Palawan, Cebu among world’s best islands according to travelers; Boracay out of list

MANILA, Philippines — Palawan and Cebu made it to the list of best islands in the world as voted by the readers of international travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

While it remained on the 2018 list, Palawan dropped to the sixth place from the top spot in 2017. It has a score of 90.04.

“The Edenic Philippine outpost of Palawan scored the top spot on this list in 2013 and in 2017; it also makes the grade this year, although it cedes the top spot to a surprise entry,” Travel + Leisure said.

Popular tourist destinations such as Coron, El Nido and Puerto Princesa can be found in Palawan.

Java in Indonesia, a first-timer on the list, took the top spot from Palawan as the best island in the world. It garnered a score of 95.28.

Cebu also proved that it is on the radar of foreign travelers as it placed eighth on the list, with a score of 89.10.

Readers of Travel + Leisure rated islands according to activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

Here is the complete list:

Boracay not on the list

The famous island of Boracay, which is undergoing rehabilitation efforts, was not included on the list.

Last year, it ranked third with a score of 89.67.

Boracay, known for its powdery white beaches, topped the 2017 Readers’ Choice Award of the international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

The top tourist destination was temporarily closed to the public since April 26 to give way for the island’s rehabilitation.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who called the island a “cesspool,” also placed Boracay under a state of calamity for six months because of the environmental issues hounding it such as lack of proper sewerage system.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Boracay is slowly recovering and would be open to the public on October 26. 

READ: Boracay no longer a cesspool, may reopen October 26

Related video: