Last Updated: April 1, 2022
Best Pink Sand Beaches In The Philippines
Curious about pink sand beaches in the Philippines? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed guide covers all the prettiest pink sand beaches in the island country!
Black sand, pink sand, and white sand beaches – the Philippines have got them all! The island country is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and that goes for any color of sand you can think of. Some of the world’s best pink beaches are in the Philippines, and this guide will tell you all about them!
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What To Expect From The Pink Sand Beaches in the Philippines
Don’t expect to be immediately wowed by the exquisitely pink sand of the beaches featured here. The pink hue is usually more subtle, and most of the photos of the beaches in which it’s very bright and colorful are heavily edited.
You might not even notice the pink if there’s overcast, and the colors are definitely most prominent when there’s the sun. The tiny grains of red coral manage to catch the light, making the entire beach look pink. Sunset is also a good time for viewing pink sand beaches, especially when there are many different colors in the sky. This lighting helps the pink hues in the sand to shine, so keep that in mind if you’re going to be taking photos.
Before we get into the details of the best pink sand beaches in the Philippines, it’s worth it to go over the reasons why they exist in the first place. Corals are the key reason why pink sand beaches exist in the world – tiny pieces of coral, shells, and other materials from the nearby reefs are mixed with white or gold sand, making the entire beach appear pink. It can look very pink from a distance, but the closer you get the easier it is to see those tiny pieces of crushed red corals.
Great Santa Cruz Island
Photo: Wowzamboangacity, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Great Santa Cruz Island is a very small island in the southern Philippines. It’s situated in the area of Zamboanga City, and it’s one of the smallest inhabited islands in that area. The island has been a popular destination with tourists since the 70s and 80s, but in recent years it has truly become a tourist hotspot in the southern Philippines.
This gorgeous island is home to several amazing pink sand beaches, which manage to attract countless tourists from all over the world. The pink beaches owe their color to red organ pipe corals in the many reefs in the area, but it’s worth noting that most of the island’s coral reefs are destroyed as a consequence of coral reef mining.
The entire island, along with Little Santa Cruz Island, is now considered a protected area in the Philippines. The entire place is a large nature park, which helps limit the damage done to the island’s ecosystem.
Sila Island
Sila Island is a tiny island in the town of San Vicente in Northern Samar, some two hours away from the mainland Philippines. The secluded island is home to several pink sand beaches in the Philippines, which are the main tourist attraction in the area.
The crystal clear blue water and fine pink sand attract numerous tourists to the hotel resorts on the island. Sila Island is popular for leisurely vacations, but there are also plenty of ways to stay entertained for travelers who want to do more than like on a pink sand beach. You might need to visit some of the other islands in San Vincente though since Sila is mostly reserved for resorts and tourism.
It’s worth noting that the Pink Sand Resort has the brightest pink beach on the island. The other pink sand beaches are slightly less colorful, most likely because there’s less crushed coral mixed in with the sand.
Comiran Island
Comiran Island is one of the islands in a group that lies near the southernmost tip of Palawan. This island is special because it’s the only one that doesn’t boast beautiful white-sand beaches. Instead, Comiran Island has an incredible pink sand beach that very much resembles the beaches seen in Matnog and Zamboanga.
If you’re planning to spend some time exploring the beautiful Palawan beaches, be sure to add a quick day trip to Comirna Island to your itinerary. Head to Balabac to look into boat tours and island hopping trips – this part of Palawan is home to more than 35 islands, so boat tours are extremely common in the area.
Comiran Island is tiny and remote, and there’s really not much else to do here other than admire the pink sand and untouched nature. It takes less than an hour to do a quick loop around the entire island, and the most impressive sight will still be huge shells lying on the pink sand.
Subic Beach
Subic Beach in Matnog is a beautiful pink sand beach on Calintaan Island. And it’s not just a pretty beach with pink coralline sand, but the entire place looks and feels like you’ve stepped into paradise.
The beach is backed by long rows of tall trees, which offer plenty of shelter from the sun. It’s situated in a crescent bay, and there’s even a smaller Subic Beach in the northern part of the day, but that one has more creamy white sand than a pink sand.
There are several resorts along the main Subic beach, so plenty of places where you can stay if you’re looking into a longer vacation in the Philippines and you want to wake up to beautiful pink sands every morning.
Additionally, since pink sand indicates the presence of reef corals nearby, Calintaan Island seems like a great place for anyone who enjoys scuba diving and snorkeling. Most of the diving tours of Northern Samar stop by this charming island anyway, and they’re a good way of exploring Calintaan and Subic Beach on a day trip.
Tikling Island
Boat tours of Northern Samar will sometimes take you to Tikling Island. It’s a privately owned island with a stunning pink sand beach, and it’s usually open for tours. You won’t see any cottages or fancy resorts there – just vast stretches of pink sand, crystal clear sea, and unspoiled nature. The only hut you might see on the island is that of the caretaker and his family.
It’s worth noting that unspoiled nature also means wild animals, so don’t venture too far into the forest on your own. There’s a presence of wild boar on this charming little island, so just stick to where your group is. Tikling Island is not open to the public, so the only way to see its mesmerizing pink beach is to join one of the tours that frequently visit it.
It’s best to look into different tours – some will offer hikes around the island as well, while others might stick to the pink sand beach. Also, it’s important to note that Tikling Island is very close to Calitaan Island and Subic beach, so most tours that go there should visit this island as well.
Cape San Agustin
Cape San Agustin is the southern cape of Mindanao Island, which is the third-largest island in the Philippines. It’s not exactly an easy place to reach by land, but it’s certainly worth making the effort if you’re looking for some spectacular vistas.
Cape San Augustin all the way in Governor Generoso, on the southeastern edge of the island. It’s far from most urban centers, and it’s not exactly a popular place for tours. If you want to visit Parola Beach at Cape San Augustin, you’ll most likely need to do it all on your own.
The vista is worth the effort though – there’s a vantage point here, and you just need to climb a few steps to be greeted with the most amazing view you can imagine. Parola Beach, which is the cape’s pink sand beach, doesn’t disappoint either.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll come to the actual end of the road on this island, and that can also be an interesting experience that doesn’t happen too often.
Parola Island (Tailon Island)
Parola Island is a tiny island Camarines Norte, Philippines. It was previously known as Tailon Island, and it’s not to be confused with Parola Island in Luzon, which is mostly just rock and cliffs. Parola is a lighthouse and Tailon Island got renamed when the local lighthouse was moved onto the island.
Tailon Island is a small island with a vast stretch of pink sand. It’s a privately owned island, so it’s unexplored and unspoiled for the most part. If you want to visit the island, you’ll have to contact the tourist’s office of the Municipality of Jose Panganiban and see whether you can do it on your own or if you must join a group tour.
There’s not much else to do on the island other than swim and work on your tan. There are coral reefs nearby, making Parola Island a great option for all scuba divers. However, you would need to bring your own gear, since there are no diving agencies that operate directly on this island.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
