What's On Our Radar

El Nido and Boracay are on Condé Nast's Best Island Beaches list

This places our islands among the world's best—and who are we to argue?

Story by
Team GRID

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.

aerial view of El Nido island rock formation
Photo by Paco Guerrero

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.

Related News

This November, the inaugural CIFFT Tourism Press Award will honor the best tourism video, judged by an international panel of travel journalists.
Read More
Travelers can once again experience a night in this private beach resort.
Read More
Here’s how we can still support local businesses while we aren’t traveling.
Read More

You might also want to read these

Do it right, and your coffee can alleviate poverty, create strong relationships with immigrant communities, and safeguard the country from hunger.

Searching for Auntie Asthrine

Read More >>
In the city of Valenzuela, an industrial hub redraws the lines between spaces for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Streets Are For People

Read More >>
More and more urban farmers are planting their roots in Metro Manila—literally.

Urban Eden

Read More >>