With the Philippine Tourism and Hospitality industry gearing up to slowly and safely reopen their doors to guests, more and more Filipinos are starting to plan trips to get some well-deserved vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the city or even just a change of scenery from being cooped up at home for the last three months. However, with the current limitations for air travel, it might be best to start exploring beach destinations that are just a drive away from two of the country’s biggest and most notable cities, Manila and Cebu.

Batangas

Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Manila. The province is home to many beaches and is famous for world-class diving spots including Anilao in Mabini, Sombrero Island in Tingloy, Ligpo Island in Bauan, these areas more popularly known as Anilao. Distance from Manila: 107.0 km | Travel Time: 1 h 46 min

La Union

La Union is famous for the beach town of San Juan, the surfing capital on this side of North Luzon and is a well-known beach destination not just for the summer. This province is a great place to travel for non-surfers and surfers alike. There is more to experience here apart from its famous surf. La Union is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the city of San Fernando, which also serves as the regional center of the whole Ilocos Region. Distance from Manila: 266.6 km | Travel Time: 4 h 11 min

Zambales

The Zambales coastline is most famous for its sandy beaches and deep blue sea teeming with coral reefs. The province is historical. Located here is the ancestral house of one of the most beloved Philippine Presidents, situated at Castillejos. Zambales is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the Municipality of Iba which is strategically located in the middle of the province. Distance from Manila: 254.3 km | Travel Time: 4 h 39 min

Mactan Island

Being one of the major tourist islands of Cebu, Mactan Island boasts of a diverse collection of tourist spots and attractions. Being a coral island, Mactan offers some of the best diving, snorkeling, island hopping, jet ski, sailing and cultural activities of any island in the Philippines. Distance from Cebu: 13.8 km | Travel Time: 31 min

Oslob

Oslob is in Cebu Island. Oslob is one of the two destinations in the Philippines famous for Whale Shark watching. It is a tourist magnet and over a hundred thousand tourists come here every year to swim with the whale sharks. Distance from Cebu: 118.3 km | Travel Time: 3 h 11 min

We can’t wait to hit the beach and bask in the sun! Our favorite part is watching breathtaking sunsets on the beautiful beaches of the Philippines. However, let’s all remember to follow safety guidelines from the government because we are still in the middle of a health pandemic. So, only start travelling when it’s safe. Let’s all stay healthy so we can keep creating memories with our loved ones. See you at the beach soon!