Basilan Travel Guide

The beautiful island of Basilan is blessed with excellent weather and wildlife. It’s not just for beach bunnies, visitors to Basilan will have plenty of entertainment options to choose from.

Basilan is surrounded by beauty and for many this may be the desert island paradise they have been searching from. Strangely, this island is not as popular as others in the Philippines, so the many stretches of powdery white sand are not crowded and it is possible to stretch out in the sun without being bothered by hustle and bustle.

There are plenty of good places to stay on Basilan and accommodation ranges from basic beach huts to luxurious air-conditioned suites. In the evening the beach becomes decorated with colored lights and this is a popular place to eat, especially at the beach barbeques, where fresh fish is top of the menu.

Getting There & Away

Basilan is best reached from Zamboanga, which is located on the island of Mindanao, a 60- minute flight from Manila. There is a direct ferry connecting Zamboanga and Basilan (1 hour, 45 minutes).

Things to Do

Basilan Attractions

Balagtasan Waterfalls - Basilan’s largest waterfall is a great place to swim and eat a picnic in among the trees.

Side trips from Basilan

Malamawi Island

Take a short boat trip to discover this beautiful island featuring a large lighthouse and a pretty lake where visitors can feed the wild ducks which swim there.

Onward Travel

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