Two of the Philippines' top destinations have made it to yet another world’s best island list: El Nido and Boracay Islands have earned their spots on Condé Nast Traveler’s 25 best island beaches around the world. The annual list is determined by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice survey, where readers get to vote for their favorite destinations.
In a year without travel however, this list is made extra sentimental for readers; revealing places that not only made a mark in their travels, but have also gotten them through the months we were all stuck at home.
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This isn’t the first time the two islands have been recognized: in 2019, Boracay was voted the best island in Asia, while travel magazine Travel + Leisure named Palawan as the world’s best island. This year, both island beaches ranked within the list’s top 10, with El Nido placing ninth and Boracay taking the second spot—bested only by St. Barts in the Caribbean.
“We would like to thank the travelers who voted for our destinations. We draw inspiration from this warm reception and solid vote of confidence from our satisfied patrons,” says Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in an official press release. “As our destinations gradually reopen with health and safety measures in place, we will continue our conservation and protection efforts of these areas.”
As of October 2020, both islands have also opened to domestic tourists, subject to health and safety protocols outlined by the DOT. Check out our stories about tourist destinations reopening in the Philippines: Back to El Nido and Back to Boracay.
