Exploring the vanishing sandbars of the Philippines

During the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant interview, former Miss Philippines, Charlene Gonzales, was asked by the host about the geography of her homeland.

‘How many islands are there in the Philippines?’ inquired American game show host Bob Goan. Without hesitation, Gonzales humorously responded, ‘High tide or low tide?’

It’s a surprisingly complex question. The Philippines is officially home to 7,641 islands, but this count excludes the numerous sandbars and shoals that appear at low tide. A landform can only be classified as an island if it stays above water at all times.

However, the ephemeral nature of sandbars makes them even more thrilling to discover and explore.

Although the Philippines is currently closed to international tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, once travel safely resumes, visitors will be able to explore these vanishing sandbars by carefully timing their visits with the tides.

‘With so many small islands and peninsulas scattered throughout the Philippines, predicting the tides can be tricky, as the landforms create a maze for the water—it has to navigate left, right, up, and down to find its way,’ says Søren Knudsen, co-founder of the non-profit organization Marine Conservation Philippines, in an interview with Dinogo Travel.

‘Even if two places are just 20 kilometers apart, the tides can differ greatly due to the varying topography. If you plan to visit a disappearing sandbar, you’ll need to check local tidal charts or travel with a local tour operator,’ he adds.

Mapping the Sandbars

Ervin Malicdem, a Filipino independent researcher and IT professional, has been charting many of the Philippines’ sandbars and other previously unmapped areas.

Malicdem, who founded Schadow1 Expeditions in 2012, a platform for mapping and adventure, has scaled mountains, navigated boats, and biked numerous trails as a volunteer researcher.

His work has not only attracted tourists to remote areas but has also enhanced local navigation, disaster response, and environmental efforts.

‘By mapping these locations, they’ve gained more visibility and accessibility, becoming more widely known,’ he says.

He highlights Panampangan Sandbar in Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost province of the Philippines, as a prime example.

Malicdem brought attention to this often-overlooked destination in 2017 when he published a list of the 10 longest sandbars in the Philippines.

Panampangan took the top spot on the list, stretching 3.1 kilometers in length. The sandy stretch is mostly submerged during the day, only becoming visible at low tide.

However, when the pristine white sand rises from the turquoise waters, it’s truly a sight to behold, with palm-lined islands framing both ends of the sandbar.

‘Before I released the study, few people considered visiting, but now it’s become a much more sought-after destination,’ he says.

‘There still aren’t many private operators in the area, so you’d need to take a ‘habal-habal’ (motorcycle), tricycle, or van from the airport on Bongao island to the provincial tourism office of Tawi-Tawi. They will arrange a boat ride for you and provide all the necessary details,’ he adds.

Accessible sandbars to explore

Stretching from north to south and east to west, the Philippines boasts thousands of disappearing sandbars, many of which are accessible for adventurous travelers to explore.

For an easy-to-reach adventure, Knudsen suggests visiting the Manjuyod Sandbar, located off the coast of Bais City in Negros Oriental, a province in the Philippines' central region.

Numerous tour operators offer small group tours and private day trips to the sandbar at low tide, where visitors can snorkel among vibrant reef fish and spot playful dolphins in the crystal-clear waters.

Adventurous travelers can spend the night in a simple, rustic bungalow perched over the water. These accommodations are basic and tranquil, but guests will need to bring their own sleeping bag, food, water, flashlights, batteries, and other essentials as there are no amenities nearby.

‘Imagine flawless white sand just beneath 10 inches of water—it was incredibly beautiful,’ Knudsen recalls.

‘I’d recommend combining a trip to the sandbar with a dolphin watching experience along the way,’ he suggests.

Manlawi Sandbar, located in the Caramoan Islands in the eastern Philippines, is another easily accessible sandbar, thanks to numerous tour operators offering day trips or overnight packages to this untouched paradise.

‘Manlawi is already well-known, and it has more infrastructure compared to others, so you can stay overnight at the departure point in Caramoan Town,’ says Malicdem.

‘On the sandbar, there are these charming picnic huts tethered to the sand. At low tide, you can dine right on the sand; at high tide, you’ll be floating in the water, with no clue that a sandbar lies beneath you!’

Venturing beyond the basics

If you're up for a bit more effort, Malicdem recommends focusing on Palawan’s Balabac islands, where travelers can journey from one sandbar to the next in a single trip.

‘This group of islands has many sandbars because the sea here isn’t very deep,’ Malicdem explains.

One of the most unforgettable experiences, he says, is visiting the remote Queen Helen Sandbar at Sebaring Point on Bugsuk Island, located in the far southern reaches of Palawan.

‘You really have to get the timing just right for this one. When the tide is low, you’ll find a wide beach with sand so soft it feels like talcum powder,’ he recalls.

‘While waiting for the beach to appear, you can relax on the nearby shores, which are just as stunning. There are no private resorts here—it’s still largely untouched,’ he adds.

To the southwest of Queen Helen, another disappearing wonder awaits: Angela Sandbar, which stretches about a kilometer from the shore of Mansalangan Island.

‘I’m drawn to this sandbar because you get a full 360-degree view of the Balabac archipelago in the Sulu Sea, which is absolutely breathtaking,’ says Malicdem.

He also mentions BenLen Sandbar, located south of Candaraman Island in Palawan, as another spot worth exploring.

‘My nickname is Ben, and the barangay (village) captain actually named this sandbar after me and my wife because I mapped the area,’ he says with pride.

‘At high tide, the sandbar resembles a starry constellation, with countless starfish clustering together on the sand,’ he adds.