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

Related link -

http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/calaguas-island.html

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

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! =)

Puerto Galera (with Friends)

from Wikepedia

White Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro is just 1 hour and 45 minutes from my hometown in Tanauan City, Batangas.

One hour bus trip from Tanauan City to Batangas port and the 45 minutes by boat to Puerto Galera.

I have visited Puerto Galera a couple of times already. But this Summer 2012 is so different from the previous trips. Simply because I did this trip with my all time buddies! They call themselves - "Packers!" But with a little bit of twist in the pronunciation. The name came from my fan page name of Smart Backpacker.

Jonas, Niko, MJ, Jhen, Ralen, Feng and I went to Puerto. I love these guys! Hoooray for this trip!

Ready to board the boat

Call time was 7:30 am. But for one reason or another and as usual, they were late and I was the first one to arrive at the port.

The boats to Puerto Galera are stationed in Terminal III of the Batangas Port.

There are three boat operators to consider: Gallerian (Blue Boats), Father & Sons (Yellow Boats) and Minolo (Red Boats).



 We paid P450 (round trip) or P250 for a one-way fare from Father 'n Sons Lines. Environmental fee is P50.00/pax and terminal fee is P30.00/ pax. But Minolo has the brand new fleet and the bigger boats.

Schedule of trips to White Beach are - 6:30 am, 7:15 am, 8:45 am, 9:35 am, 10:50 am, 11:30 am, 12:35 am, 1:05 pm, 1:50 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm.

After 45 minutes, we landed in White Beach Puerto Galera.

We rented only one family room good for 5-6 persons for P2,500 only/day at White Beach Hotel (Contact person - Junie / Contact No. 0917-825-8643).

Last time I went here, I was billeted at Dreamwave (0921-315-2510, 0906-301-9184, 0927-400-0333).

After roaming around the beach, we decided to go to the Tamawam Falls.

We rented and paid P1,500 for our ride to the Tamaraw Falls and it took us only less than an hour to go to the site.




We did a little bit of trekking and climbing before we reached the falls. And what followed was simply pure and unending happiness for everyone!

The water from the falls was so strong and cold. We stayed for an hour and enjoyed!! Good thing our camera did not get wet..

And the fun and excitement continued, we simply cannot get enough of it!!! =)

After 2.5 hours, we went back to White Beach.

  

We waited for the sunset. 

We decided to party that night. But before the party, we consumed 2 towers of the Mindoro Sling!!!

And everybody was either drunk or too tipsy!!!

That is the effect of the Mindoro Sling!!!! =)















And what followed after the drinking spree...

We walk along the beach and gate crashed a party that was on-going in the beach!!

We dance and dance and dance!!! Party time!!!

And the girls were INTOXICATED!




The fun did not stop there. After staying in the beach and resting our aching backs, we went back to our room and did WRESTLING! Yes, we wrestled. Actually, the girls wrestled the boys. That is what you call girl bullying under the influence of liquour!! hehehe

Day 2

The following morning, we woke up at around past 8 am. Fixed ourselves and off we went to another another activity for that day - SNORKELING!

I cannot recall how much we paid for the rent of the boat that day. But if my memory served me right, it was around P1,800.00.

They did snorkeling while I laid my back at the beach. The hangover was killing me!

After 2 hours of snorkeling, they finally gave up and we went back to our hotel.

We took our lunch and hurried back to the port back to Batangas. 

Two days and one night of Fun!

On to our next trip - Sagada!

Jun, Ralen, MJ, Feng, Niko, Jhen, Jonas (from left to right)

Related links
Backpackers first trip - Sagada 
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/backpackers-trip-to-sagada-my-third-trip.html
Backpackers trip to Tablas, Romblon -
http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/04/backpackers-adventure-in-tablas-romblon.html