In the Philippines Three of the world’s most beautiful beaches from your bungalow

In the southwest of the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippines lies Palawan, known as “the last frontier”. Covered in dense, unexplored, sparsely populated jungle and surrounded by a myriad of rock formations - constellations of Edens set upon the South China Sea. With its rainforests, deserted shores and crystal-clear lagoons where coral reefs emerge, Palawan attracts lovers of beauty. If its islands have stayed off the tourist map for so long, it’s because they were a Terra incognita even for Filipinos themselves for many years. The unparalleled blue of the sky, the crystal-clear water, the breathtaking richness of marine life, and the vivid green of the tropical vegetation. Is it just like a postcard? Just wait and see… you might even start to doubt whether the world as we know it exists.

In flip-flops and by banca

Three stop overs to discover one of the world’s most beautiful islands. In Sabang to begin with, there is a wide white-sand beach lined with coconut palms, and an emerald-green river winding through a maze of limestone formations. Your bungalow sits right there, facing the sea. You’ll explore it by banca beneath vaults bristling with stalactites, all the way to the sea. On the private Flower Island, a tiny coral islet off the coast of Palawan, you’ll find the very essence of a deserted island: long stretches of fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters teeming with colourful fish. You’ll set down your bags in one of the ten bamboo bungalows at the edge of the tropical forest. Far from the world, with a “no news, no shoes” atmosphere. You’ll finally arrive at El Nido at your overwater bungalow, with your feet in the water, in a private cove facing the lagoon. When the fishermen haul in their lines in the early morning from their slender outrigger canoes fitted with bamboo floats, after a night spent hunting squid, you’ll have the privilege of being alone before the bay and its sugarloaf hills, set on an unbelievably blue sea, crowned with jungle, and the dark cliffs where white-billed hornbills squawk. And soon, the beach comes alive, with a boho-chic vibe that recalls Thailand twenty years ago. Seafood restaurants, massage parlours and beach bars are run by expats who have fallen under the spell of the world’s most beautiful island; fishermen sell their daily catch at auction.