Palawan bags 1st spot, Boracay 12th in world’s top islands

James at Taraw Ridge, El Nido, Palawan.

MANILA — Palawan and Boracay landed first place and twelfth place respectively, in the Top 30 Islands in the World survey of international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

Based in an article on the magazine’s website, Palawan garnered a total of 88.750 points while Boracay received 82.683 points.

Palawan’s Subterranean River in Puerto Princesa earned the island its international fame when it was recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2012.

The subterranean river was also declared as a World Heritage Site in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Condé Nast Traveler referred to the underground river as “where karsts, natural rock formations created by dissolving limestone, loom in every direction.”

On the other hand, Boracay was labeled as being “as close to the tropical idyll ideal as you’ll find in the Philippines, with gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets.”

Boracay boasts not only of white sand beaches but also its thriving nightlife, said Condé Nast Traveler.

Meanwhile, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa took the 11th spot in the “Top 20 Resorts in Asia” with a rating of 90.584 with its “great resort experience that everyone should enjoy.”

According to Condé Nast Traveler survey, the islands were “judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair and poor.” More than 70,000 participated in the survey.