Relax, it's island timeCaramoan Islands, Philippines
Yes, the 4000 hectares of limestone karsts bursting from the ocean make it look like Krabi in Thailand, but you won’t find nearly the same number of gawkers in the Caramoans, about 500 kilometres south-east of Manila.
There are 10 principal islands with pristine white-sand beaches and lush peaks where you can snorkel, kayak, trek and rock climb far from the tourist hordes. There is one main spot, Gota Village Resort, where you can rent rustic cabanas and more upscale villas on a private cove, but there aren’t any discos to frequent when the sun goes down. If watching fireflies lights up your life, though, this could be your idea of heaven.
The Caramoan Islands are accessible by air and boat. Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have regular flights to Pili Airport. Boats run from Sabang Port and take around two hours (US$2.50) to get to the islands.
- Private bathroom
- Spacious veranda
- Air conditioning
- TV and DVD player
- Mini fridge
Small wooden cabins at Gota Village start at about US$28 a night. At Hunongan Cove, bungalows start at about US$105.
Caramoan Islands
caramoan.ph