These aerial photos will tickle your wanderlust, inspire you to get a drone, travel the Philippines, and capture a few of the 7000 stunningly beautiful islands and beaches...
Welcome to paradise. After 2 months traveling across the Philippines we created an epic drone video of all the places we visited. The video went kinda viral on Facebook, even the travel magazine Lonely Planet and the drone company DJI shared our video...
We got so much positive feedback on our drone footage, so eventually I decided to put a blog post together and share some of our favorite photos. To be honest, there were so many amazing ones, I try to limit this to our absolute best 10 shots.
All these images were taken with a drone, the DJI Phantom 3. We meanwhile use a newer drone, and highly recommend it: The DJI Mavic Pro is easy to fly, plus smaller and lighter!
The Philippines from a Bird's Eye Perspective.
We created this footage to show people how stunningly beautiful the Philippines really are. The Philippines is a country, scattered over more than 7000 islands. You're never far away from a beach.
Let me show you some of the most surreal beaches and islands in the Philippines! And as a bonus, I will even tell you, where these places are ;) Enjoy!!
Guyam Island, Siargao
This little piece of heaven is called Guyam Island and can be found in Siargao, just 2 kilometers off the shore from General Luna. The tear-drop shaped island is like a mini-version of a tropical paradise and a magical place to spend an afternoon...
Want to know how to get there? Head over to my Travel Guide to Siargao!
Bounty Beach, Malapascua
Malapascua is not only a popular spot for world-class diving, it also features some fantastic white beaches and will surely make non-divers happy, too.
How to get there? Fly into Cebu, take a bus to Maya and from there a boat to Malapascua. The trip from Cebu City to Malapascua Island will take about 5 hours. Is it worth it? You bet.
Entalula Island, Palawan
This spectacular beach is another paradise in the island maze of El Nido. You can hire a boat from El Nido to bring you there. Alternatively, if you join one of the organized group tours in El Nido, some of them offer a stop at Entalula Island. More about El Nido and island hopping in my blog post about Palawan.
Sugba Lagoon, Siargao
The majestic Sugba Lagoon is accessible from the town Carmen in Siargao. It takes about 45 minutes by boat to reach this marvelous place. The enchanting lagoon is surrounded by mangroves and bizarre rock formations. Once you dip into the clear blue waters, you will see plenty of stingless jellyfish! Bring your GoPro to capture this, it's absolutely incredible (see this photo)!
Check my Siargao Guide for my tour recommendations to Sugba Lagoon.
Kota Beach, Bantayan
Bantayan was heavily damaged during typhoon Yolanda in 2013. I was thrilled to see that the island recovered well, and the surreal lagoon on the Southern side of the island looked prettier than ever. The calm blue-green waters invite for a swim, the long sand bar is a fabulous spot to watch the sunset, and families with children will love the shallow mini lagoon.
Bantayan is northwest of Cebu, it's close to Malapascua and you can perfectly combine those two beautiful islands in a long weekend trip.
General Luna, Siargao
Who would have thought that the sleepy village of General Luna in Siargao has such a gorgeous beach? It's dotted with countless of lush coconut trees. The mix of powder-white sand and turquoise waters makes this place to one of my favorite beaches in the Philippines. And the good news is, there are hardly any tourists seen on the beach.
San Juan, Siquijor
Siquijor is also known as the island of the witches. It's one of the lesser visited islands near Cebu. Endless white beaches, excellent diving and swimming in waterfalls are some of the best things to do in Siquijor. The photo above was taken at San Juan Beach, on the southern coast of the island.
How to get there? Several boats connect Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete with Siquijor Island.
Naked Island, Siargao
Nope, no one is (getting) naked there. Naked Island got the name because it is just a plain sand bar, in the middle of the ocean. Although it's stunningly beautiful with azure waters surrounding it.
This pearl-white island is located just off the shore in Siargao, and can be visited during island hopping. Alternatively, just hire a local in General Luna (Siargao) to bring you there. Don't forget some sunglasses and plenty of sun protection!
Pinagbuyutan Island, El Nido
This breathtaking gigantic rock is also known as the Survivor Island. For me this is one of the most picturesque islands in the archipelago of El Nido. The combination of dramatic limestones and a perfect white sandy beach makes this place extraordinary, from every perspective.
Do yourself a favour and visit Pinagbuyutan Island in El Nido! Some tour operators offer a trip to the island, but you can also organize this yourself. Just head to Marimeg Beach and hire a local with a boat.
Crystal clear turquoise lagoons...
... like this can be found all over the Philippines. This article just showcases a fraction of what the Philippines has to offer. There are 7000 more islands to discover! And many places are completely off the beaten track without any tourists. I can't tell you how much excited I am to travel back to the Philippines next year and find more places like this. Needless to say, the drone has to come with us again...
A sneak peak of our footage. All recorded with a drone from DJI. This video is just a short summary, please also check our extended version "Philippines like you never seen it before" (3min), that's the one that kinda went viral on Facebook (over 700,000 views).
PS: Are you on Pinterest? Pin me and inspire your friends to travel to the Philippines!!
Travel Tips Philippines
Are you ready to fly to the Philippines? Here some quick booking links and resources that I use myself for travel planning. These websites will help you to get started with your Philippines itinerary!
Cheap Flights to the Philippines
Skyscanner is my favorite search engine for finding cheap flights, I always start my flight search here! I've tried plenty other flight websites, but Skyscanner has the lowest rates, almost every time!
Transport within the Philippines
Bus, boat, and trains: 12Go is one of the most reliable websites in Southeast Asia when it comes to booking buses, ferries and railway. Get an instant seat confirmation and start your overland travel worry-free.
Taxis: Grab is my go-to app to call a cab. No more hailing taxis down the road.
Find a place to stay in the Philippines
Hostels, hotels and resorts: Agoda is excellent if you're looking for hotels from budget to luxury! It's one of the largest hotel booking websites in the world. Plenty of options to book now and pay later, or even pay at the hotel. Risk-free booking, many with free cancellation. My other go to is Booking.com.
Homestays and Housesits: For a more authentic and local experience I recommend Homestay.com, a website where you can find places to stay with locals for such a great price. Personally, I'm obsessed with Trusted Housesitters, where you get to stay completely for free in exchange for pet care. Find out more in my article on How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation.
Fun Tours and Activities in the Philippines
Get your Guide has plenty of fun activities in the Philippines, such as island hopping, hiking tours and city sightseeing trips. There is plenty of choices to keep yourself entertained!
Klook is similar than the one above, but offers additional options such as airport transfers, SIM cards, and food & dining experiences. It' a great way to meet other travelers while exploring a new place!
eSIM - Stay connected with Internet
Get an eSIM before you go and have Internet available from the second you arrive! I highly recommend Roamless or JetPac - they're both highly ranked, inexpensive and reliable.
Travel Insurance
Never go adventuring without travel insurance! I recommend Genki or SafetyWing - they're both very affordable and will cover you in an emergency.
Do I need a Visa for the Philippines?
Most likely you don't need a visa. Travelers from 157 countries are allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free, for a period between from 14 to 59 days. You can check on iVisa.com whether you need a visa and how long you are permitted to stay.
More Blog Posts about the Philippines
- Coron or El Nido? Which One is Really Better?
- The Ultimate Guide To Siargao In The Philippines (For Non Surfers)
- Boracay on a Budget: A World-Class Island in the Philippines on $23 a day
- Smokey Mountain: A Walk Through The Slums Of Manila, Philippines
- 3 Cool Airbnb Places to Stay in Boracay
- Five Best Things To Do In Manila
- Postcards from Amorita Resort, Bohol
- Travel the Philippines: 20 Photos that will make you pack your bags and go
- Unspoiled Paradise on Earth: The Archipelago of El Nido (Philippines)
- Boracay - Still a Paradise? A Travel Guide to Philippines' Most Visited Island
- Atmosphere Resort - An unforgettable Stay in Dauin, Philippines
- Falling in Love with a Wonderland called Bohol (Philippines)
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Travel To The Philippines
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About the Author:
Sabrina Iovino started JustOneWayTicket.com in 2012. She's half German, half Italian and has traveled to 70+ countries around the globe. She feels weird to write about herself in the third person, so she'll switch now. Let's restart:
Hi, I'm Sab! This is my blog and I write about the things I love. Mostly.
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