
Primary reason - SEAFOOD

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2014/05/island-hopping-tour-in-padre-burgos.html

TABLAS, ROMBLON

Gishelle Beach Resort

Travel Time - 8-9 hours (by land and sea)
Mode of transportation before you reach the beach - bus to Batangas pier, ferry to Odiongan, van to the resort (you can use air travel and land in Tablas, Romblon)
Proximity from Manila - #4
Accommodation - #1 (best reason)
Expenses - #3
Food - affordable
White Sand - YES
Nightlife - NONE
Multitude of People - #1
Adventure - trekking, kayak, island hopping
Serenity/Paradise - #1
Primary reason - undiscovered paradise

Related Link -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/tablas-romblon-undiscovered-paradise.html

Other Notable Beaches in Luzon
Misimis Bay, Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay
Patar White Beach, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Nakbawang Beach, Sabtang, Batanes
Anawangin Cove, Zambales
White Beach, Marinduque