Beyond Boracay, alternate island paradises

Limestone formations abound near El Nido on the island of Palaawan.

THE SIX-MONTH CLOSURE of the island resorts of Boracay shouldn't mean cancelling trips to the Philippines. Since the announcement last week that the island paradise is shutting down for six-months, Filipino/Americans and other tourists who have made plans to visit have been scrambling to cancel their reservations and change their destinations.

Don't worry. With over 7,000 islands to choose from, there are plenty of island paradises to choose from.

Filipino/Aemerican Celeste Perez had to change the venue of her destination wedding when the Philippine government closed Boracay to give the small island a chance to take a deep breath and  give its environmental beauty time to recover from the deluge of tourists and to update its infrastructure that was not equipped to handle island-loving travelers from all over the globe.

“Planning a destination wedding is like international relations at the same time, but really the reason why I wanted to have the wedding in the Philippines, is I wanted people to have a moment to experience Filipino culture,” Celeste Perez told television news on ABS-CBN.

Fortunately, for her, with only weeks to go before her May 8th wedding, she was able to move the site for her dream wedding to El Nido, another island waiting to be discovered by the world's island hopping tourists and back-packing Millennial vagabonds.

“Moving 100 people from one island to another is not an easy feat, particularly when you have to book not just their reservations at a resort, you also have to make sure everyone can get on a flight onto of that you have all the other people displaced from Boracay.”

The closing of Boracay will begin April 26, but that shouldn't mean you should cancel your search for that perfect, tropical island with white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, feasts of exotic food and a friendly and fun-loving people.

Thanks to CNN and various other travel online sites, here are eight alternatives (in no particular order):

El Nido, Palawan

The island of Palawan is next in line is already popular with the more adventurous tourists. It has the beaches, touruist-oriented activities and a wide range of accommodations from hostels to five-star resorts. Because of its established attractions, this could suffer the same environmental damage that befell Boracay.

if Palawan is indeed "the last frontier" of the Philippines, as it's been dubbed, the coastal town of El Nido is the gateway to wild adventure.

Sure, it's got powder-fine beaches and gin-clear waters. But the views are what really sell the place.

Off the coast of El Nido are majestic karst limestone formations, empty lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls. All are easily explored.

What to do: El Nido is a popular base for divers. Surrounding waters contain more than 50 species of coral, and attract whales, whale sharks, sea cows, manta rays, dolphins and endangered turtles.

Palm trees, white sand beaches are almost a cliche at Coron on Palawan.

Coron, Palawan

Down the road from El Nido is Coron. It’s not the easiest to access, but utopia never is. While every island might claim to be the most beautiful, the most pristine, the most memorable- Coron actually takes the cake. It’s magical.

Getting there will involve either a 5-hour ferry from El Nido or you can take a (slightly expensive) puddle jumper flight from Manilla- but once you arrive, every penny and every second of travel spent will be immediately worth it.

First thing to do is to rent a scooter and go. Wind through golden fields, dusty roads, and rolling hills to discover the most incredible views. The contrasting colors of dry landscape to lush jungle next to white sand and crystal blue water cannot be described in words.

Feel lke an adventurer discovering an island for the first time. No tourists, few villages, and certainly no big development.

There are enough secluded beaches for everyone on Palaui Island.

Palaui Island, Cagayan Valley

This is for the most hardy adventurers who aren't looking for the air-conditioned resorts localed at other sites.This isolated island is a natural secret -- only the brave and persevering bother to visit.

With no resorts or hotels, Palaui has only one real option -- camping under the stars. Otherwise, visitors are left to explore homestay options.

Glorious white sands surrounded by volcanic rocks on one side kiss blue-green waters on the other. Snorkeling and diving brings you face to face with coral gardens and a rich marine reserve.

Palaui is all about raw beauty. But it takes some work to get there. Treks should be blessed with clear blue skies, patient companions and trusted local guides.

Uncharted Philippines offers a three-day Palaui Island Photography Tour for $240 that includes transportation, accomodation, food and guides.

Bohol's Chocolate Hills

Panglao, Bohol

Once a sleepy island, Panglao is being roused by travelers in search of gorgeous beaches. It's a refuge for those who appreciate a diverse menu of aquatic attractions.

Years ago, a number of foreigners came to Panglao on holiday and never bothered to leave. Locals picked up their languages to better converse with the tourists. In addition to English, in Panglao you have a good chance of meeting a local with a handy grasp of German, Swiss or Japanese.

Options include dolphin watching, whale spotting, diving with barracudas, jackfish, sea snakes and brilliant coral formations.

In addition to its beaches, the island of Bohol is famous for its Chocolate Hills, an unusual rolling terrain of more than 1,000 dome-shaped hills. The hills are named for their brown color during dry season, when grass dries up.

The "world's smallest primate" -- the endangered Philippine tarsier -- also inhabits the island.

Not a whole lot of action on Bantayan Island.

Bantayan Island, Cebu

If you want to get away from it all, Bantayan is for you. Bantayan Island has remained relatively untouched by modern life, save for a smattering of foreigners who have taken up residence, sucked in by the island's white sands, aqua-colored waters and red-gold sunsets.

Beers are cold and cheap, townsfolk are hospitable and the dreary troubles of the outside world are easily forgotten.

Holy crowds: If you're after peace and quiet, don't plan a stay during the Holy Week before Easter. The island is crowded with Filipino travelers during this period, with rooms and services booked months in advance.

What to do: Relax. Action-packed it ain't. There are no five-star hotels, no malls, no fashion-forward shopping centers.

The beach you choose might have appeared on TV's 'Survivor.'

Caramoan, Camarines Sur

Named after the local sea turtle, Caramoan is as scenic as it is secluded.

Stretches of white sand run between huge boulders and rock formations. Scuba divers, island hoppers and beach bums all converge here.

Complementing the beaches are caves, waterfalls, freshwater pools, underground streams and lagoons.

The "Survivor" reality show series and similar international programs have used Caramoan as a shooting location.

Despite the locale's popularity with TV production companies, there are enough beaches to go around for everyone.

Mountain climbers can trek to Mount Caglago's summit and take in a terrific view of the Caramoan islands and islets. The mountain is a pilgrimage site for some, thanks to its gigantic statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Samal, Davao

A burgeoning tourist destination, Samal is on a mission to get the word out on its 118-kilometer coastline of white sandy beaches.

You know the highlights: pristine waters, lush greens, rock formations, mangrove and coconut palms. Numerous resorts provide a range of choices for visitors, from luxurious resorts to backpacker options.

"The vanishing island" is the nickname of Shanipaan Shoal, a tiny island that literally disappears from sight during high tide. The only thing visible at high water is a single, elevated cottage poking out of the sea.

The vast Coral Garden Marine Park, a fish sanctuary filled with diverse marine life, makes Sambal a favorite among divers and snorkelers.

Islands of all sizes among the Siargao Islands.

Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte

Known as the top surfing island in the Philippines, Siargao is often overlooked as a beachcomber's paradise.

There are breaks for beginner surfers, moderate ones and even pros looking for three-meter-high waves. For those with zero surf skills -- and no desire to acquire any -- there are also pristine beaches with milder waves, perfect for sunning and swimming.

Ideal days for surfing are between mid-August and mid-December, when the swell is most consistent. Beginners should visit when waves are smaller, around April or May.

Dumaguete

____________________________________________________________________________________