🏝️ Top 9 Islands & island hopping in the Philippines (2026)

The best islands & island hopping in the Philippines in 2026, by our editorial score, are Anawangin Cove, Big Lagoon and Puerto Princesa Underground River. Last updated November 5, 2026 · Methodology

El Nido and Coron lagoons, the Gigantes, Siargao's Naked Island and the boat tours that string them together.

1. 1

   Anawangin Cove

   📍 Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales · ₱

   Crescent-shaped cove backed by agoho (casuarina) trees and volcanic ash sand, reached by outrigger boat from Pundaquit or by a trek over the ridge.

   Don't miss: Camp under the pine-like agoho trees and boat-hop to Nagsasa Cove and Capones Island.

   ★ 4.4 (1,077 Google)ⓘ details pending verification
   99
2. 2

   Big Lagoon

   📍 Miniloc Island, Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan · ₱₱

   Limestone-walled lagoon on Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, explored by kayak on El Nido's island-hopping 'Tour A'.

   Don't miss: Paddle a kayak through the lagoon entrance at the start of Tour A.

   ★ 4.6 (1,779 TripAdvisor)
   99
3. 3

   Puerto Princesa Underground River

   📍 Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan · ₱₱

   UNESCO World Heritage site (1999) where a navigable river flows through a limestone cave to the sea; visited by paddle-boat with a capped number of daily permits.

   Don't miss: Paddle 1.5 km into the cave with an audio guide, watching for bats and swiftlets.

   ★ 4.4 (5,814 TripAdvisor)
   97
4. 4

   Kayangan Lake

   📍 Coron Island, Coron, Palawan · ₱₱

   Clear freshwater-and-brackish lake on Coron Island, reached by a short climb past a viewpoint over the cove, and part of Tagbanua ancestral domain.

   Don't miss: Climb to the viewpoint, then swim and snorkel over the lake's rock formations.

   ★ 4.6 (2,478 TripAdvisor)
   96
5. 5

   Pescador Island

   📍 Panagsama Beach (boat departure), Moalboal, Cebu · ₱₱

   Small limestone island in the Tañon Strait off Moalboal, a marine sanctuary visited on boat trips that typically combine it with the Panagsama sardine run and turtle snorkelling.

   Don't miss: Snorkel the sardine run off Panagsama, then boat to the island's wall for turtles and reef fish.

   ★ 4.4 (119 Google)ⓘ details pending verification
   96
6. 6

   Daku Island

   📍 Off General Luna, General Luna, Siargao · ₱₱

   The largest of the three islands on Siargao's standard island-hopping circuit from General Luna, with a long white beach, coconut groves and beach cottages where boat crews serve lunch.

   Don't miss: Swim off the long beach and have a boodle-fight lunch under the coconuts.

   ★ 4.6 (156 Google)ⓘ details pending verification
   94
7. 7

   White Island

   📍 Barangay Agoho / Yumbing (boat departure), Mambajao, Camiguin · ₱

   Uninhabited white sandbar off Mambajao with views back to Camiguin's volcanoes, visited by short outrigger hops from the Agoho–Yumbing beach strip.

   Don't miss: Boat out at sunrise and photograph Mt Hibok-Hibok from the sandbar.

   ★ 4.4 (534 TripAdvisor)ⓘ details pending verification
   94
8. 8

   Gigantes Islands (Islas de Gigantes)

   📍 Barangay Gabi / Asluman, Carles, Iloilo · ₱₱

   Island group off Carles in northern Iloilo known for Cabugao Gamay viewpoint, Tangke saltwater lagoon and scallop-based seafood.

   Don't miss: Island-hop to Cabugao Gamay and Tangke Lagoon and eat scallops on the beach.

   ★ 4.6 (244 TripAdvisor)ⓘ details pending verification
   91
9. 9

   Sabtang Island

   📍 Sabtang, Savidug and Chavayan, Sabtang, Batanes · ₱

   The smaller inhabited island south of Batan, listed by the Batanes Provincial Heritage and Tourism Office as one of the province's six destinations with its own Sabtang tour itinerary; it is known for the Ivatan stone-house villages of Savidug and Chavayan and the Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint.

   Don't miss: Walk through Chavayan village and stop at the Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint.

   ⓘ details pending verification
   66

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