One of the things I am looking forward to upon returning to the Philippines is the summer season! As a tropical country with 7,107 islands (yep, you read it right!), Philippines proudly boasts of white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters, and palm frond shorelines!

While Philippines’ most popular beach remains to be Boracay, with the beaches of Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Calaguas, Bolinao, Puerto Galera and El Nido (to mention a few) gaining more and more popularity for local and international tourists alike, it seems as if there really is no stopping Philippine beaches from topping the lists of summer destinations!

I can say I’ve had my fair share of the popular beach spots in town. It was, however, my first time to go to a secluded and (almost) virgin beach when I went to Tikling Island in Matnog, Sorsogon. I learned about Tikling Island from the blog of Gael aka The Pinay Solo Backpacker. I was lured by the beauty of Tikling Island and I included it in the Bicolandia Exploration itinerary, my first solo backpacking trip.

After my bonding with butanding aka whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon, I met up with my friend in Bulan. Together with his other ‘friends’, we went to Matnog by bike (motorcycles). From Matnog port, we took a rather large boat which was the only one available at the time. This passenger boat can actually hold between 20 to I think 40 people. I was thankful for the boat’s massiveness coz the ride to Tikling Island was really wavy and bumpy!

But it was all worth it! Tikling Island turned out to be a very relaxing place. I mean, at the time, there were just me and my friend and his friends plus Tikling Island’s caretaker. So, it’s like we have the island to ourselves!

And, Tikling Island also offers some kind of adventure! After walking through its wide shoreline and navigating through mangroves and their massive roots, we found ourselves on almost the other end of Tikling Island.

If you are brave enough, you can play with the waves smashing though the rocks! To top it off, standing on top of the rocks amidst this waves serve for a very picturesque Sole Survivor Tikling Island edition promotional poster! Hahaha

Tikling Island was my only plan for Matnog, Sorsogon. Matnog is actually at the edge of southern Luzon. Upon reaching Matnog port, I was almost tempted to take the ferry boat and cross to Samar in the Visayas group of islands!!!

With the uncertainty of what lies ahead upon my return to the Philippines, maybe I can now take that ship! Really, traveling throughout the summer is sounding more and more like an awesome idea!