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Palawan has once again been voted the best island in the world. In 2024, Palawan reclaimed its title in the Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, earning high praise for its stunning natural beauty and unique attractions such as diving in World War II wrecks, exploring old-growth rainforests, and paddling along the subterranean river in Puerto Princesa. This accolade marks another recognition of Palawan’s consistent appeal to travelers worldwide. In fact, Palawan has been honored as the best island in the world a total of five times by Travel + Leisure magazine. These accolades were received in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, and most recently in 2024.
Furthermore, Palawan has received recognition as the best island in the world from other well-known publications and figures besides Travel + Leisure. Notably, Palawan has been consistently recognized in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. In 2022, it was ranked among the world’s top islands and was placed 8th in the Asia category. This recognition underscores its consistent appeal and the efforts of local communities and stakeholders in promoting sustainable tourism.
Additionally, individual destinations within Palawan, such as Banwa Private Island, have received accolades from luxury travel platforms like Destination Deluxe, which named it “Private Island of the Year” for three consecutive years. These recognitions highlight Palawan’s global reputation as a premier travel destination, celebrated for its natural beauty and commitment to sustainable tourism.
Banwa Private Island.
What concerns famous figures, Bill Gates stayed on Palawan with his family for a vacation in April 2015 at the luxurious Amanpulo Resort on Pamalican Island, Palawan. They also visited El Nido during their stay. Amanpulo is known for attracting high-profile guests due to its exclusivity and stunning natural surroundings, making it a fitting choice for a private and luxurious getaway.
Amanpulo Resort on Pamalican Island
Other notable figures include:
Beyoncé and Jay-Z: The celebrity power couple reportedly enjoyed a vacation in El Nido, Palawan, staying at a luxurious resort and enjoying the island’s stunning natural beauty.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: During their time together, the Hollywood stars visited the exclusive Amanpulo Resort on Pamalican Island, part of the Palawan archipelago.
Mariah Carey: The famous singer spent time at Amanpulo, enjoying the resort’s privacy and pristine surroundings.
Michael Bloomberg: The former mayor of New York City and billionaire businessman has also been reported to have vacationed at Amanpulo Resort.
Paris Hilton: The socialite and media personality has visited Palawan, sharing her experiences on social media and praising the island’s beauty.
Manny Pacquiao: The world-renowned Filipino boxer and politician frequently visits Palawan for both vacation and business, often highlighting the island’s attractions in interviews and social media posts.
Some reasons why Palawan was voted best island in the world
Palawan has been voted as the best island in the world multiple times for several compelling reasons:
Stunning Natural Beauty: Palawan is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, featuring limestone cliffs, pristine white-sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters. The island’s dramatic scenery is a major draw for tourists seeking picturesque destinations.
Twin Lagoons in Coron.
Rich Marine Life: The island offers exceptional diving and snorkeling experiences, particularly in places like the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Divers can explore vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine species, and World War II shipwrecks.
Unique Attractions: Palawan is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. This underground river is a major tourist attraction, allowing visitors to paddle through its cavernous tunnels.
Ecotourism and Conservation Efforts: Palawan is celebrated for its commitment to ecotourism and sustainable practices. Efforts to preserve its natural environment, including initiatives in El Nido and Coron, have been well-received by both tourists and environmentalists.
Adventure Activities: The island offers a wide range of adventure activities, such as kayaking through lagoons, exploring hidden beaches, and hiking in lush rainforests. These activities provide thrilling experiences for adventure seekers.
Exclusivity and Luxury: Palawan boasts luxurious resorts and private islands that cater to high-end travelers. Banwa Private Island, for example, has been recognized for its exclusivity and top-notch services.
Cultural and Historical Significance: The island’s rich cultural heritage and historical sites add to its appeal. Visitors can explore indigenous communities, historical landmarks, and cultural festivals that showcase Palawan’s unique traditions.
Warm Hospitality: The friendliness and hospitality of the local people contribute to a welcoming and enjoyable experience for tourists. The warmth and helpfulness of the residents often leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Accessibility and Connectivity: Despite its remote location, Palawan has good accessibility through its airports in Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron. This makes it relatively easy for tourists to reach the island from major cities in the Philippines and beyond.
These factors, combined with its consistent recognition in various travel awards and publications, solidify Palawan’s reputation as one of the world’s top travel destinations.
Filitour planned our tour very well.Good recommandation for the overnight stay.The crew was very helpfuland they prepared very nice meals for us.Strongly recommended
The best experience of my life!!I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a special engagement in beautiful El Nido!!Melasel arranged everything for me and had so many great suggestions and knowledge of how to make this a magical day! I was super worried because it is difficult to arrange such an important event when you live on the other side of the world! But Mel was amazing and understood exactly what I wanted! And went out of her way to accommodate all my requests!She even had a clever story to tell my girlfriend to cover the photographer being with us all day!On the day the weather was very rainy with many showers. Mel and Rene were in constant contact with me with plan B and even contacted our hotel to discuss options of hosting the proposal there. Completely above and beyond what I paid for.Luckily in the end the weather gave us a small window and Mel set everything up beautifully on a sand bar floating in the middle of crystal clear waters surrounded by limestone islands with stunning rocky formations.Island Hopping in the Philippines somehow peered into my brain and delivered a perfect replica of the proposal I had in my head.It was simply perfect down to the smallest detail! Thank you so much, I cannot recommend you guys enough!!
I give 5 stars because they actually helped me to arrange the tour to Balabac in last minute. However, because the money wired through the local bank in my country took time to be processed, so i missed the boat due to peak season as many people paid before my money was received by the tour guide.As most of people usually feel, once your money has been transferred out to someone you do not know, you probably frustrated that your money would not be able to be refunded.But not in my experience. I dont need to be worry, the owner refunded me the money he has received (minus the bank fees). He promised to refund me and he did it. It was around 18.700 Pesos.So, eventhough i didn't manage to go with the tour, but i am really satisfied with their legitimate and great business practice. Hopefully, people will try their services and not worry about their legit business!Thanks a lot!
The most wonderful experience from booking to beach! Karel and Mel were so fast and responsive to my very last minute trip over the holidays. We booked a private boat for two and could not have been happier with our four day trip! We didn’t think about anything other than snorkeling the entire time. Linda, our captain, cooked wonderful meals and took us to totally empty beautiful beaches. We loved staying the night in Pical especially! Wonderful to experience the Philippines this way! Will come back again and would recommend to anyone!
We booked the 3 day 2 night expedition, from Coron to Sibaltan.First of all the booking part was really simple. I organized this trip to the Philippines last minute for my family (my parents and my uncles) but Karel answered all my questions very quickly and really made everything easier for me. It was an incredible experience. Albert, our tour leader, is a wonderful guy, always smiling and ready to help us. They assisted us in everything and really took care of making everything go smoothly. The accommodation on the islands is as spartan as you expect but the location of each hut alone is worth the trip. The wonder of nature was then added to the goodness of cuisine. It's really difficult to argue how you can cook all that goodness on a boat.If you are looking for an authentic experience, in contact with nature, off the beaten track, this company's private expedition is certainly for you.
What an unforgettable experience! We did a two night (3 day) island hopping tour from Sibaltan to Coron. Everything was so well organized and the boat crew were amazing and really made sure we had a great time. The accommodation was rustic, but added to the authentic experience of the Philippines. Karel always responded to any queries we had promptly. Our boatman, Albert, was the most amazing chef and we enjoyed every meal. The crew taught the kids how to fish with a line which was their highlight of the trip. They took us to the most unbelievable snorkelling spots along the way. Would highly recommend this trip.
This is a must to do!!Super ultimate tour is the best with Kayangan and barracuda lake, twin lagoons (my favorite), coral garden (blue fabulous coral) were the best. It’s really worth it to pay for private tour (3500 to 4000 PHP). You will also have to pay for entrance fees (150 to 200PHP by location) and eventually shopping at the market - must do (count 300 for 2 for fish, pork, fruits and vegetables, water).
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the stunning Bacuit Gulf.Based on the comments, I contacted Mel.Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.The on-board staff were very friendly and very helpful.And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.A big thank-you.
This tour went well above all our expectations! I couldn't recommend this enough! The boat crew, captain and tour guide were nothing but amazing, everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly. The crew knew the best spots to visit that weren't overcrowded with tourists, 3 times we were lucky enough to have whole islands to ourselves! It was my partner's birthday while away and everything went above and beyond, bonfire, cake, birthday card, singing and celebrating with us.If you love camping this is definitely a tout you should do, it has been the highlight of our trip!!
We booked a 4 days/3 nights private boat trip from Coron to Sibaltan. The organization went very well from the beginning, the owner answered to all my questions, and we were able to choose which islands to visit and where to sleep. The first night we slept in a bungalow in Banana Island, the second we camped in Araw beach and the last we slept in a seafront bungalow builded on a tree in Pical on Iloc Island.The islands in that area are the most beautiful islands I have ever seen, with clear water, lots of coral reef and fishes to see, white sand and almost deserted. The crew was very friendly and polite and they organize every single meal and for camping they give you a tent which was just perfect! This was our highlight in our 2 weeks in the Philippines and I wish I had booked a longer trip. A private trip gives you the freedom to decide where and when to go.
Gérard Benoit
2023-02-08
recommends
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the beautiful bay of Bacuit.
Seeing the comments, I contacted Mel.
Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.
The crew were very friendly and very helpful.
And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.
In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I can recommend Mel and his team highly enough.
A big thank-you.
André Mardoñal
2019-10-22
recommends
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The island world of Linapacan between Coron and El Nido with the clearest waters in the world is truly a dream for itself! Without a boat you won't be able to see it! But what this boat trips makes so amazing is the crew! Once you come on board they might be shy in the beginning but will make you feel welcome and home from the first moment. Not only that they are looking that you sit comfortable all the time, they will prepare fresh and delicious food what the buy from local markets.
They know the best spots and most beautiful islands and will bring you to places where you get this "Robinson Cruisoe feeling". Every day you visit 3 to 5 spots for snorkeling, enjoying a beach or exploring a little island.
The accommodation we had was good and simple. We slept in bungalows and tents right at the beach. Sheets and towels were always provided and sometimes towels.
After a while you feel like a family on board. We loved living the boat life didn't wanna leave! If you doubt take a longer than shorter trip!
For any questions please message me.
Sarah Uhan
2019-01-31
recommends
All in all it was a really great experience. It's a once in a lifetime thing to do and you won't get more authentic and basic Philippino experiences anywhere else.
We were not so lucky with the wind and waves so we couldn't do all the stops we wanted to unfortunately. So be aware that especially the months from January to May can be very rough on water. But we still saw some great places Benji took us.
Benji and his family was very nice and they did everything they could. The food was amazing - always freshly made in authentic Philippino style and way too much for the 2 of us.
Make sure to bring enough cash - many of the islands cost extra (entrance fee) and be aware that any kind of accommodation and food (200php per meal) is not included in the boat fee. Also the deposit and commission fee for the agency are a little over the top, especially since the crew does not get any of it. The costs all in all are rather high for phillipino circumstances especially given the basicness of it all. However if you think about that all 5 boat people (in our case) live off of the boat fee alone, you spent the money willingly.
Be aware though that accommodation and sanataries are very basic if even existant. So you gotta have the right mindset. Bring tissue, sanatiszer and earplugs to get some better sleep.
Another feedback I have concerning the size of the boat. I don't think it is sufficient for more than 4 people. If the weather is like it was these days, you always have to sit on top and it was already a little squeezy with us 2 and 5 boat people. So I guess 4 guests can be fine but more than that won't have the space. There is different boat sizes but make sure to talk about that with Karel in advance.
Other than that it was really worth it and we got to see so many great beaches and reefs which we could have never been able to visit without the tour.
Eric Liu
2018-03-15
recommends
It was scary to book a 5 day trip with no places to stay confirmed or a strong itinerary. And in the Philippines, communication is difficult. But that is part of changing mindsets to a rural island mindset. In the end, everything worked out. We had some tough moments with bugs. But we also had some amazingly beautiful secluded beaches, the best snorkeling in the world, relaxing on the beach, and freshly made food on the boat while docked at beautiful places (better than being on land). Note, we went with Benji.
Recommendations:
- you must get a local SIM when you arrive to make sure pickup and everything works out
- some islands have bugs - use bug spray!
Pros:
- a fraction of the cost
- away from the crowds
- can customize what you want - just ask!
- a truly local experience - saw a REAL rural town
Cons:
- locals aren't really polished tour guides
- if you don't ask for it, you won't get it, need to be pretty proactive
- pretty simple "activities" - no frills like bathrooms or kayaks etc.
Ángela Deand
2017-04-26
recommends
We can't be more grateful to have had the opportunity of experience the peace in Patoyo Kitesurfing Camping!
Spending two weeks in Dimancal Island, gave us the chance to experiment the rural and traditional way of life, in touch with the nature and people.
We have learnt how to cook with fire, how to open a coconut and how to survive in an environment where for a time we forget about unnecessary needs, just to focus on enjoy the small details and pleasures of life.
Mentioning too the amazing snorkeling and beautiful islands around this place, which make it unique and special.
It is a lovely option if you are running away from tourists and overcrowded places in the Philippines. You will find yourself in the middle of virgin beaches and nature, surrounding by charming people.
We will definitely come back!
Caroline Danielle
2017-02-13
recommends
We haven't done a Tao tour, but I would suspect that this is a cheaper version of the same thing. Our boat operator (Benji) and the entire crew were were fun, friendly and made an effort to ensure we had a good time. If you get a large group of people together it can be a really inexpensive alternative to other Coron-El Nino and vice versa island hopping tours.
The food was good, but more expensive than as advertised by Karl. The price quote we got was 100 php a meal, but the boat charged us 200. Since the food was good we didn't mind the extra expense, but it is important to keep in mind if you're on a budget. Definitely plan for some incidental spending.
Our boat did have some mechanical issues and as a result we ended up being stuck in the same place for longer than we wanted to be. That being said, little could have been done about it and the trip was fun nonetheless.
Hauk Are Fjeld
2017-01-01
recommends
If you believe that doing the touristic tours in El Nido and going to "The hidden beach" takes you off the beaten path, you are wrong. There are lots of beautiful places in Palawan, but few of these places are without any other tourists. If you want to spend some extra effort on getting away from the tourist places, and don't mind a little "primitive" living, Island Hopping in the Philippines is definitely something you should check out
Arnold Cabiguen
2015-05-08
recommends
The snorkeling in this area is phenomenal. Clearest waters in the world. I guess it's because there is relatively such lower tourist traffic through here, and the locals really protect the reefs!
We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.
Experience the thrill of island hopping in the Philippines
