Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, in its 2019 readers’ survey released recently, has rated Palawan as the 4th best island in Asia.
The leading international tourism magazine had polled for this year’s survey a record 600,000 readers and subscribers to vote for the top 30 islands in the region, a list that was topped by Boracay, followed by Cebu and the Visayas Islands.
This year, all outstanding destinations were grouped by region — best in Asia, Australia, South Pacific, Carribean and the Atlantic, Europe, North America.
Palawan was described by Conde Nast Traveler as “a regular on the list” because of its consistent showing on its annual readers’ survey.
It cited the “otherworldly” Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park in Puerto Princesa City and El Nido as the province’s main draw.
“A regular on our list of the world’s best islands, Palawan is home to the otherworldly, Subterranean Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth the trip alone. Many make El Nido and its blue lagoon their base, though, to explore the Bacuit Archipelago,” Conde Nast Traveler said.
Boracay was followed by Cebu which draws nearly 2 million travelers annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern coast.
Penang, Malaysia ranked 3rd for its influences on a variety of cultures. George Town, the island’s capital, showcases both colonial and Chinese architecture, and rows of Instagram-perfect, pastel-painted shophouses.
Recently, Big 7 Media also included Palawan in its list of 50 best islands in the world to visit in 2020.
It ranked Palawan’s El Nido town second as the best island to visit by millennial travelers because of its cluster of 45 islands which is famous for its Secret Lagoon.
“Swim through a hole in the limestone rocks to enter a hidden bay with crystal clear water and soft sands,” Big 7 Media described.
Big 7 Media said the places that made it on their list were from the votes of their readers, aggregated scores from previous media results, and contributions from their editorial team.
Last September, the province was also included in CNN Travel’s “10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Islands”. CNN travel enthusiast Jen Rose Smith called Palawan “a gorgeous haven of pale sand and clear water.”
