The future of traveling is
facing uncertainties brought on by the “new normal” or as aptly put: the "temporary abnormal", until a vaccine
for Covid-19 is discovered. Until then, expect travel to become heavily reliant
on precautionary measures such as social distancing. Crowded tourist
destinations will—for the meantime—be out of our travel plans. This however,
shall challenge travelers to be extra creative in exploring places. Great news
though, beach-goers need not worry. Because in a country blessed with more than
7,000 islands, we have a lot of beach choices that meet the criteria for proper
social distancin. Here are some of them.
Cibang Cove, Calayan Island
With a population of a
little over 16,000 people plus a handful of tourists at any given time, you can
achieve a double dose of recreation and social distancing on this island speckled
with picturesque nature spots. From hiking trails leading to waterfalls, hidden
lagoons, rolling hills and the long powdery white sandy shore of Cibang Cove,
there's several places on the island for you to escape into the island’s
offering of solitude bliss.
Panampangan Island, Tawi-Tawi
This island with the
longest sandbar in the Philippines extending to three kilometers, is hard to
reach because of its secluded location. One needs to rent a speedboat from the
island of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi for a two-hour sea journey before reaching Panampangan Island. Safe to say, you won’t share the
island to anyone. The only people you will see here are a few Badjao families
whose stilt houses can be seen half a kilometer from the island. Other than the
coconut trees and random shrubs, the island is devoid of permanent structures. It
will be just you and the pure white sands and crystal-clear waters surrounding
this island.
Discalarin Cove, Aurora
A few clicks on the map up
north from the surfing haven of Baler, one will come across an extended shoreline
glistening with white sands and azure-colored waters. Far from the crowd and
perfect for pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars at night, the beach of
Discalarin Cove shields you from the hordes of travelers.
San Vicente, Palawan
Social distancing or no
social distancing, the best time to visit this place is NOW. Because who knows
how long before the San Vicente tourism master plan transform this quiet beach
into a Boracay-like tourism hub. With a shoreline stretching to 14 kilometers
and a jump-off to another remote beach found in Port Barton, San Vicente beach
is the ideal spot to count secluded strides.
Seco Island, Antique
The rough and three-hour sea
journey to Seco Island is a difficult one to take even for hardened
backpackers. But upon laying eyes on the place, everything becomes worthwhile. Shaped
like an elbow, Seco Island is a Marine Protected Area thanks to a bounteous set
of marine life flourishing around it. Be wary, social distancing with the
fishes is almost impossible if you go snorkeling in the waters of Seco Island.
Alibijaban Island, Quezon
Hard to pronounce but easy
to love, Alibijaban Island is located on the southern tip of the Bondoc
Peninsula in Quezon Province. Known for its rich set of coral reefs and
mangrove forest, the island is also a home to just 1,643 residents—all of whom
best typifies the simple island life. It is an island boasting of an expansive
wilderness area, and a shoreline perfect for beach bumming without the crowd.
Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental
This 45-hectare island is
a protected marine sanctuary and home to an incredible biodiversity. To date,
there are a total recorded 10 bat species, 72 bird species, 22 butterfly
species, 572 fish species and 244 coral species all flourishing inland and in
the surrounding waters of Danjugan Islands. Man-made structures are limited as
much as possible and the island only allows a few visitors per day—all done via
online reservation—making it the ideal island to get closer to nature.
Palumbanes Islands, Catanduanes
Palumbanes group of islands is composed of Parongpong, Tignob and Calabagio. All three are known for
their postcard-like appearances—especially during summer—thanks to its
green-contoured mountains, pure white sands and enveloping waters teeming with
marine life. The sheltered vibe of these islands made it a popular shooting
location of numerous "Survivor" reality series from different
countries.
Kalanggaman Island, Leyte
Already a popular day-trip
destination but if you come on weekdays, there’s a huge chance you will get the
island to yourself. Pitch a tent–just like what we did–and watch the canopy of stars give way to a
fiery sunrise the next morning. Cap it off with a long walk over its fine white
sandbar. Take note of the strong undertow at the sandbar, so best advised to
swim on the shallow part fronting the main body of the island.
