Favored for its amazing wildlife, Sorsogon has been ranked among the 10 most beautiful islands in the Philippines, alongside global favorites Boracay and El Nido.
Conde Nast Traveller, one of the most esteemed travel magazines in the world, ranked Sorsogon eighth among the best islands in the country. Boracay, Siargao and El Nido took the top 3 spots, in that order.
Coron and Pamalican, both in Palawan, were in fourth and fifth spots, followed by Calaguas, Balesin, Sorsogon, San Juan (La Union), and Puerto Princesa.
“Sorsogon is the best place to discover the Philippines’ vibrant wildlife – one of the richest in the world.”
“In many ways, Sorsogon is the best place to discover the Philippines’ vibrant wildlife – one of the richest in the world. It is perfect for those looking to add a bit of adventure to their Philippines sojourn. Here, you can swim with manta rays and giant ‘Butandings’ (whale sharks), hike the Bulusan Volcano National Park, or sail along the Donsol River,” Conde Nast Traveller said.
Donsol in Sorsogon is famous for its safe and friendly “Butanding” interaction, which allows tourists to swim with the whale sharks without touching or feeding them.
“A relatively-unknown spot, the Donsol River is a wonderfully ethereal boating experience, as its idyllic rural landscape gets transformed by hundreds of thousands of fireflies that illuminate the riverbank once night falls,” Conde Nast Traveller said.
Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, who has been pushing for domestic tourism to help spur the local economy post-pandemic, welcomed the news, saying the province was not only rich in wildlife but in history.
Escudero, who is seeking a Senate seat, said the key to promoting the Philippines was to tell the stories of each place, which the province is doing through the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center.
“Ang turismo ay hindi simpleng magagandang tanawin lamang; ang turismo ay hindi simpleng magagandang beach o magagandang edipisyo o masasarap ng pagkain lamang,” Escudero said.
“Hindi man ganoon katanyag ang kuwento tungkol sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, tiyak kong kakaiba ang kuwentong sasabihan namin.”
“Higit sa lahat ng iyon, ang turismo ay tungkol sa kuwento na pwedeng sabihin sa bawat lugar. Hindi man ganoon katanyag ang kuwento tungkol sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, tiyak kong kakaiba ang kuwentong sasabihan namin dahil ang kuwentong iyon ay tungkol sa amin at hindi pwedeng ihalintulad sa ibang lugar,” he added.
As of April 7, the Philippines registered 202,700 foreign tourist arrivals, beating its own target of 200,000.
