When you hear Batangas, the first thing that will probably come to mind are its beautiful beaches. Although Batangas also boasts other attractions like beautiful churches, majestic mountains, and a distinct cuisine, it’s the seaside that draws a lot of tourists. Because of its proximity to Manila, it’s one of the go-to beach destinations for weekend warriors coming from the metro.
However, to manage your expectations if you’re looking for a beach with fine white sand, you should know that you might not find it in Batangas. But there are a bunch of things Batangas beaches have to offer: some are sandy, others are rocky, and a few are pebbly. Regardless of what shore you’re looking for, all of these will give you as much fun as any sparkling white beach!
There are also beaches that are extremely popular, while some pique the interest of beach goers looking for a more private getaway. On top of that, you can reach these beaches in 3 to 4 hours if you’re coming from Manila! In this post, we’ll list down the best Batangas beaches to visit, so keep reading if you’re looking for your next beach destination!
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
Masasa Beach, Tingloy
Once a quiet town, Masasa Beach earned fame in recent years when it became popular in social media. From being a hidden gem, it very quickly became one of the hottest beaches to visit in Batangas. This prompted tourists to head to Masasa and explore its unspoiled beauty.
Although the sand here isn’t pearly white, its vibrant waves more than make up for it. The water here is crystal clear with a stunning turquoise hue that will surely catch your eye even from afar. We can easily say that Masasa Beach is arguably the best beach in Tingloy, an island municipality in Batangas.
WHERE TO STAY: Since the island municipality of Tingloy is pretty much still under-the-radar as a beach destination compared to other resort towns, you’ll only find homestays, transient houses, and guesthouses here. However, you can check out our Top 10 Beach & Dive Resorts in Anilao article for other hotel suggestions since it’s the jump-off point and the closest popular mainstream resort town to Tingloy.
Nasugbu Coves
When you visit Nasugbu, it’s not just the islands that are worth exploring. Mainland Nasugbu’s jagged coastline features fair sand and hidden in its nooks and crannies are picturesque small coves. Some of the beaches you may find in Barangays Calayo and Papaya are:
- Calayo Beach
- Papaya Cove
- Layag-layag Beach
- Kayraang Cove
- Hamilo Coast
- Bituin Cove
Most of them don’t have much amenities, but they are open to campers for a fee.
WHERE TO STAY: You can check out our Top 10 Hotels & Resorts in Nasugbu article for hotel suggestions. You can also find more Nasugbu hotels here!
Verde Island, Batangas City
Sitting in the middle of Verde Island Passage, Verde Island is one of the places where you can go diving to see the spectacular underwater scenery. It’s described as the center of the world’s marine biodiversity by a Smithsonian Institute study in 2007. “Center of the center” may seem grammatically incorrect, but that’s exactly the term coined for this amazing feat of nature.
Verde Island sits within Batangas City, but its natural beauty is still what makes it shine. It is not as commercialized as the other areas nearby. From the mainland, it takes about 45 minutes to get here. The island is home to multiple pristine beach attractions like Mahabang Buhangin and Cueva Sitio.
WHERE TO STAY: You can find Batangas City hotels here!
Fortune Island, Nasugbu
Grecian pillars and statues sitting atop a limestone cliff surely command attention, and this is one of the things that attracts travelers to Fortune Island. This structure is what’s left of the exclusive luxury resort that once stood on the island. However, because the island does not have a source of freshwater, it was extremely challenging to maintain. This led to its closure in 2006.
The lack of accommodation on the island didn’t stop sun worshippers and campers from flocking to its shores. Its stretch of sand may be short, but the surrounding waters have treasures too. Fortune Island is also popular with divers because of the shipwreck diving sites around it including the Dutch warship Mauritius that sank in the year 1600.
WHERE TO STAY: You can check out our Top 10 Hotels & Resorts in Nasugbu article for hotel suggestions. You can also find more Nasugbu hotels here!
Laiya, San Juan
Laiya is one of the most popular and most developed among Batangas beaches to visit. There’s no denying that this stretch in San Juan has seen thousands and thousands of tourists especially during peak season. Harboring a coast peppered with resorts that range from budget to high-end picks, this makes Laiya a great option for many types of travelers who are looking for a place to relax. Laiya is also a popular destination for corporate events.
WHERE TO STAY: You can check out our Top 10 Hotels & Resorts in Laiya article for hotel suggestions. You can also find more Laiya hotels here!
Malabrigo Point, Lobo
This is not your typical beach. Malabrigo Point is a pebble beach with small to medium-size grey and white cobbles which may be one of the reasons why it’s not as popular compared to other Batangas beaches to visit. In addition to that, reaching Malabrigo involves traversing zigzag roads on the mountainsides, leading to its location in a relatively obscure municipality. Because of this, Malabrigo Point has managed to preserve its natural beauty and pristine state over the years. Apart from a stunning beach, a beautiful lighthouse is also located nearby.
WHERE TO STAY: You can find Lobo, Batangas hotels here!
Sepoc Beach, Tingloy
Also referred to as Sepoc Point, this beach covers the northwestern tip of Tingloy. It is privately owned and managed by Eagle Point Beach Resort so it’s less crowded than other beaches in Batangas that you may want to visit. If you’re on a budget, you can still access Sepoc Beach by joining a Tingloy island hopping tour from Masasa Beach or Anilao since public boats are free to stop here.
Aside from swimming or beach bumming, you can also hike to the top of a hill and savor the wonderful view of nearby Sombrero Island. However, note that inland amenities of Eagle Point Beach Resort like rest rooms and the dining hall are exclusive to their guests.
WHERE TO STAY: The island municipality of Tingloy is pretty much still under-the-radar as a beach destination compared to other resort towns, so you’ll only find homestays, transient houses, and guesthouses here. However, you can check out our Top 10 Beach & Dive Resorts in Anilao article for other hotel suggestions since it’s the jump-off point and the closest popular mainstream resort town to Tingloy.
Calatagan Beaches
Calatagan’s shoreline features many resorts. Some of the most popular are Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort, Manuel Uy Beach, and Aquaria Waterpark. Whichever resort you choose to stay in, you’ll get to enjoy the beautiful beaches and shallow waters of Calatagan.
And because Calatagan sits on a peninsula that juts out into the Verde Island Passage, you can also explore its colorful underwater scenery by snorkeling. Another activity you can do is to go on a boat tour and visit islets off the coast like Starfish Island and a sandbar.
WHERE TO STAY: You can check out our Top 10 Hotels & Resorts in Calatagan article for hotel suggestions. You can also find more Calatagan hotels here!
Pulo Island, Nasugbu
UPDATE! On our recent visit (May 2024), we learned that Loren Island is CLOSED to the public until further notice.
Located only 20 minutes away from mainland Nasugbu, Pulo Island is known to locals as Pulo-pulo. It is also sometimes referred to as Loren Island. The sand carpeting its two beaches is beige and pebbly, but it still offers its visitors a great island experience. Apart from the beaches, another rocky islet is connected to the island by what looks like a sandbar.
WHERE TO STAY: You can check out our Top 10 Hotels & Resorts in Nasugbu article for hotel suggestions. You can also find more Nasugbu hotels here!
Sombrero Island, Tingloy
When you see Sombrero Island, you would instantly know why it’s called such. This island has a rounded peak and surrounding this peak is a bed of sand. For a small fee, travelers can lounge on the beach and take a dip in the clear waters here.
If you like trekking, you probably know about Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Mabini and this small island is a popular beach stop for hikers and mountaineers. Many hikers make a day trip to this island after their climb and before coming back to Manila.
WHERE TO STAY: Since the island municipality of Tingloy is pretty much still under-the-radar as a beach destination compared to other resort towns, you’ll only find homestays, transient houses, and guesthouses here. Meanwhile, you can check out our Top 10 Beach & Dive Resorts in Anilao article for other hotel suggestions since it’s the jump-off point and the closest popular mainstream resort town to Tingloy.
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How to Get There
Batangas is easily accessible from Manila. It usually takes a 2 to 4 hour drive depending where you’re coming from and the traffic conditions. If you can’t drive, getting there is not a problem either because there are multiple bus companies that ply Batangas routes.
By Private Car
To make navigating easier for you, you can simply enter your destination on Google Maps or Waze. But generally, there are two main routes to take depending on which side of Batangas you’re headed to:
- Eastern Side (Mabini/Anilao, San Juan/Laiya, Lipa, Batangas City): Take the Star Tollway.
- Western Side (Calatagan, Nasugbu, Lian): Take the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway.
By Bus
As previously mentioned, there are multiple bus companies that shuttles passengers from Manila to Batangas. If you’re headed to Anilao in Mabini and Laiya in San Juan, take a bus bound for Lipa, Batangas Pier, or Batangas Grand Terminal.
Meanwhile, if your destination is Calatagan, Nasugbu, or Lian, you can hop on a bus bound for Calatagan or Nasugbu. You may check Manila to Batangas bus schedules here.
Updates Log
2024.02.14 – First uploaded
Related Article: 10 MUST-VISIT BEACHES in Batangas
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