Something about a sandy shore with the sparkling blue of the ocean on one side and swaying palm trees on the other has always captivated the imagination of travellers. We fly thousands of miles for a chance to laze around, swim and sunbathe on beautiful beaches. Having already covered the more popular beach destinations like the Maldives, Australia and even Brazil in the past, this time, Condé Nast Traveller brings you a roundup of its top five beaches in the Philippines – a relatively unexplored country definitely worth visiting.

BORACAY BEACH
Best for: The party-hearty
Why go: With glowing white sand and crystal clear water, it’s the country’s most popular beach, located 315km from Manila; a perfect place for those looking to get away from urban chaos, without having to go too far. You can turn your back on the world and admire the gorgeous sunset before walking into one of the numerous bars or nightclubs that dot the boulevard; Luna Negra is a popular salsa bar while Bazzura is a great venue for electro music. Once you’re done partying, totter over to one of the spas in the area and who knows, you might even bump into someone you just had a drink with.

Where to stay: Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa is a luxurious hillside retreat. With large grounds and secluded coves, its villas come with a private deck or garden, and have butler service. We recommend the two-storey Loft Villa, which has its own private infinity pool, a pergola and a charming outdoor shower.
Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa, Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines (+63 36 288 4988; www.shangri-la.com) from Rs 17,700

SIARGAO
Best for: Surfers and all-round adventure junkies
Why go: The fact that Siargao hosts the Billabong International Surfing Competition every year is a testament of it being a surfer’s paradise. Besides surfing, the island of Siargao and its beaches – Luna, Burgos and Pacifico – also offer incredible diving and snorkelling sites. If you’re in the mood for some island hopping, be sure to check out the nearby Guyam, Daku and Naked islands.  After spending a day tackling waves, sit down for a meal at one of the quaint beachside restaurants and cafes. Nine Bar & Restaurant is a great place to enjoy the catch of the day alongside a chilled glass of mango rum cocktail.  Maridel’s eatery is another good spot in General Luna to sample local Filipino grub.
Where to stay: The Kalinaw Resort is a stunning beachfront property in Cloud 9 – Philippine’s best surf spot. The rooms feature beautiful decks for front row views of the Pacific Ocean. The deluxe villa is well appointed, spacious and luxurious. Don’t forget to indulge in a sundown Shiatsu massage on your balcony to knead out those ocean-induced kinks.
Kalinaw Resort, Siargao, Philippines (+63 921 320 0442; www.kalinawaresort.com) Villas from Rs 8,405

PAMALICAN ISLAND
Best for: Secluded luxury
Why go: A part of the Cuyo archipelago in the Sulu Sea, this private island sits in the midst of a 7sq km coral reef. Five kilometres long and 500m across at its widest point, you can imagine just how exclusive this piece of paradise really is. The island frequently makes it to the top of the list of the world’s most amazing private islands.
Where to stay: There is only one hotel here, the super swanky Amanpulo resort. It’s a plush tropical retreat, fringed by white sand beach and turquoise water on one side and lush vegetation on the other. The casitas are strewn along the beach, the treetops as well as the hillside. Each comes with its own private buggy – ideal for a cushy island tour. The gorgeous spa and yoga pavilions make for an ideal setting to spend quality ‘alone time’ in.
Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Philippines (+63 2 976 5200; www.amanresorts.com) Casitas from Rs 56,122

PUNTA BALLO BEACH
Best for: Scuba diving
Why go: For those looking to get up close and personal with some of the native aquatic life, the one km-long Punta Ballo Beach is the place to settle for. Located near the famous Tinagong Dagat Lake (the name literally means “hidden sea”), Punta Ballo offers some of the most spectacular dives in the Philippines. You’ll get a chance to see myriad forms of fish, seahorses and nudibranches.
Where to stay: The Nataasan Beach Resort & Dive Centre consists of simply furnished bungalows built using bamboo sticks. The resort also has its own diving school and has one of the best dive spots at its doorstep. If you’re not the type that wants to get into a suit and strap on a heavy tank on your back, this beach also offers some great snorkelling.
Nataasan Beach Resort & Dive Centre, 4 Sitio Punta Ballo, Sipalay City, Philippines (034-453 8936; www.nataasan.com) Bungalows from Rs 2,965

PAGUDPUD BEACH
Best for: Intimate vacation
Why go: It’s actually a collection of three beaches: Pansia, Saud and Maira-ira— also known as the blue lagoon. Pagudpud has a little bit of something for everyone. If it’s seclusion you’re after then Pansian is your best bet. This stretch of sand barely sees any tourists and is perfect for a little alone time or just enjoying the company of friends and loved ones. Saud is more of a gorgeous soft sand cove than a beach while Maira-ira with its turquoise water is hemmed in by hills on all sides, making it a beautiful romantic spot.
Where to stay: Saud Beach Resort’s rooms and suites contain cane furniture and offer a good night’s sleep after a day out in the sun. The hotel has tried to make its guests’ experience as traditional as possible without compromising on modern-day creature comforts. It also organises day trips to nearby attractions like the Bantay Abot Caves and Dos Hermanos Islands.

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Floating in the South Pacific Ocean, almost touching the International Dateline is the island nation of Fiji. Made popular by the Tom Hanks movie, Castaway, this tropical destination was always on my wish list of must-visit places. I imagined it would be an exotic, faraway land, the perfect combination of island vegetation, turquoise sea and white sands. A generous wedding gift took my husband and me to Tokoriki Island in Fiji.

We flew in to Nadi and then caught a sea plane to the island, where we were to spend the next few days. The sea plane leaves a few times a day, so if you miss one, the next one will take off only after 4-5 hours. The ride itself is amazing, because you’re flying over the open ocean and can see it in its full glory, and also get an aerial view of the islands. The staff at the Tokoriki Island Resort gave us a warm welcome by singing a song and placing beaded necklaces around our necks. We spent the next few days exploring the islands as well as its ocean beds.

Tokoriki Island Resort
We selected this hotel after reading numerous reviews and recommendations, and it turned out to be a great choice. The staff was friendly and tried their best to accommodate every request. Within a day, all the waiters, singers and reception staff knew us by our first names and were chatting with us like long lost friends. The property has a boutique feel and the beachside bures come with thatched roofs and Fijian décor. I loved the outdoor showers! Their exquisite spa has open waterfalls and is plush with greenery. They had lots of activities to keep us entertained throughout; one morning, we kayaked around the island and in the afternoon, went on a free snorkeling trip around the island’s reef. Tokoriki Island Resort is ideal for couples; they offer its visitors the option of dining in privacy on the beach, and musicians who take requests at dinner every night.

Castaway Island and snorkeling
One of the options arranged by the dive shop is a trip to Castaway Island, where you can spend half a day at the island where the namesake movie was filmed. We took a boat to the island and then a guy from the dive shop gave us a tour of the place. He showed us scenes from the film, and introduced us to some of the indigenous trees exclusive to the island. The best part of this trip was snorkeling! The island has a beautiful reef right off the beach, where my husband and I spent two hours snorkeling and gazing at striped, spotted and oddly shaped fish and pretty corals. A fish befriended us and kept swimming around us in circles. We then soaked up the beach with some beers. The wind blew my hubby’s hat into the sea and the driver was sweet enough to turn around and get it back for him.

Scuba diving
The highlight of my trip to Fiji was my first scuba dive. First, we had a training session in the pool where the instructor, Will, took us through the gear and breathing techniques. As we were waiting for our gear on the beach, someone pointed towards a baby shark! We got into the boat and reached the reef of the island and then tumbled into the water. There was a rope to guide me to the sea bed and also help balance my ear pressure. Will was an encouraging and patient instructor and checked on me every few minutes to ensure I was doing okay. Once I steadied myself, we started swimming along the reef. I saw fish in rainbow colours floating above the seabed. It was a whole new world down there with fish, coral, crustaceans, manta rays and things I had never seen before. I went down to fourteen meters for about forty minutes and it was an experience of a lifetime. Just swimming together, silently watching the universe that was living under the sea was a unique experience. Living in Bombay, I have always related with the sea, but scuba diving just made this relationship stronger, and has also made me concerned about how we treat the ocean.

Sharks
When I first heard about sharks in the Fijian waters, I was anxious. My image of sharks was from the movie Jaws, and consequently the notion that they were man-eating monsters out to hunt innocent swimmers. However, watching the divers and staff talk excitedly about sharks changed my perception. I learned that sharks do not usually attack human beings. I also learnt that among all water activities, surfing was the most prone to shark attacks, as they scout the surface of the water for food like dead fish and turtles. Scuba diving, in particular, is quite safe from shark attacks. The shark I saw from the shore before scuba diving was a black tip reef shark. Fijian waters are full of harmless reef sharks and some dive shops organize shark diving packages where you can swim with these misunderstood creatures.

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