10 Biggest Island in The Philippines
The Philippines have an incredible collection of over 7,600 islands, only 2,000 of which are permanently inhabited. While many of these islands are little more than idyllic atolls ideal for a lazy day trip, some compete for the world record as the largest on the planet. Counting down from the smallest to the largest in terms of total land area, here are the Philippines’ largest islands. 10 Biggest Island in The Philippines
Table of Contents
Top 10 Biggest Island in The Philippines
1. Bohol
The oval-shaped Bohol Island, located within the province of the same name, is a picturesque isle characterized by picturesque coral reefs, quaint stone churches, indigenous (and mischievous) tarsier monkeys, and thousands of brown-hued limestone formations known as the Chocolate Hills.
The main island has over 162 miles of coastline, which is dotted with everything from waterfalls to natural caves. As if that wasn’t enough beauty in one location, there are also 70-plus satellite islands within easy reach.
2. Luzon
Luzon is the Philippines’ largest island. It is located in the archipelago’s northernmost region and is also the name of one of the country’s three primary island groups. Luzon as an island group includes the island of Luzon itself, the Batanes and Babuyan groups to the north, and the outlying islands of Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro.
Luzon is the Philippines’ economic and political center, home to the country’s capital city, Manila, and roughly half of the country’s population. It is one of the world’s most populous islands, trailing only Java, Honshu, and the United Kingdom. It has a population comparable to Sumatra but a much smaller land area.
3. Boracay
Many parts of the Philippines are known for their affordable nightlife. There is no better place to do this than on the party island of Boracay. People from all over the world gather on White Beach after sunset to party all night. Aside from the partying, it has one of the whitest beaches in the world with crystal blue water. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations, but the beach is long enough to find some peace and quiet. Diving is fantastic here, and we recommend visiting Yapak. However, it is physically demanding and not suitable for beginners.
Bulabog and Puka Shell Beaches are much more tranquil, with light blue water to enjoy. Boracay can be reached by boat from either Caticlan or Kalibo (which are in turn, accessible by air from Manila, Cebu, etc).
4. Mindanao
Mindanao has a total land area of 37,657 square miles. Mount Apo, the nation’s tallest mountain at 9,692 feet above sea level, dominates the island’s landscape. Mindanao is bounded to the north by the Mindanao Sea, to the east by the Philippine Sea, to the west by the Sulu Sea, and to the south by the Celebes Sea.
Sulu, Samal, Basilan, and Dinagat are part of the larger Mindanao island group. Mindanao is home to an estimated 21,968,174 people, with Davao City housing 1,632,991. Mindanao accounts for 14% of the nation’s GDP, and its main economic sectors are agriculture, fishing, industry, service, and forestry.
5. Coron
Coron is technically part of Palawan, but it deserves its own spot on our list of the top 10 islands in the Philippines. There are some excellent dive sites, and exploring the underwater mysterious rock formations of Barracuda Lake is an unforgettable experience in and of itself. Island hopping around Coron to Bulog and Banana islands is beautiful, but it can also be expensive.
Divers with prior experience should definitely explore the reefs of Coral Garden. Relaxing in the waters with a view of the cinematic, tall limestone cliffs that surround Coron Bay is unrivaled. If you go to Coron, don’t forget to visit the Maquinit Hot Springs. Coron is best visited between November and June. And getting here is simple, with frequent direct flights or overnight ferries from Manila.
6. Samar
Samar is an island in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It province, Northern Samar province, and Eastern province make up the island. These three provinces, as well as those on the nearby islands of Leyte and Biliran, comprise the Eastern Visayas region. After Luzon and Mindanao, it is the Philippines’ third largest island.
The is the Visayas’ easternmost island. The island is separated from Leyte by the San Juanico Strait, which is only about two kilometers wide at its narrowest point. The San Juanico Bridge spans this strait. Samar is located on Luzon, the country’s largest island, southeast of the Bicol Peninsula; the San Bernardino Strait separates the two. The Leyte Gulf lies to the south of Samar and was the site of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the most decisive naval battles of WWII. The gulf flows into the Philippine Sea, which is located east of Samar and is part of the Pacific Ocean.
7. Negros
Negros is a Philippine island in the Visayas region. With a land area of 13,328 square kilometers, it is the third largest island in the country (5,146 sq mi). The island’s inhabitants are known as Negrenses.
8. Mindoro
Mindoro, the seventh largest island in the Philippines, is located between the islands of Luzon and Palawan. The island is divided into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, with a total land area of 10,572 km2.
Because of its proximity to Luzon, White Beach in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, is a popular weekend destination for many Filipinos from Metro Manila. Mindoro is also famous for the tamaraw, an endemic island species related to the water buffalo. It is now classified as an endangered species.
9. Apo Reef Islands
Diving here and witnessing Apo Reef’s colorful biodiversity is an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re visiting the country to dive, you must visit Apo Reef Island. There’s a reason it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best dive spots in the country. I can’t stay on the island, but you can choose to live on board, which entails sleeping on the boat and then jumping off to explore the reef. Popular places to live include Sablayan’s coast (on Mindoro Island, one of the closest major islands to Apo Reef) and Pandan Island. You can arrive by boat from Coron or Sablayan.
10. Cebu
Cebu Island, affectionately known as the “Queen of the South,” is the largest island in the Visayas region and the 126th largest island on the planet. This sun-kissed island is a plethora of dramatic coastlines, beautiful beaches, limestone hills, and glorious coral atolls just offshore, stretching for over 120 miles from top to bottom.
Cebu, home to over 3.5 million people, is a tropical paradise. It is made up of large pockets of developed areas, particularly around Cebu City, which has an interesting mix of Spanish colonial history, leaving the rest of the island largely undeveloped. Cebu island, once the 17th-century country capital, makes up the bustling province of Cebu, along with hundreds of other smaller islands.
Philippines’ Top 11-20 Largest Islands
11. Masbate Island
12. Catanduanes Island
13. Basilan Island
14. Marinduque Island
15. Busuanga Island
16.Jolo Island
17. Dinagat Island
18.Polilio Island
19. Tawi-Tawi Island
20. Guimaras Island
The Philippine Islands’ Tourism
The country’s numerous islands support a diverse range of flora and fauna. In 2012, 4.27 million tourists visited the country. The islands have beaches, mountains, and rainforests, as well as some of the most popular diving spots in the world. The many islands of the Philippine archipelago also have a rich cultural and historical heritage.
Conclusion
Following a weekend trip to Puerto Galera on January 5-6, 2013, Pinas Muna is proud to announce that it has finally visited the Philippines’ Top 10 Largest Islands. If you want to learn more about the Philippines, why not start with these ten islands?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biggest Islands in The Philippines
What is the Philippines’ largest and most populous island?
Luzon is the largest of these islands, covering approximately 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi). Mindanao, at approximately 95,000 square kilometers, is the next largest island (36,680 sq mi).
What is the 2nd largest island in the Philippines?
Mindanao, an island, the second largest (after Luzon) in the Philippines, is in the southern part of the archipelago, surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Celebes, and Sulu seas.
What is the 3rd largest island in the Philippines?
Samar, island, east-central Philippines, the third largest (after Luzon and Mindanao), part of the Visayan Islands archipelago.
What’s the 4th largest island in the Philippines?
Negros /ˈneɪɡrɒs/ is the fourth largest and third most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 13,309 km2 (5,139 sq mi). Negros is one of the many islands of the Visayas, in the central part of the country.
What is the 7th largest island in the Philippines?
Located between the islands of Luzon and Palawan is the island of Mindoro, the seventh largest island of the Philippines. With a land area of 10,572 km², the island is divided into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
What is the 11th largest island in the Philippines?
Masbate is the 11th largest island in the country, located at the southernmost tip of the Bicol Peninsula. Its three major islands—Masbate, Ticao, and Burias—host 20 municipalities and the capital city of Masbate.
What is the fifth biggest island in the Philippines?
Palawan is the largest island of the province of Palawan in the Philippines and fifth-largest by area and tenth-most populous island in the country, with a total population of 994,101 as of the 2020 census.
Who discovered the Philippines?
The Philippines were claimed in the name of Spain in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, who named the islands after King Philip II of Spain. They were then called Las Felipinas.
What is the oldest city in the Philippines?
Cebu City is the capital of Cebu Island Province, 365 miles south of Manila. Cebu has a population of 2.5 million and is the oldest city and the first capital of the Philippines.
What is the main island in the Philippines?
The country can be divided into three main areas: Luzon (the largest, northernmost island, which includes Manila); a group of islands called the Visayas (including the major islands Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Masbate); and Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines, found at the southern.
