Puka Beach in Boracay, El Nido in Palawan, and Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley are among the world's top 100 best beaches, according to CNN.
“We’ve scoured the planet, demanded answers from our most well-traveled friends, colleagues and cohorts, absorbed passionate pleas from readers, researched, investigated and examined the evidence then finally tipped the sand from our shoes, washed the brine from our eyes and put together a pretty good guide to the best beaches on the planet,” said CNN on how it came up with the list.
With over 7,000 islands, it’s not surprising that beaches are big tourist attractions in the Philippines. “Whatever your mood, there’s something to suit: from kilometers of fine white sand with not a soul in sight, to party strands, to specialist water-sports beaches, to tiny, sandy isthmuses in the lee of tropical islets,” wrote Lindsay Bennett in her globetrotter island guide, “Philippines.”
However, CNN handpicked only three beaches. Puka Beach – named for its puka shell, which means “the sand here is coarse” – is ranked 84th on the list. Among Puka's amenities Puka has are “powdery beaches, water sports and spas.”
On what makes Puka Beach special, CNN notes: “Puka is the second-longest beach on Boracay Island and relatively empty most times, with no resorts and a limited number of restaurants.”
Number 14 on the list was El Nido, which was featured in the Hollywood movie “The Bourne Legacy.” CNN said it has “powder-fine beaches and gin-clear waters,” which “complement the stunning views of karst limestone formations, empty lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls.”
“Surrounding waters contain more than 50 species of coral and attract whales, whale sharks, sea cows, manta rays, dolphins and endangered turtles,” CNN noted.
On another list of “The Philippines’ best beaches and islands,” CNN’s Candice Lopez-Quimpo wrote: “If Palawan is indeed ‘the last frontier’ of the Philippines, as it’s been dubbed, the coastal town of El Nido is the gateway to wild adventure.”
Ranked No. 10 was Palaui Island, which is noted for its “glorious white sands (that) meet volcanic rocks and blue-green waters topside.” Likewise, its “coral gardens and a rich marine reserve meet divers under the surface.”
“Palaui is all about raw beauty,” CNN said, but cautioned, “Treks to get there require battling thorny grass, muddy ground and a mangrove forest.”
For those who want to be far from the madding crowd, CNN has good news: “With no resorts or hotels, Palaui has only two real options: camping under the stars or home stays.” — LBG/HS, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
