8 Barefoot-Friendly Beaches in the Philippines You Need to Visit

Most of us go to the beach to enjoy the waters, though some love to skinny dip. Apparently, there are those who would rather enjoy walking barefoot and feeling the sand on their toes. It just gives them this unexplainable, soothing sensation.

If you love the idea of it – or you want to try it – know that the Philippines has some of the best barefoot-friendly beaches. Go ahead and include them in your travel plans. You can thank us later!

#1. Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas, Vinzons, Camarines Norte

Seriously, who would not want to pay this one a visit? The over one kilometer of powdery white sands perfectly complement the array of green hills and waters as clear as the sky. This beach is so beautiful it almost looks like straight from a fantasy film. You can enjoy the breathtaking view by walking in the sand barefoot.

How to Get There: The estimated travel time from Manila is seven to eight hours, so you might want to start your trip early in the day. Simply take a bus to Daet either from Pasay or Cubao and get off at Talobatib Junction. From there, enjoy the town of Paracale by riding a tricycle. You will then have to charter a boat to Calaguas. Tip: Boat ride in the area can take an hour or more, so it is really best if you plan and make arrangements ahead.

#2. 7 Commandos Beach, Papaya Beach, and Entalula Island, El Nido, Palawan

Want to know what makes these beaches similar to each other? They all have clear waters topped with an over-the-top backdrop of gray limestone cliffs. The 7 Commandos and Entalula, in particular, have powdery sand, while Papaya Beach’s is so soft that, when washed away by waves, becomes creamy.

How to Get There: You need to take a flight to Puerto Princesa. Once you are at the airport, you have to take a tricycle to the van and bus terminal to get a ride to El Nido. The trip usually lasts about five to six hours, but you need to take a tricycle to get to the town.

#3. Malcapuya Island, Coron, Palawan

If you are fond of powdery white sand, then the Malcapuya Island is your best bet. Its sand can be likened to the ever-popular Boracay. Although the island does not have any electricity, you can still enjoy the accommodations with rental huts and houses. Besides, this is the perfect place for some quiet time away from the social buzz online. You will fall in love with its light blue to deep dark waters.

How to Get There: Take a flight to Coron, and once you arrive at the airport, take a shuttle to Coron town which will only take you about 45 minutes. Take a tricycle that will help you reach the jump-off for boats. Interestingly, these boats can be arranged for island hopping, though you may do so as well with the place where you are checked in. Malcapuya Island is just an hour and a half ride from Coron town.

#4. Cagbalete Island, Mauban, Quezon

This one, however, has grainy sand compared to the aforementioned ones. But what really makes this beach barefoot-friendly is that a long stretch of sand becomes visible once low tide. It is so expansive that you can even walk straight to the neighboring rock island.

How to Get There: Take a Lucena-bound bus from Edsa, Buendia-Taft, or Alabang to Lucena Grand Terminal. From there, ride an ordinary bus to Mauban, though there are buses that go directly to Mauban from Edsa-Kamias usually at 5 am and 1 pm. Once at Mauban, take a tricycle to the port and charter a boat to go straight to the resort where you will be checking in. You can also take a passenger boat to Cagbalete and then a trek to the resort.

#5. White Beach, Boracay, Aklan

Of course, it would be wrong if we did not include this one on the list. It is even deemed as the benchmark for some other beaches’ whiteness and fineness. Recognized both locally and internationally, the White Beach in Boracay is of beauty and powder-like white sand. This is absolutely a must-visit for all barefoot walking lovers.

How to Get There: Take a flight going to Kalibo or Caticlan. The latter is around two hours away by bus. When you arrive at Caticlan, you need to take a tricycle to the port. Ride a boat. Once you get to the island, ride another tricycle to White Beach. Do not worry – it is not much of a hassle. The travel time is just less than an hour.

#6. Alona Beach and Dumaluan Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol

Alone Beach in Panglao Island is perhaps one of the closest beaches to be compared to Boracay in terms of resorts and restaurants. But unlike Boracay, Alona Beach is more laidback and less crowded.

The sand is also powdery but with some parts grainy. If you want a beach with fewer people and establishments, you can go to Dumuluan. It is only a 30-minute tricycle ride, and it is also a beach with powdery sand in Panglao.

How to Get There: Simply take a flight to Tagbilaran. From the airport, hire a tricycle or van to take you directly to Alona Beach, Panglao. You can also be taken to the terminal and ride a bus or multicab to Panglao from there. From there, you can either walk or take a tricycle to Alona Beach. Travel time is estimated at 45 minutes from the airport.

#7. White Beach, Moalboal, Cebu

This is one of Cebu’s most popular beaches when it comes to snorkeling and diving. And like the ones above, it also prides in compact grainy and powdery sand. You can enjoy barefoot walking there while getting mesmerized by the trees, rocks, and sceneries. And if you want to be adventurous, you can go diving and snorkeling.

How to Get There: Take a flight to Cebu. From the airport, ride a taxi to the South Bus Terminal. If you want to commute, you can ride the yellow jeep to Lapu-Lapu and ask the driver to drop you at the pier. From there, you must ride a ferry to the city and take a jeep to the South Bus Terminal. You will then have to ride a bus to Moalboal and, from the town proper, take a tricycle or motorbike to White Beach.

#8. Malinao Beach, Siargao, Surigao del Norte

Last but not the least is Malinao Beach, which is just a couple of kilometers away from Siargao’s surf central Cloud 9. This one here is a quiet beach beautified by powdery sand and coconut trees. Malinoa Beach is the perfect spot for sitting, relaxing, and digging your toes into the sand. You can simply let the time pass and submerge yourself into its beauty.

How to Get There: Take a connecting flight in Cebu to Siargao via CebuPacific, though an alternative would be to take a flight to Surigao City and then a tricycle ride to the port (where you will take a boat to Siargao). From Siargao’s airport or port, take a tricycle or motorbike to Malinao. If you want to pay Cloud 9 a visit first, you can also reach Malinao via motorbike or tricycle.