12 Photos

Our readers have loved Palawan and Borocay of late, but from a local's perspective, we're missing out on the Calamian Islands just north of Palawan. Hidden for decades behind the shadow of more popular Philippine destinations, the Calamian Islands (or Calamianes) are finally getting their turn in the spotlight. This cluster of islands hugging the South China Sea is a vast playground of stunning waterborne landscapes and dive sites. It wasn't all that long ago that it would take an eight hour ferry ride to get there from the capital, Manila. These days, improved transport and tourism infrastructure (daily flights and luxury hotels) makes the area more traveler-friendly. It's far from crowded, thoughwith more than a hundred islands scattered over 680-square-miles of crystalline sea, its still shockingly easy to find your very own stretch of sand.

Our readers have loved Palawan and Borocay of late, but from a local's perspective, we're missing out on the Calamian Islands just north of Palawan. Hidden for decades behind the shadow of more popular Philippine destinations, the Calamian Islands (or Calamianes) are finally getting their turn in the spotlight. This cluster of islands hugging the South China Sea is a vast playground of stunning waterborne landscapes and dive sites. It wasn't all that long ago that it would take an eight hour ferry ride to get there from the capital, Manila. These days, improved transport and tourism infrastructure (daily flights and luxury hotels) makes the area more traveler-friendly. It's far from crowded, thoughwith more than a hundred islands scattered over 680-square-miles of crystalline sea, its still shockingly easy to find your very own stretch of sand.

Most of the Calamianes, a group of islands north of Palawan, host karst limestone formations, a landscape feature that (in the Philippines) is distinct to the region.

A pair of giraffes get a closer look at their human visitors at a wildlife sanctuary on Calauit Island. Established in 1976 in response to a Kenyan plea to help preserve its wildlife, the Calauit Wildlife Park hosts eight African species and over a hundred varieties endemic to the Philippines.

A handmade, paddle-powered banca sits beside a considerably larger motorized version. These traditional outrigger boats are a common sight throughout the Philippines.

A local fisherman produces daing na pusitdried salted squidin his backyard on the island village of Panlaitan. Cottage industries like these have benefited greatly from tourism. This is simple food for us fisherfolk, says one of the residents, we were surprised that people from other countries would travel all the way here just to try it.

La Estancia Busuanga is one of dozens of private resorts that have sprung up on the main island of Busuanga. Filipinos have visited the Calamianes for decades, but only in recent years has its reputation grown among foreign tourists.

With over a hundred islands spread out over 680 square miles of sea, the Calamian archipelago is a dream destination for kayakers and paddle-boarders.

The classic islanders meal: grilled fish, eggplant salad, and chicken, served on a boat over clear, blue waters.

Pristine beaches are a common sight throughout the Calamianes. Shown here is Black Island, home to just a small handful of residents.

Seashells hang from the window of a local hut in Coron, the Calamian archipelagos third-largest island at 266-square-miles. With its 11 inland lakes, mangrove forests and karst limestone formations, this island is the areas most popular destination.

The waters surrounding the Calamianes teem with marine life. The area is also host to a number of World War II-era shipwrecks.

A village elder sings a traditional love song called tablay. The Tagbanua people have inhabited the Calamian archipelago for centuries, and today many of these islands are officially recognized as Tagbanua ancestral domains.

Karst limestone cliff meets sun, sand, and sea at Isla Bulungan, one of the many islands that make up the archipelago.

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Link:

The Philippines' Calamian Islands May Compete as 'Most Beautiful' - Cond Nast Traveler