7 Lovely Philippine Beaches Viewed from a Hilltop

1. ANAWANGIN COVE (San Antonio, Zambales)

Crescent-shaped beach with grayish-white sands sandwiched by the ocean and the river would certainly take your breath away! Imagine this: mountains, ocean, pine forest, river and sandy beach all in just one frame. No wonder why Anawangin instantly rose to fame as soon as it was discovered!

The trail to the top: Quite steep and could really get muddy and slippery after a downpour but manageable I still suggest you take extra precautions. As long as the sun’s up you’re good to go! The short hike takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

Best hour to go: Mid-morning around 10am when the sun’s angle is high enough so that the beach wouldn’t be covered with the forest’s shadow. Also late afternoon but make sure to climb down before sundown. Mid-day if you can endure the sun’s heat.

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2. KAWIT BEACH & SANDBAR (Mararison Island, Antique)

Lush vegetation, quiet fishing village, and a sandbar at the tip of the beach are what to expect from the top. There’s also a Batanes-like view on the other side with rolling hills as green as it could be. Boats docked on the shore make up for a nice composition, and also marks that the fishing community is alive and kicking!

The trail to the top: Expect an easy and short hike. You’ll pass by few other viewpoints with surreal views before reaching the top. Also a home to many pitcher plants so be prepared to get wide-eyed (but don’t touch them).

Best hour to go: Any time of the day as long as the tide is low so that the sandbar is visible. Timing of tide is pretty inconsistent so check the tide chart or ask the locals.

Also read: Mararison Island, The Little Batanes of Antique

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3. LIWAN BEACH (Basot Island, Caramoan / aka Guinahoan)

A pristine and quiet beach surrounded by hills—Liwan Beach is best viewed from Guinahoan Lighthouse on a hilltop. It will surely make you feel like you’re on top of the world! You’ll see every bit of beauty with no obstructions at all. There’s also another breathtaking viewpoint on the other side of the hill. A visit to Guinahoan Lighthouse is usually included in Caramoan island-hopping tours so there’s no way you’re gonna miss it.

The trail to the top: Easy hike with scenic views along the way! You’ll also pass by several troops of huge mushrooms on top of huge cow poops which I find interesting haha. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach Guinahoan Lighthouse.

Best hour to go: Anytime of the day except mid-day unless you’re willing to endure the sun’s heat. You’re going to be on top of the world with no shade and shelter, not even trees.

You may book your trip to Caramoan here:
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4. MAHABANG BUHANGIN BEACH (Calaguas, Camarines Norte)

Mahabang Buhangin Beach is a long stretch of beach (hence the name) in Calaguas group of islands. Once you set foot on its pristine powdery white sands, you’ll surely want to stay and claim this beach as your own. And that desire intensifies as you climb up a hill and see its beauty in a different perspective. Dazzling both from up close and afar!

The trail to the top: Easy hike with few steep parts. Trail is grassy green, perfect for photo ops! The short hike lasts 20 to 30 minutes depending on your pace and frequency of your selfie sessions.

Best hour to go: Early in the morning, to catch sunrise at the hilltop! There’s no better way to start the day than to witness such wondrous beauty and admire the only God behind all these masterpieces!

Also read:
Calaguas Travel Guide, Itinerary, and Budget
I Love Calaguas Island Resort

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5. SAMBAWAN BEACH (Sambawan Island, Biliran)

Uncrowded white sand beach being hugged by crystalline waters certainly sounds awesome. Then add the view of a dormant volcano in the distance—now, that’s extraordinary! Once you’re on top, you’ll see beauty in every angle. This island destination is also a known nesting ground for sea turtles. In fact during our visit, there’s a small area fenced off by island stewards to protect a nest. Sambawan Island is indeed an untouched and well-preserved beauty.

The trail to the top: Concrete stairs from ground to the top sounds neat, but it was actually more tiring! I suggest you do stretching first before going up. You’ll be climbing the stairs for 10-15 minutes depending on your muscle strength!

Best hour to go: Mid-day when the sun shines gloriously and uncovers every beautiful thing. Don’t worry, there’s a watch tower at the hilltop where you could take shelter while enjoying the view.

You may book your trip to Biliran here:
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And here’s a couple more that we haven’t visited yet. Off-beaten but definitely deserves to be in our bucket list!

I cannot share details about the trail though, so if you’ve been to these places feel free to share your experience in the comments!

6. IRAWAN BEACH (San Vicente, Palawan)

 

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Irawan Beach (aka Erawan) is one of many beaches in San Vicente which stretches further north from the more famous Long Beach (the country’s longest white beach). It features an ivory white sandy shoreline dotted with coconut trees and giant boulders. At the northern end of the beach is a huge rock on top of a hill called Bato Ni Ningning which served as one of the filming locations for the Teleserye entitled “Ningning”. It now became a tourist viewpoint overlooking Irawan Beach and nearby mountains.

You may book your trip to Palawan here:
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7. ENGAÑO COVE (Palaui Island, Cagayan)

 

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A remote, raw, and tranquil beach known as Engaño Cove is best viewed from Cape Engaño Lighthouse that stands on the summit of a hill. Cape Engaño Lighthouse provides a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, Babuyan Islands, and Engaño Cove. From the Lighthouse, you’ll see how the beach is being hugged by the ocean and lush vegetation.

You may book your trip to Cagayan here:
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And that ends the list. Hope you discovered something new to add in your bucket list! If you have other useful tips or experiences, please share them in the comments!