Virac

Surfing Puraran's legendary "Majestic" waves is a bit like attending a wild, invitation-only party thrown by Mother Nature herself-intimidating, exhilarating, and if you're not careful, liable to spit you out with sand in awkward places. From November to April, this hidden enclave in Puraran transforms into a hotbed of surfing bravado, attracting a curious mix of laid-back locals, veteran Australian wave-chasers, and slightly nervous amateurs clutching rented boards like lucky charms. Venture out just after sunrise when the water glistens like an overenthusiastic Instagram filter and the crowds are sparse enough to forgive your inevitable wipeouts. Give yourself a couple of days' notice to scope out accommodation-nothing fancy here, but charmingly rustic bungalows abound-and budget around $30 a day for basic creature comforts (plus a few more pesos for post-wave beers, an essential part of the local surf etiquette). Pack sunscreen thicker than your ego, an open mind, and a willingness to laugh at yourself, because Puraran doesn't care if you're a pro or a poser. Why brave the majestic madness? Because one ride on these waves-successfully or hilariously otherwise-is the kind of story you'll be insufferably recounting for years to come.

If your idea of paradise is wandering sleep-deprived at sunrise up windswept hills that look suspiciously like the illegitimate child of Scottish Highlands and Jurassic Park, then Binurong Point in Baras is right up your alley. Located on the rugged eastern edge of Catanduanes, this place rewards you with panoramas so absurdly beautiful they feel almost unfair-and are mercifully free of tourist hordes for now. Named after the local practice of "buro," meaning preserved or pickled, Binurong Point was historically a fisherman's haven for preserving their catch, although these days it's more likely to preserve your Instagram feed. Show up at dawn, when the rising sun splashes gold onto the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean stretches moodily into eternity. Plan at least a day ahead, carry decent hiking shoes, plenty of water, and around 200-300 pesos, including entrance and guide fees (plus some extra pesos for tipping your guide, who'll hopefully prevent you from taking selfies too close to the edge). Sure, getting there means a pre-dawn wake-up and subjecting yourself to relentless ocean breezes-but trust me, years from now, you'll relish telling anyone willing to listen about how you stood atop a lonely cliff in the Philippines' answer to Scotland, contemplating the universe (but mostly breakfast).

Forget Boracay's selfie sticks and Palawan's Instagram posers-Caramoan Islands is the Philippines' sneaky little secret, a rugged paradise so postcard-perfect it landed itself as a backdrop for "Survivor." And overnighting here feels a bit like you've stumbled onto a reality show yourself, albeit one with cooler drinks and fewer tribal councils. Sure, island-hopping through pristine white beaches and limestone cliffs sounds like standard brochure copy, but in Caramoan, it's less sanitized tour and more Robinson Crusoe with a beer cooler. Here's your game plan: book at least two weeks ahead to dodge the logistics headache, bring around P3,000-P5,000 (USD $55-$90) per person-including your overnight stay, meals, and obligatory rum-fueled storytelling-and don't even think about skipping sunscreen, insect repellent, and extra batteries for your flashlight (electricity can be as scarce as Wi-Fi). Time your tour for early mornings or late afternoons to beat midday crowds and capture photos with softer, envy-inducing natural lighting. And why bother with the hassle, the mosquitoes, the sometimes-spotty cell service? Because nowhere else lets you wake up at dawn to the sound of waves hitting empty beaches, swap stories under millions of stars while crunching on freshly grilled seafood, and smugly recount the experience later over beers back home-because let's face it, good storytelling currency is priceless.